Dry Needling

Dry needling is a powerful tool for unwinding tension in the deep layers of the muscle and the fascia. I use the same filiform needles that an acupuncturist uses. Dry needling is particularly useful for resolving issues that have been less responsive to the more superficial work of myofascial release.

Inserting the needle into the body is a unique stimulus that triggers several neurological and hormonal responses that are more difficult to produce with manual therapy. Specifically, dry needling is so effective because it can produce:

• Deeper tissue interaction

• Stronger pain modulation

• Faster healing

Piercing the skin stimulates a neurological response that helps to desensitize a painful area, while simultaneously initiating an inflammatory response that promotes tissue repair (by way of angiogenesis, nerve growth factor and myogenic transcription factor). Furthermore, needle penetration allows us to wind up the fascia around the needle and create a very specific stretch in relation to trigger points or tight muscles. This type of intervention has been effective in helping my clients who are dealing with:

• Chronic pain

• Intense or persistent muscular tension

• Acute sprains

• Muscular strains

• Arthritis

• Joint stiffness

• Numbness/tingling from nerve entrapment

• Pain related to disc injuries

If you have experience with dry needling or want to know more about how dry needling would work for your specific injury/condition, make sure to let me know during your treatment.