Muscle pain and stiffness can make it difficult to enjoy or perform basic everyday activities, such as working, exercising, or even sleeping. One method you could try to relieve tight muscles and improve movement is dry needling. Performed by a licensed physical therapist in Michigan, this technique targets painful muscle knots to reduce discomfort and restore normal function.
Not sure if this would be a helpful option for your muscle pain? Keep reading to explore what dry needling is and how it could fit into your physical therapy treatment.
Dry Needling: Defined
Dry needling is a therapeutic technique used by licensed physical therapists to treat muscle pain and movement dysfunction. The treatment involves inserting very thin, sterile, dry needles into specific areas of tight muscle tissue called trigger points, according to the American Physical Therapy Association. The “dry” reference simply means there is no fluid in the needle.
Trigger points are sensitive, tight bands of muscle that can cause pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion. When stimulated with a needle, the muscle often responds with a brief twitch, which can help release tension and improve blood flow.
Also known as intramuscular manual therapy, dry needling is different from acupuncture.
- Acupuncture is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine and can only be performed by acupuncturists.
- Dry needling is considered modern Western medicine and is supported by evidence-based research.
Dry needling can be used to treat many neuromusculoskeletal conditions, such as:
- Muscle pain
- Sports injuries
- Movement limitations
What Are Trigger Points?
Often described as muscle knots, trigger points form when muscle fibers become tight and irritated. This can occur due to anything from overuse and poor posture to injury or stress.
As a result, you may experience:
- Localized muscle pain
- Reduced flexibility
- Muscle stiffness
- Pain that radiates to other areas of the body
For example, a trigger point in the shoulder may send pain radiating up into the neck or down the arm. Your Michigan physical therapist can identify these areas during an evaluation and suggest dry needling to release tension.
What to Expect: Dry Needling
Dry needling stimulates the affected muscle and nervous system by inserting a thin needle into a trigger point. When the small muscle twitch response is activated, the muscle can then relax and reset. When muscle tightness is reduced, mobility improves thanks to the increase in blood circulation and decreased inflammation in the affected tissue.
With relaxed muscles, you may experience:
- Reduced pain
- Improved range of motion
- Less muscle tension
- Better overall movement
Some people only need a few treatments to feel relief, while for others, it could take more. This will depend largely on the condition you have.
Each session only lasts a few minutes for each muscle being treated. You may feel a small prick as the needle enters the skin, followed by a brief twitch sensation when the trigger point is stimulated.
Afterwards, you may experience mild soreness but it should go away within a day or two.
Conditions Dry Needling May Help Treat
Your Michigan physical therapist may recommend dry needling for:
- Chronic neck and back pain
- Shoulder pain
- Sports injuries
- Muscle strains
- Tension headaches
- Sciatica
- Tendon or overuse injuries
How Dry Needling Fits Into Physical Therapy
Dry needling is often used in conjunction with other physical therapy techniques to address both the symptoms and the underlying cause of pain.
Your comprehensive treatment plan may include:
- Therapeutic exercises
- Stretching programs
- Manual therapy
- Posture and movement training
- Strengthening exercises
When combined with exercise and physical therapy in Michigan, dry needling can help patients move more comfortably and return to their daily activities with less discomfort.
Contact Specialty Physical Therapy
Is muscle pain or tightness is limiting your movement? Find out if dry needling could become a helpful part of your treatment plan. Schedule an evaluation today with our licensed physical therapists within four convenient locations.