Dry Needling: A Powerful Tool for Pain Relief and Muscle Reset
As physical therapists, we have many “tools in the toolbox” to help address pain. These include our hands, cups, tape, instruments like Graston, and even needles. While many of these techniques have overlapping goals and effects, our ultimate aim is to interact with the body in a way that promotes healing. Dry needling is one of the strongest and most effective tools we have.
What Exactly Is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is a technique that licensed physical therapists can become certified in, where we insert a thin needle directly into muscle tissue. This not only stimulates changes within the muscle itself but also interacts with the nervous system in several important ways:
1. Microdamage and Increased Blood Flow
By inserting a needle into the muscle, we create controlled microdamage. This triggers increased blood flow to the area, bringing with it the body’s natural healing chemicals. The mechanical disruption of the needle can also release “trigger points,” contracted bands of muscle tissue that can cause localized or referred pain. When these trigger points are disrupted, the muscle often releases tension and functions more normally.
2. Neuromuscular Reset
The neuromuscular junction is where a nerve communicates with a muscle. Think of the body as an electrical circuit board - nerves use electrical signals to control muscles. When this system is disrupted (due to injury, overuse, or underuse), a muscle may stop functioning properly. Dry needling, especially when combined with electrical stimulation, allows us to directly influence this system. We can tell a nerve to calm down so a tight muscle can relax, or we can encourage a nerve to wake up a dormant muscle so it becomes more active and effective.
Who Benefits From Dry Needling?
Dry needling is used to stimulate change in a dysfunctional muscle, which can mean many things. Is the muscle overly tight and contracted? Is it underactive and not pulling its weight? Dry needling can help in both scenarios.
For example, if I have a patient with low back pain due to underactive deep stabilizer muscles and overactive paraspinals, I might needle the paraspinals to reduce their activity, and then use needles with electrical stimulation on the multifidi (the deep core muscles along the spine) to activate and strengthen them.
What Happens After a Dry Needling Treatment?
Movement! Dry needling acts as a “reset” for the muscle, but it’s what we do after that truly matters. We need to reinforce proper muscle activation and reload the body with movement and strength training to ensure lasting change.
Who Should Avoid Dry Needling?
Physical therapists who perform dry needling are required to complete specialized certification courses, making us well-versed in the risks and contraindications. Whether dry needling is appropriate for you depends on your individual situation.
In general, dry needling is a safe technique with minimal side effects. However, it is not recommended for individuals with:
First trimester of pregnancy
Uncontrolled anticoagulant use
Compromised immune system
Local infection or active tumor
Area near a cardiac pacemaker
Immediate post-surgical status
If you’re interested in receiving dry needling treatment, contact us or schedule an appointment today!
