top of page

DRY NEEDLING

Dry needling is a very powerful and effective tool that we use to treat a variety of injuries and conditions. It is used to enhance the benefits and efficiency of rehabilitation, injury prevention and performance enhancement. Below is a list of common conditions that dry needling is used to treat and answers to frequently asked questions.

  • Low Back Pain

  • Neck Pain

  • Car Accidents

  • Trauma

  • Shoulder Pain and Dysfunction

  • Sports Injuries

  • Hip, Sacrum or Pelvic Pain

  • Knee Pain

  • Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

  • Foot & Ankle Injuries

  • Post-operative Rehabilitation

  • Postural Concerns

  • Overuse injuries

  • Headaches

  • Spasms

  • Plantar fasciitis 

  • Temporomandibular Dysfunction (TMD)

  • Elbow Pain 

  • Hand & Wrist Pain

  • Thoracic & Abdominal Pain

WHAT IS IT?

  • Not Acupuncture (see below)

  • Called Dry Needling because it does not involve injecting a wet substance

  • Focused to address painful “knots”in muscle that often produce local pain as well as radiating or referred pain to other parts of the body

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

  • Muscular pain relief both locally and referred

  • Restores muscle strength,function, performance and range of motion

  • Accelerated return to activity

  • Optimizes speed, agility and power

  • Relaxes tight muscles, activates weak muscles

HOW DOES IT WORK?

  • A small monofilament needle is inserted into triggerpoints or taut bands in muscle tissue

  • Stimulates healing of injured or dysfunctional soft tissue, resets muscle tone

  • Restores normal physiology, reduces muscle tension and pain, normalizes biomechanics, facilitates accelerated return to activity

WHAT TO EXPECT?

  • Typically described as a deep aching or cramping sensation and an involuntary muscle twitch response

  • Side effects are variable but can include muscle soreness, similar to soreness after an intense workout and occasionally a local bruise

  • Can be combined with electrical stimulation to enhance the response

Dry Needling

​

  • Based on Modern Western Medicine with anatomical and neurophysiological principles and is supported by research

  • Aimed to address myofascial tension and improve musculoskeletal function

  • Essentially performing intramuscular therapy i.e.manual therapy inside of the muscle

VS

Acupuncture

​

  • Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine and the belief that health is determined by a balanced flow of chi

  • Uses the theory of meridians and the placement of needles is targeted to restore chi

​​To Sum It Up:
The same filament needles are used in both dry needling and acupuncture however, theory and clinical reasoning behind the needle placement is different

keep in touch!

Sign up to our newsletter

bottom of page