Dry Needling

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Manage Back & Neck Pain with Physical Therapy

At Capstone Physical Therapy, we are proud to offer Dry Needling as an additional tool to improve movement and help you achieve your goals. Whether you’re dealing with chronic pain, sports injuries, or muscle tightness, Dry Needling can help you achieve relief and improve your quality of life.

What is Dry Needling?

The method involves a trained Physical Therapist using a thin, dry needle (similar to the ones used in acupuncture) that is pressed through the patient’s skin into the underlying muscle. This stimulates the underlying muscular, neural, and connective tissue for the treatment of musculoskeletal pain and movement impairments without injecting any substances.

Dry Needling is used as part of a larger pain management plan that includes more active treatments like exercise, stretching, and stability training and can also include massage and other manual therapies.

How can Dry Needling help me?

Current research shows Dry Needling can be used to treat a variety of musculoskeletal issues, including but not limited to:

  • Neck, back, and shoulder pain (including rotator cuff injuries);
  • Arm pain (tennis elbow, carpal tunnel, golfer’s elbow);
  • Chronic headaches (migraines and tension-type);
  • Jaw and TMD;
  • Buttock and leg pain (sciatica, hamstring strains, calf tightness/spasms);
  • Tendonitis/ tendinosis;
  • Nerve entrapments and damage.

Is Dry Needling different from acupuncture?

Yes.  Although the Physical Therapist uses a needle similar to the ones that are used in acupuncture, Dry Needling is not considered to be acupuncture. Dry Needling is based on Western physiologic approaches, whereas acupuncture is based on Chinese or Eastern medicine.  Different approaches lead to different assessments and treatment targets.

How long does it take to notice the results?

While some patients will get immediate relief of pain and tightness, the typical response is a change in symptoms within 1-2 days of treatment. While soreness is common after treatment, patients typically report a decrease in severity of pain within a day or two. Typically, it will take several treatment sessions for patients to notice a positive and significant improvement in their condition; however, results are dependent on diagnosis and severity and chronicity of condition.

Is Dry Needling painful?

There are two sensations that are associated with the procedure. First is the insertion of the needle into the skin. As the needles are very thin, most patients do not feel the needle penetrate into the skin. Second is when the needle is inserted into the tissue and the associated muscle twitch response.

Is Dry Needling safe?

Yes. Dry Needling is generally considered a safe procedure, but there are some potential risks, such as bruising, soreness, or infection. Dry Needling has been shown to have less risk of adverse effect than opioids, NSAIDS and even common manual therapies.

What are the benefits of Dry Needling?

Benefits of Dry Needling include:

  • Pain Relief: Dry Needling can help reduce pain and soreness by releasing muscle tension and stimulating the body’s natural pain-relieving mechanisms.
  • Improved Movement: By addressing trigger points, Dry Needling can improve range of motion and flexibility.
  • Muscle Relaxation: The needles can help relax tense or tight muscles, which can lead to improved function and reduced pain.
  • Enhanced Blood Flow: Dry Needling can increase blood flow to the treated area, which can promote healing and reduce inflammation.

Who shouldn’t get Dry Needling treatments?

Providers don’t recommend the procedure for children under the age of 12 because it can be painful. You and your child will both need to provide consent, and you should consider other less invasive options first. Other groups who should consult with their physician before receiving Dry Needling include patients who: are pregnant, aren’t able to understand the treatment, are very afraid of needles (trypanophobia), have compromised immune systems, have just had surgery, or are on blood thinners.

If you would like to find out more about how Dry Needling can help you, call Capstone today to make an appointment with one of our Dry Needling certified Physical Therapists.