Struggling with Muscle Pain? Try Dry Needling.
Monday, July 19th, 2010What is Dry Needling?
Levator scapulae trigger point pain pattern
Dry Needling is a procedure in which a needle, often an acupuncture needle, is inserted into the skin and muscle directly at a myofascial trigger point. A myofascial trigger point consists of multiple contraction knots, which are related to the production and maintenance of the pain cycle.
How Does Dry Needling Improve Function?
- Dry Needling of muscular trigger points causes a reflexive relaxation of the involved muscle.
- Tiny injuries created by the needle insertion cause a local healing response in the dysfunctional, painful tissue, which restores normal function through the natural healing process.
- Dry Needling stimulates nerve pathways which block pain by disrupting pain messages being sent to the brain.
- Dry Needling causes a local chemical response through the release of substances which block the transmission of pain messages.
What Conditions May Benefit From Dry Needling?
Dry Needling in combination with other physical therapy procedures has been shown to be of benefit with the following types of injuries:
- Acute and chronic tendonitis
- Athletic and sports-related overuse injuries
- Post-surgical pain
- Post-traumatic injuries, motor vehicle accidents, and work related injuries
- Chronic pain conditions
- Headaches and whiplash
- Lower back pain
Dry Needling can be a powerful adjunctive treatment. However, it is important to remember that Dry Needling is only one part of the treatment component at Belmar Physical Therapy. We also address biomechanical muscle imbalances, postural dysfunctions, muscular flexibility limitation, strength deficits, and swollen or stiff joints. Physical therapy treatment may include: joint mobilization, a carefully designed therapeutic exercise plan, and advanced hands-on therapy techniques. These will restore a patient’s optimal physical function. A multidimensional treatment approach is paramount for a successful recovery.
Here is a short video demonstration of trigger point dry needling of the levator scapulae muscle:
If you live near Lakewood, CO and would like to try Dry Needling contact Belmar Physical Therapy at (303) 274-2404.
Are you suffering from pain, numbness or tingling in your legs or feet? It might actually be a problem in your low back, even if you don’t have back pain. Symptoms such as these that radiate down the legs may be from a condition called spinal stenosis. 