DRY NEEDLING THERAPY

Decrease Pain | Inactivate Trigger Points | Effective

Dry needling is a technique physical therapists use to treat pain and movement impairments. A trigger point is a taut band of skeletal muscle within a larger muscle group.

Trigger points can be tender to the touch. Touching a trigger point may refer pain to in other parts of the body. Dry needling involves thin filiform needling. The needling penetrates the skin and stimulates underlying myofascial trigger points and muscular and connective tissues. The needle allows a physical therapist to target tissues they are not able to reach with their hands.

Dry needling can release or inactivate trigger points to relieve pain or improve the range of motion. Research suggests that dry needling improves pain control and reduces muscle tension. Dry needling is not acupuncture, which is based on traditional Chinese medicine performed by acupuncturists.

Dry needling is a part of modern Western medicine and is supported by research.

Dry needling with electrical stimulation (DNES) is an increasingly popular intervention used for the conservative treatment of Musculoskeletal Pain. Evidence supports that Dry Needling is most effective when coupled with traditional Physical Therapy.

DNES is defined as a needling therapy in which electric current is conducted through small needles inserted into the skin and underlying musculature/soft tissue to improve patient pain and function.

Physical therapists who perform dry needling obtain specific postgraduate education and training.