Dry Needling

Identifying and treating the muscular trigger points of pain can improve your musculoskeletal function and reduce your pain.

Neurodynamic Mobilization

Focusing on the relationship between your nervous system and your muscles and bones is an important component of treating your condition or injury.

What is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a procedure during which a thin, "dry" needle (meaning it does not contain medication or injection) is inserted into the skin to break up a trigger point of pain. A trigger point is tightness in a muscle that is causing discomfort, pain, or lower mobilization.

Dry needing is performed by licensed physical therapists using sterile needles, gloves, and other protective equipment.

What is Neural Mobilization?

Neural mobilization, also known as neuromobilization or neurodynamics, is a technique used to treat pain and other symptoms in the nerves.

As with muscles, bones, ligaments and tendons, your nerves have to tolerate movement and load. Neural mobilization uses manual therapy techniques and specific exercises to help stress the neural tissues to improve pain, mobility and functional tolerance.

When is dry needling used?

Dry needling is used when your pain is localized in muscles or tissues that cannot be reached through manual therapy alone. It is often used in conjunction with manual therapy and other physical therapy techniques.

How Dry Needling Affects Your Physical Therapy Results

The goal of dry needling is to reduce pain and muscle tension while improving blood flow and your range of motion. This can help speed your recovery and help you return to your healthy lifestyle.

Are dry needling and acupuncture the same thing?

Although the techniques sound similar, dry needling and acupuncture are different procedures. Acupuncture is rooted in traditional Eastern medicine, and the needles are applied in multiple areas of the body to reduce pain and rebalance your energy flow.

In contrast, dry needling is based in Western medicine, and the needles are only applied to the trigger points. Common areas for dry needling include the knee, hip, calf, neck, shoulder, forearm, and back.

Our Approach to Dry Needling

Your therapist could include dry needling as part of your physical therapy treatment plan along with manual therapy and pain-science education. Our goal is to better understand your pain and help you create a journey to recovery.

If you're interested in seeing what a personalized physical therapy treatment would look like for your, feel free to reach out! You can use the form here to reach out to a physical therapist directly.