Dry Needling

Dry Needling is not acupuncture but uses acupuncture needles to effect a change in myofascial restrictions. Myofascial trigger points and tender points which appear in soft tissue, and are painful sites, reflect abnormal nervous system activity associated with many neuro-musculo-skeletal conditions that are treated in our office.

The procedure known as Dry Needling is an important tool for diagnosing, treating, and monitoring changes in myofascial trigger/tender points. During the procedure, a sterile, very thin, solid filament needle is inserted into tissue that may be associated with one or a number of your complaints. One or a number of needles maybe used, and the procedure may be performed during more than one office visit. The number of needles and the frequency of the procedure will depend entirely on your condition at each office visit.

There may be some discomfort and little to no bleeding with this procedure. While an infection is an unlikely event with this procedure, whenever there is penetration of the skin, there is risk of infection. Other unlikely but possible events include fainting, soreness, pneumothorax (lung puncture). If you have a fear of needles, a genetic bleeding disorder, a history of a blood disorder that can be transmitted to another person, are regularly taking any blood thinning medication (for example, Coumadin or Warfarin), or are regularly taking any pain relievers containing ibuprofen, NSAIDS, aspirin or acetaminophen (for example, Tylenol, Advil, Aleve, or Bufferin), please inform your physical therapist.

You will be asked to sign a consent form prior to initiating treatment.

  Effects of Dry Needling

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