Dry Needling

Dry Needling Could Change Your Life For The Better

If you haven't heard of dry needling and its various health benefits, let us explain how this pain-free therapy technique could change your life! Dry needling is a procedure for relieving pain and muscle tension while also improving mobility. This treatment method has been shown to help with a variety of musculoskeletal disorders, including acute and chronic injuries, overuse, neck pain, headaches, back pain, sciatica, muscle spasms, muscle strains, tendinitis, knee pain, hip pain, fibromyalgia, tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, and others.

Does dry needling hurt?

If you're assuming needling causes pain because of the whole "needle" idea, think again! In needling procedures, most of our patients report feeling little or no pain. Our highly trained Wilmington, NC physical therapists know how to make the procedure as painless as possible, but when the needle is applied, some patients may still experience a "twitch response." This is similar to a sharp cramp or pain in the muscle.

Patients can experience muscle soreness within 24–48 hours of needling, which normally recovers on its own. Sore muscles can be handled at home with ice and/or heat packs, as well as plenty of fluids.

How can dry needling eliminate pain?

While it is a popular misconception, dry needling is not acupuncture. Dry needling is focused on current clinical studies of the musculoskeletal and neuromuscular systems and is solely based on western medicine and research standards.

A physical therapist will use needling to alleviate discomfort, minimize muscle tension, and increase mobility by inserting a sterile needle through the skin and the affected tendons, ligaments, or muscles. Dry needling simply provides an environment that enhances the body's ability to heal and ultimately reduces pain in the process.

Can dry needling help me?

Tons of musculoskeletal conditions can be treated with needling. At our Wilmington, NC physical therapy practice, we have found that the vast majority of our patients achieved the pain-free outcomes they were looking for when our conventional exercise-based therapies were combined with needling. Some common conditions that can be treated with dry needling are:

• Back pain
• Overuse injuries
• Chronic headaches
• Neck pain
• Joint pain and discomfort
• Jaw pain