What is dry needling?
Dry needling Washington DC is a popular treatment at Release Physical Therapy. Dry needling is a procedure in which a solid filament needle is inserted into the skin and muscle directly at a myofascial trigger point. A myofascial trigger point consists of multiple contraction knots, which are related to the production and maintenance of the pain cycle. Trigger points are often the source of chronic pain and dysfunction. Dry needling is used to treat a variety of conditions from back pain to carpel tunnel syndrome, to jaw pain and migraine headaches
How does dry needling work?
The exact mechanisms of dry needling are not known. There are mechanical and biochemical effects. Based on the pioneering studies by Dr. Jay Shah and colleagues at the National Institutes of Health, we know that inserting a needle into trigger points can cause favorable biochemical changes, which assist in reducing pain. It is essential to elicit so-called local twitch responses, which are spinal cord reflexes. Getting local twitch responses with dry needling is the first step in breaking the pain cycle.
Is dry needling the same as acupuncture?
No, physical therapists at Release are not licensed acupuncturists and do not practice acupuncture. However, dry needling falls within the scope of acupuncture practice. In contrast to most schools of acupuncture, dry needling is strictly based on Western medicine principles and research. Licensed physical therapists in a growing number of states can offer dry needling alongside other therapies.
Is dry needling painful?
Most patients do not feel the insertion of the needle. The local twitch response elicits a very brief (less than a second) painful response. Some patients describe this as a little electrical shock; others feel it more like a cramping sensation. Again, the therapeutic response occurs with the elicitation of local twitch responses and that is a good and desirable reaction.
What side effects can I expect after a dry needle treatment?
Most patients report being sore after the procedure. The soreness is described as muscle soreness over the area treated and into the areas of referred symptoms. Typically, the soreness lasts between a few hours and two days.
What should I do after having dry needling therapy?
Our recommendations vary depending on the amount of soreness you have and on the individual response to the treatment. Recommendations may include applying heat or ice over the area, gentle stretches and modifications of activities.
How long does it take for dry needling to work?
Typically, it takes several visits for a positive reaction to take place. Again, we are trying to cause mechanical and biochemical changes without any pharmacological means. Therefore, we are looking for a cumulative response to achieve a certain threshold after which the pain cycle is disturbed.
Why is my doctor not familiar with dry needling?
In the US, dry needling is a relatively new method for treating myofascial pain and not everyone is already aware of this effective modality. Feel free to inform your doctor about this treatment option. It is upon all of us to educate others about new and innovative ways to treat pain.
Where does dry needling fit in the entire rehabilitation program?
Generally speaking, dry needling is the modality of choice when it comes to treating patients in the clinic. More frequently, dry needling is needed in the beginning in order to break the pain cycle. Once that is achieved, other treatment options are introduced.
How often do I need dry needling to maintain my progress?
The musculoskeletal system is under constant pressure from gravity, stress, work etc. A regular exercise program combined with good posture can prevent many problems. If the pain comes back, “tune-ups” are recommended to treat and prevent serious injuries with trigger point dry needling.
Dry Needling Washington DC
Myofascial pain, or “trigger point” pain is often the source of chronic pain and dysfunction, yet it is widely ignored by many health care providers. For this reason, we assess our patients with a detailed and specific muscle examination to determine an individualized treatment plan that may include dry needling procedures.
All Physical therapists at Release Physical Therapy have advanced credentials in the technique of dry needling. They have been trained to identify and efficiently treat muscular trigger points in over 100 muscles throughout the body.
Is dry needling the same as acupuncture?
No, physical therapists at Release are not licensed acupuncturists and do not practice acupuncture. However, dry needling falls within the scope of acupuncture practice. In contrast to most schools of acupuncture, dry needling is strictly based on Western medicine principles and research. Licensed physical therapists in a growing number of states can offer dry needling alongside other therapies.
Is dry needling painful?
Most patients do not feel the insertion of the needle. The local twitch response elicits a very brief (less than a second) painful response. Some patients describe this as a little electrical shock; others feel it more like a cramping sensation. Again, the therapeutic response occurs with the elicitation of local twitch responses and that is a good and desirable reaction.
What side effects can I expect after a dry needle treatment?
Most patients report being sore after the procedure. The soreness is described as muscle soreness over the area treated and into the areas of referred symptoms. Typically, the soreness lasts between a few hours and two days. Our post-treatment recommendations vary depending on the amount of soreness you have and on the individual response to the treatment. Recommendations may include applying heat or ice over the area, gentle stretches and modifications of activities.
Why is my doctor not familiar with dry needling?
In the US, dry needling is a relatively new method for treating myofascial pain and not everyone is already aware of this effective modality. Feel free to inform your doctor about this treatment option. It is upon all of us to educate others about new and innovative ways to treat pain.
How long does it take for dry needling to work?
Typically, it takes several visits for a positive reaction to take place. Again, we are trying to cause mechanical and biochemical changes without any pharmacological means. Therefore, we are looking for a cumulative response to achieve a certain threshold after which the pain cycle is disturbed.
How often do I need dry needling to maintain my progress?
The musculoskeletal system is under constant pressure from gravity, stress, work etc. A regular exercise program combined with good posture can prevent many problems. If the pain comes back, “tune-ups” are recommended to treat and prevent serious injuries with trigger point dry needling.
Where does dry needling fit in the entire rehabilitation program?
Generally speaking, dry needling is the modality of choice when it comes to treating patients in the clinic. More frequently, dry needling is needed in the beginning in order to break the pain cycle. Once that is achieved, other treatment options are introduced.
Dry Needling Washington DC
Dry needling Washington DC is a popular treatment at Release Physical Therapy. Myofascial pain, or “trigger point” pain is often the source of chronic pain and dysfunction, yet it is widely ignored by many health care providers. For this reason, we assess our patients with a detailed and specific muscle examination to determine an individualized treatment plan that may include dry needling procedures. All physical therapists at Release Physical Therapy have advanced credentials in the technique of dry needling. They have been trained to identify and efficiently treat muscular trigger points in over 100 muscles throughout the body.
Cari Simon
Owner, Physical Therapist
Bettie Kruger
Physical Therapist
Stephanie Lam
Physical Therapist
Trever Reed
Physical Therapist
Ethan Gramstad
Physical Therapist