Dry Needling

Myofascial trigger point dry needling (MFTrPDN) is a treatment to restore proper function to abnormally behaving muscles that become “locked”, preventing normal muscle function, which causes restriction of movement and chronic pain.

Many methods of treatment are applied to painful muscles but none are quite as effective, fast acting or long lasting as dry needling.

Muscles can become painful with nodules, also called knots, and tight bands of muscle; the pain can be local or send pain signals to other locations in the body.

These knots develop from overuse, trauma, poor posture, lack of exercise, sleep disturbances, vitamin deficiencies, joint arthritis, or nerves being compressed at the spine and other locations. These painful areas contain biochemicals that cause pain to the local nerves, and decreases oxygen flow (called ischemia), causing further pain resulting in muscle fibers to “lock”.

Dry needling is so effective because it short-circuits the vicious cycle in a direct way that other methods cannot accomplish. This allows the muscle to release to its normal length, improves circulation, reduces swelling, and disperses the pain-causing chemicals, thereby removing their noxious effect on local nerves.The treatment utilizes very thin sterile needles to achieve its goal. The relief is often rapid and the patient becomes relaxed and tired.