Dry Needling

Dry needling is a technique where a physical therapist uses a "dry" needle (one that does not contain medication or syringe for medication) inserted through the skin into areas of the muscle. The dry needle is placed into various myofascial trigger points (painful knots in muscles), tendons, ligaments, or nerves in order to stimulate a healing response in musculoskeletal conditions. Although the practice may look similar to acupuncture, a practice based on traditional Chinese medicine and performed by acupuncturists, dry needling is actually a part of modern Western medicine principles and supported by research.

Our Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Departments offer dry needling for painful musculoskeletal conditions and sports-related injuries. We also offer dry needling as a direct-access service to patients and offer same-day and same week appointments for this technique.

Our Physical Therapy Team

Conditions Treated

Dry needling is not typically utilized as a stand alone treatment procedure. Instead, dry needling is utilized as part of an overall physical therapy plan that will likely include other passive and active treatment modalities. Most commonly, dry needling is used to increase range of motion that may be limited due to muscle tightness or scar tissue.

Additionally, dry needling is commonly used to treat the following conditions:

• Acute and chronic pain

• Muscle pain and tightness

• Muscle knots

• Joint pain

• Tendinitis (Tennis/Golfer’s Elbow)

• Migraines and tension-type headaches

• Neck and back pain

• Phantom pain

• Restricted range of motion in joints

• Shoulder pain

• Knee pain

• Hip pain

• Heel pain

• Plantar fasciitis

• Sciatica

• Carpal tunnel syndrome

Why Try Dry Needling?

Physical therapists use dry needling to release or inactivate trigger points to relieve pain or improve range of motion in affected joints. Current research supports the finding that dry needling improves pain control, reduces muscle tension, and normalizes dysfunctions of the motor end plates (the sites at which nerve impulses are transmitted to muscles). This process has been found to accelerate a patient's return to active rehabilitation.

At Aptiva Health, our physical therapists who perform dry needling have advanced training and certifications to ensure proper technique is utilized to maximize patient recovery.

Does Dry Needling Hurt?

Dry needling therapy uses a very thin solid needle or filament to disrupt the trigger point, or muscle knot, and elicit a “twitch response” which returns that muscle to a normal state by allowing inflammatory chemicals to leave the trigger point, relax the muscle and restore blood flow to the area. While dry needling does penetrate the muscles, the needles are very thin and you may or may not feel the insertion of the needle. Some patients may feel a brief ache or cramping sensation during the twitch response.

Questions? Call us today!
1-844-999-3627