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Dry needling isn’t new to physical therapy, but it is relatively new to Iowa. The technique was passed as an approved treatment in 2016 to help patients find pain relief.
So, what is it and how can it help you? The Iowa Clinic, answers the five most common questions about dry needling therapy.
What is dry needling?
At its core, dry needling is a treatment to get rid of trigger points, or the knots in your muscles that cause you pain. Dry needling uses tiny filiform needles that are precisely placed in your muscular and connective tissues to eliminate the myofascial trigger points, which help to improve your mobility, pain, and speed up recovery. Following dry needling, your physical therapist will develop restorative exercises to maintain and progress the improvements made.
Is dry needling the same as acupuncture?
No, while there are similarities, the two pain relief techniques are very different. Both dry needling and acupuncture use filiform needles at precise points in your body.
Acupuncture was developed on the idea that illness or pain occurs when the body's vital energy cannot flow freely. So needles are placed at precise points along these interconnected pathways that map the whole body, including your head, trunk and limbs. The goal of placing needles into acupuncture points is to direct the flow of vital energy to trigger your body's healing response and restore physical, emotional and mental equilibrium.
Dry needling targets the source of your pain — the myofascial pain caused by restrictions of your muscle tissue or the fascial layer of connective tissue that surrounds and supports the muscle. Physical therapists help to identify the knots or taut bands that are causing you problems and place needles with the intent of producing a local twitch response (LTR). It's the LTR that leads to the resolution of this trigger point. Following dry needling, the muscle becomes more relaxed, improving your mobility, and your nerves become less sensitive, reducing your pain. Blood flow to the area also increases after dry needling, improving tissue healing.
What type of pain does dry needling treat?
Dry needling is most commonly used for pain but it’s also an effective way to address mobility impairments, muscle strains, nerve pain, slow healing tissue, weakness, and even improve posture. For myofascial pain, dry needling is used to treat a number of trigger points that can lead to these common issues:
- Lower back pain
- Sciatica
- Disc pathology
- Whiplash injuries
- Headaches and migraines
- Muscle strains (hamstring, groin, calf, etc.)
- Pain in your shoulders, neck, knees and hips
- Tendonitis, bursitis, and other overuse injuries
- Carpal tunnel
- Golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow
What does it feel like?
Some people have a fear of needles, whether they cause pain or not. This is certainly one consideration your physical therapist will discuss with you. However, the filiform needles used are so thin (2-3x thinner than a flu shot needle) that they can penetrate the skin with little to no sensation.
Once the needle is placed and LTR is achieved, your tissue produces a unique response. Your muscles contract involuntarily as they release, which can feel uncomfortable — much like a muscle cramp. However, the sensation is short-lived, lasting only a few seconds. Once the twitch response is complete, the needle is removed, and you will start to feel the myofascial pain fade away.
What should I expect after dry needling therapy?
Soreness is common after a dry needling session. It’s similar to how you feel sore after strength training. Most often, the soreness resolves within 24 hours. You can help reduce it with ice, heat and gentle stretching.
In addition to sore muscles, you may need to help your muscles heal and restore their function. Your physical therapist may recommend that you:
- Drink plenty of water. It’s important to stay hydrated in the days following dry needling treatment. Hydration is another way to avoid or reduce sore muscles from your session.
- Exercise. Stretch, work out and continue your activities — as long as your pain doesn’t return when you do. Follow the rehab program prescribed by your physical therapist to improve your injury or condition.
- Massage your muscles. Massage is another trigger point therapy used by physical therapists. Give your taut muscles a gentle massage to continue stimulating the tissues to help resolve the soreness and pain.
Physical therapists are uniquely trained in dry needling, but it’s just one of the many tools in their toolbox. Dry needling treatments may be used as a stand-alone therapy or in addition to a variety of other treatments to relieve your pain and improve your function. Schedule an appointment with your physical therapist to diagnose your pain, identify your trigger points and get you back to feeling good.
JordanStevens , PT
Jordan Stevens, PT brings his passion for personalized care to The Iowa Clinic Physical Therapy department. Working as a travel physical therapist for several years, Jordan is excited to be back in his hometown of Des Moines and join a team known for its patient-centered approach and dedication to achieving the best outcomes. He values the one-on-one time he spends with his patients, building connections that allow him to tailor therapy to their unique goals and lifestyles. For Jordan, the most rewarding part is seeing his patients get back to the activities they love.
Outside of work, Jordan enjoys golfing, biking, volleyball, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. If he weren’t a physical therapist, Jordan might have pursued a career as a scuba instructor.