DRY NEEDLING
Dry needling is a procedure where a fine needle or acupuncture needle is inserted into the skin and muscle. It is aimed at myofascial trigger points which are hyperirritable spots in skeletal muscle that are associated with a hypersensitive palpable nodule in a taut band. Trigger point dry needling can be carried out at superficial or deep tissue level.
For those deeper, intramuscular trigger points, dry needling can be quicker and more effective than traditional physical therapy treatments. With a lot of patients, you don’t need to do dry needling every single visit that they come in. There are some trigger points and problems that take only five or six visits, and then they don’t need it anymore. This is especially true if it’s very localized.
Dry needling is safe, minimally discomforting and often an effective technique for patients with certain musculoskeletal presentations. Dry needling is a treatment performed by skilled, trained physical therapists, certified in the procedure. A thin monofilament needle penetrates the skin and treats underlying muscular trigger points for the management of neuromusculoskeletal pain and movement impairments.