Dry Needling Could Change Your Life for the Better
If you’re experiencing pain or dysfunction, you’re not alone—many people deal with it every year. Fortunately, physical therapy can help. If you’re not familiar with dry needling and its many health benefits, know that it’s one of the effective treatment methods our physical therapists at Recover Fisioterapia & Rehabilitacion may use as part of your care. Dry needling is a procedure designed to relieve pain and muscle tension while also improving mobility.
Pain-Relief Benefits of Dry Needling
Despite a common misconception, dry needling is not acupuncture. While the two techniques share some similarities, dry needling is based on Western medical principles and research.
Dry needling helps create the conditions for the body to heal more effectively and, in turn, can reduce pain. It is a physical therapy technique that involves inserting a sterile needle into the affected muscles—or near related tendons or ligaments—to relieve pain, decrease muscle tension, and improve mobility.
How Can Dry Needling Benefit Me?
Dry needling can help improve a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions and offers several health benefits. At Recover Fisioterapia & Rehabilitacion, we’ve found that when dry needling is combined with our traditional exercise-based treatments, the majority of our patients achieve the pain-free results they’re aiming for. After a thorough evaluation to understand the severity of your condition, your physical therapist will let you know whether this is the best course of treatment for you.
Some common conditions that can be treated with dry needling include:
- Chronic headaches
- Neck pain
- Joint pain and discomfort
- Jaw pain
- Back pain
- Overuse injuries
A wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions have been shown to benefit from this treatment method, including:
- Acute and chronic injuries
- Overuse injuries
- Neck pain
- Headaches
- Back pain
- Sciatica
- Muscle spasms
- Muscle tension
- Tendinitis
- Knee pain
- Hip pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Tennis elbow
- Golfer’s elbow
Is Dry Needling Painful?
If the word “needle” makes you think dry needling is painful, think again. During these procedures, most of our patients report little to no discomfort.
Some patients may experience a brief “twitch response” when the needle is inserted, but our highly trained physical therapists know how to perform the technique in a way that minimizes discomfort. Mild muscle soreness may occur for 24 to 48 hours after treatment, but this typically resolves on its own. Any post-treatment soreness can be managed at home with ice and/or heat packs, along with staying well hydrated.