DRY NEEDLING

What is dry needling?

Dry needling is a form of intramuscular therapy in which a licensed provider inserts a thin monofilament needle into a dysfunctional area in order to reduce pain and improve mobility and function.  Needles are typically inserted into muscles, but can also be used on tendons or adjacent to nerves to elicit a response in the entire region the nerve supplies. Dry needling has been shown to be effective with both acute and chronic pain conditions, and is widely used in high level sports to keep athletes performing in season.

What to expect?

Dry needling should only be performed after a thorough medical history and assessment of your pain, pathology, and areas of tension and sensitivity. We require a full evaluation before scheduling a dry needling specific session. If dry needling is appropriate for you, your therapist will insert a sterile thin filament needle (0.3-0.35 mm - really small) into the identified areas, and may manipulate (piston) the needle to stimulate an involuntary muscle twitch response, or connect the needle to an electrical stimulation unit to stimulate a low level muscle contraction. Dry needling often results in an immediate improvement in pain, force output, or mobility, though may also result in muscle soreness similar to what you would feel after a hard workout. The number of needles and treatment areas varies, but we often use 2-6 needles in a treatment.

For lasting improvements, multiple treatments (4-8) may be required, and should typically be followed by targeted exercises to reinforce the improvements seen from dry needling.

Is dry needling the same as acupuncture?

No, dry needling is not the same as acupuncture. Though they use the same monofilament needle, the techniques, treatment rationale, needle placement, and desired outcome vary greatly. 

What is dry needling effective for?

Dry needling in certain areas is supported by high quality research, as evidenced by it's recent inclusion in physical therapy clinical practice guidelines (CPG). CPGs are published guidelines, which review and summarize the academic literature on various treatments, and assign a grade to the level of evidence to support each one. Dry needling has recently been labeled as a grade A or B (high to moderate quality evidence) intervention in the CPGs on lateral elbow pain (tennis elbow), hip arthritis, and heel pain (plantar fasciitis), among others, and more research is coming out yearly.

Is dry needling safe?

Yes, dry needling is quite safe when performed by a licensed provider who is certified in dry needling. Common adverse effects include mild bruising and muscle soreness. When breaking the skin for any reason, there is always a small risk of infection; however with a sterile technique, the incidence is less than 0.01% and we have never seen it at our practice. There are a few contraindications for dry needling and we will discuss these prior to treatment to make sure it is safe for you.