At Columbus Community Hospital, we use innovative techniques to treat musculoskeletal pain and movement disorders. One of those techniques is dry needling.
What is dry needling?
Dry needling is a skilled intervention that uses a thin needle to penetrate the skin. The needle stimulates underlying myofascial trigger points and muscular and connective tissues. It can help you manage neuromusculoskeletal pain and movement impairments.
A trigger point is a taut band of skeletal muscle located within a larger muscle group. Trigger points can be tender to the touch and cause pain in distant parts of the body.
Trained physical therapists use dry needling with the goal of releasing/inactivating your trigger points and relieving your pain.
Research shows that dry needling improves pain control, reduces muscle tension and can help you return to your daily activities.
Other terms used for dry needling include:
- Trigger point manual therapy
- Trigger point dry needling
- Intramuscular manual therapy
- Functional dry needling
Is it painful?
Dry needling can be uncomfortable, causing short-lived pain or discomfort. When a therapist finds a trigger point, it can cause a brief cramping or deep ache sensation, but it leads to pain relief.
Benefits:
- Relieves muscle tension
- Reduces pain
- Improves movement
- Speeds up recovery process
Side effects:
- You will typically experience soreness in the area treated for 24 hours. Minor bleeding or bruising may occur during treatment
Trigger points have been identified in numerous diagnoses, including:
- Carpal tunnel
- Computer-related /postural disorders
- Whiplash-associated disorders
- Complex regional pain syndrome
- Nocturnal cramps
- Phantom pain
- Tendonitis
- Back/neck pain – cervical, thoracic, lumbar
- Joint dysfunction
- Sciatic pain
- Muscle spasms
- TMJ dysfunction
Areas of treatment:
- Hip
- Lumbar spine
- Thigh
- Cervical spine
- Shoulder
- Upper and lower extremities
Dry needling may also be used for acute and chronic sports-related injuries such as:
- Muscular hematomas
- Muscle tears/muscle strains
- Compartment syndrome
- Shin splints
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Tennis/golfers elbow
Nearly all patients who have the above issues can benefit from dry needling. However, there are some patients who should not receive dry needling, including:
- Those who have needle phobia or other anxiety about being treated with needles
- Children under the age of 12
- Those who are pregnant (1st trimester)
- Those who are on blood thinners