Dry needling is a very effective form of treatment for pain and movement issues, but many people have questions and concerns since needles are involved.
Today we’re going to answer some of the most frequently asked questions we get asked.
What is dry needling?
According to the American Physical Therapists Association, dry needling is “a skilled intervention used by physical therapists that uses a thin filiform needle to penetrate the skin and stimulate underlying myofascial trigger points, muscular, and connective tissues for the management of neuromusculoskeletal pain and movement impairments.”
With dry needling, a physical therapist expertly uses a thin filiform needle to penetrate the skin and stimulate underlying myofascial trigger points, muscular, and connective tissues for the management of neuromusculoskeletal pain and movement impairments.
What kind of pain does it relieve?
Dry needling can be used to relieve consistent muscle pain.
How long does it take?
The procedure typically lasts around 15 minutes.
What kind of injuries can benefit from dry needling?
Here are a few of the common injuries we treat using dry needling:
- Rotator cuff tears
- Shoulder pain and frozen shoulder
- Headaches
- Back pain
- Neck pain including whiplash
- Hip pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Patellar or knee pain
- Tennis elbow
- Shin splints
- Nerve entrapments
- Achilles tendinitis
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Tendonitis or tendinopathy
- Muscle strains
- IT band syndrome
- SI joint dysfunction
- Sciatica
Does it hurt?
Most patients experience little to no pain, and many even find the experience to be relaxing.
Is dry needling right for me?
If you can push on your pain point to recreate the pain, dry needling could be a great fit. It can also be used in tandem with other physical therapy to create a holistic approach.
Can anyone try dry needling?
If you have a needle phobia, are on a blood thinner or are pregnant, make sure to tell your physical therapist as it might not be a good fit.
Dry needling is not recommended for patients recovering from recent surgery.
I’ve had acupuncture done before. Is it the same thing?
Dry needling is sometimes compared to acupuncture, but while there are a few similarities (most notably the type of needle), they are very different treatments.
While both share roots in eastern medicine, modern dry needling uses principles of western neuroanatomy and modern scientific study of the muscles and nervous system to treat pain, whereas acupuncture is centered around influencing energy and meridians.
What do real patients say about dry needling?
“It was a game-changer, as soon as we started dry needling, my recovery took off. Going through surgery is tough and I was afraid I wasn’t going to get my arm back to 100%. After being stuck in the same spot for two months with no progress, I’m finally moving forward thanks to dry needling.” – Donald Hess
“I had it performed on me and was amazed to receive six months of relief for something that had bothered me for 25 years.” – Diana Dickey
Does it work?
“The longest pain relief I have felt since the surgery was because of dry needling, I came in with a pain level of 6, and by the time Diana was done, I was at 0. It doesn’t always happen like that, but it can happen that quickly. Sometimes I feel relief before I leave the clinic, but sometimes it takes a few hours.” – Beverly Lentz
“After the first session, I had immediate relief. The tension and stress from working melted away, and when the relief was so noticeable from just one session, I knew this would be a health strategy for long-term maintenance.” – Greg Oborny
Is dry needling a good option for employers and workers’ comp?
For workers suffering from job-related injuries, dry needling may help improve function and decrease pain, which may ultimately reduce time off work and speed up recovery time.
Dry needling can be part of a holistic workers’ compensation treatment plan for injuries.
Ready to learn more?
Contact ARC Physical Therapy+ at 844-755-4272 or info@arcpt.com to learn more and schedule your dry needling appointment.
