Dry Needling

Trigger Point Dry Needling is a procedure in which an acupuncture like needle is inserted into the skin and muscle. This procedure involves inserting the needle into irritable spots in skeletal muscle known as a myofascial trigger point (MTrP). These irritable spots in the skeletal muscle can be tender to palpation for many patients suffering from chronic and long term pain. Trigger points often develop as a result of damage fibers to the muscle, either from injury or overuse. The end result is a lack of blood flow to the muscle, resulting in increased production of pain producing chemicals in the skeletal muscle.

 

During a normal Trigger Point Dry Needling session the needle is inserted directly into these trigger points, eliciting a local twitch response. Production of a local twitch response from the needle disentangles the taut bands in the skeletal muscle, therefore allowing them to resume a more appropriate resting length. This promotes an influx of chemical mediators into the taut band of muscle or “trigger point” and helps to decrease pain.

 

Trigger Point Dry needling is a safe, effective tool that is commonly used during a regular physical therapy session. It is endorsed by the American Physical Therapist Association, and has been proven through evidence based practice to provide significant benefits to patients suffering from chronic pain.