Dry Needling
Dry Needling is a general term for a therapeutic treatment procedure that involves needling into a muscle that typically contains a trigger point. There is no injectable solution and typically the needle that is used is very thin. Most patients will not even feel the needle penetrate the skin, but once it is advanced into the muscle, the feeling of discomfort can vary from patient to patient. Usually, a healthy muscle feels very little discomfort; however, if the muscle is sensitive and shortened or has active trigger points within it, the patient may feel a sensation much like a muscle cramp — referred to as a ‘twitch response’.
The twitch response has a biochemical characteristic to it that affects the reaction of the muscle and symptoms. Typically, positive results are apparent within 2-4 treatment sessions but that can vary depending on the cause and duration of the symptoms, as well as overall health and motivation of the patient to improve.
Dry needling is an effective treatment for acute and chronic pain, rehabilitation from injury, and even pain and injury prevention, with very few side effects. This technique is unequaled in finding and eliminating dysfunction that leads to pain and functional deficits.