What is dry needling?
Dry needling is one of the most effective tools in my toolbox! Our muscles form trigger points (AKA knots) when they are overworked, or as a result of micro trauma. Needling is effective at eliminating these knots because of a reflex that it elicits. When a muscle is tight for a long time, the trigger point can get caught in a feedback loop where it is getting poor circulation, which causes the muscle to tighten up. This, in turn, makes blood flow to that part of the muscle even worse, and the nasty cycle continues. When a dry needling needle is placed directly into this trigger point of the muscle it causes the muscle to utilize a reflex that makes it tighten up even a little more, but the reflex breaks the cycle and the muscle is able to relax.
I think of dry needling like hitting the “reset” button on a muscle that is tight or overworked.
FAQ
Why is it called dry needling?
This is to distinguish between an injection (a wet needle) which involves a medication in addition to the needle. With dry needling, there is no medication. Rather, the physical presence of the needle causes the muscle to go through the reflex that is so helpful to reset the muscle. This means that dry needling uses a much thinner needle than an injection.
Does it hurt?
Having dry needling can be uncomfortable, but should not be painful. You will likely be sore for 1-2 days afterward, but this type of soreness feels like you might feel after a challenging workout. Usually this soreness is much more comfortable than the pain you have been having.
Do I have to make a special visit to do dry needling with you?
Great question! We can include dry needling as a part of a normal 50 minute visit. If you need needling on a periodic basis (every few weeks), I also offer needling-only visits that last 30 minutes and are offered at a discounted rate.