What is dry needling? Can it take away your joint or muscle pain? Dry needling is the practice of inserting a sterile monofilament needle inside muscles for intramuscular therapeutic purposes. The needle is not medicated, and this is not a form of acupuncture. Dry needling is a form of Western medicine, while acupuncture is a form of Eastern medicine.
Dry needling can relieve pain associated with , muscle tension, spasms, arthritis, nerve irritation, ligament strains, herniated discs, and trigger points which are tight bands or knots of muscle located within a larger muscle groups like the upper traps or low back.
Dry needling causes minimal pain, but inserting the needle may cause a local twitch response and you may feel a slight cramping or achy feeling. That achy, crampy feeling doesn’t last long and actually shows that the method is working to stimulate the muscle fibers and produce an immune system response. You may feel sore or experience some bruising after dry needling but icing or heating the areas will relieve any discomfort. So if you have pain and decreased range of motion from what feels like knots in your muscles or other muscular strains, dry needling may be just what the doctor ordered. Call us hear at Expert Doctors of Physical Therapy to schedule your free evaluation for dry needling today. (678) 532-7754