Category: Dry Needling

Dry Needling

Trigger point dry needling is a technique that uses a solid filiform needle to deactivate hyperirritable areas within muscles with the goal of decreasing pain and restoring function. These hyperirritable areas, or also called trigger points, can have wide referral patterns. The needles vary in diameters and lengths depending on the target tissue depth. Dry needling is not the same as acupuncture. The needle used is similar but the assessment, technique and goals are very different between the two practices.

Trigger point dry needling reduces pain by affecting the local and spinal pathways. Active trigger points have a higher concentration of inflammatory markers, cytokines, neuropeptides and catecholamines. After the needle is inserted these markers have been shown to decrease thus decreasing pain and other symptoms.

The procedure of dry needling can cause muscle soreness, fatigue and some bruising. At times it can be painful, but overall it is a safe procedure. Some other complications that can occur are headaches, dizziness and on occasion some nerve injury. On very rare occasions serious complications like pneumothorax would occur.
There are many research articles with randomized controlled trials and case reports done to show the effectiveness of dry needling:     Chronic neck pain (Itoh 2007),    Upper trapezeius trigger points (Tsai 2010),        Shoulder pain (Ingber 2000, Osborne 2010), Fibromyalgia (Casanueva 2013), Chronic Lower back pain (Furlan 2005, Gunn 1980)
Any of the resources listed or information provided can be provided upon request.  If you have any questions regarding dry needling or if you feel you may benefit from it, please do not hesitate to contact me.
 
Sincerely,
 
Sabina K. Weaver, MSPT, ATC-L
sabina@histherapy.net
864-534-1780

Dry Needling Cuts Breast Cancer Survivor's Chronic Pain In Half

Dry needling– not to be confused with acupuncture– is a physical therapy treatment designed to reduce myofascial pain and discomfort, and is one Kizzie Person is very thankful for.  This is her story:

Kizzie was diagnosed with breast cancer in March of 2011.  She was treated with chemotherapy, a mastectomy, and radiation therapy.  Although cancer treatments have saved lives, they sometimes have unintended consequences, and this was the case for Kizzie.  After her treatment, she developed a swelling condition called lymphedema.  This made her arm feel heavy and difficult to lift.  Although the swelling was treated, over time her shoulder became stiff and painful.  Coupled with this, she experienced migraine headaches.  She tried different things for the pain, including a variety of medications and physical therapy; but it wasn’t until she was referred to a physical therapist who specializes in dry needling that she really saw improvement.  Research has shown that dry needling can help:

relieve fatigue
reduce vomitting
reduce pain
help decrease nausea

Dry needling involves inserting long, flexible needles into tight muscles and trigger points.  Although this doesn’t sound like fun, Kizzie will tell you that it is.  As a result of the dry needling and a few hands-on techniques the therapists used, Kizzie’s pain rating was cut in half from an 8 to a 4 on a 10-point scale.  

Kizzie says her neck and shoulders used to be “stiff as a brick”, but not anymore.  She is sitting up straighter, with less pain, and is able to lift her arms up again.  In short, she is now living her best life following cancer treatment, thanks to dry needling!

Book your appointment with Sabina today to see how dry needling can drastically improve your pain!

The Difference Between Dry Needling and Acupuncture

Many of you have had questions about what the real difference is between dry needling and acupuncture.  I’d like to bring some clarity to that question today.  The one common ground between dry needling and acupuncture is the use of thin needles to puncture the skin for therapeutic purposes.  The goals, however, are very different.

Dry needling, a more recently discovered therapeutic practice, aims to deactivate trigger points and “loosen” shortened muscles.  Its primary goal is to relieve pain and cramped muscles.

Acupuncture, a treatment used for hundreds, possibly a thousand years, is based on eastern medical diagnosis, and aims to affect the nervous system and release endorphins.  Its primary goal is to stimulate nerves which can lead to the relief of multiple medical conditions, such as depression, nausea, knee pain, and menstrual cramping.

Both have been seen to be beneficial for pain management!  Call today to schedule your dry needling appointment with Sabina Weaver at 864-534-1780.

Do You Need Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a treatment that involves a very thin needle being pushed through the skin to stimulate a trigger point. Dry needling releases the tight muscle bands associated with trigger points and leads to decreased pain, improved function, and speeds up recovery process. 

Trigger points are irritable, hard “knots” within a muscle that may cause pain over a large area, leading to difficulty performing everyday tasks. When a person has painful muscles and trigger points, it is sometimes called myofascial pain syndrome. 

Please call our office to schedule an appointment today!  864-534-1780

Dry Needling Black Friday Special

HIS THERAPY!  BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL

Get 50% OFF a 30 minute
DRY NEEDLING SESSION

Get one for yourself and give one as a gift!
 
TO BE USED ON BLACK FRIDAY!

CALL 864-534-1780 TO SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT

Dry Needling – What is it?

Dry needling is a treatment that involves a very thin needle being pushed through the skin to stimulate a trigger point. Dry needling releases the tight muscle bands associated with trigger points and leads to decreased pain, improved function, and speeds up the recovery process. 

Trigger points are irritable, hard “knots” within a muscle that may cause pain over a large area, leading to difficulty performing everyday tasks. When a person has painful muscles and trigger points, it is sometimes called myofascial pain syndrome.
 
Myofacial Trigger points are a common type of pain. The word myofascial means muscle tissue and the connective tissue in and around it. These trigger points are usually the result of a muscle injury, resulting from repetitive strain. They are painful when pressed on and can create pain in another area as well, which is called referred pain.

Dry Needling is becoming a popular modality in medical practices, as musculoskeletal complaints are one of the most reported reasons to seek medical attention. Because contractures and trigger points are invisible to X-rays, MRI, CT’s, a Dry Needling Therapist can “feel” with the needle and utilize it as a diagnostic instrument. Contractures deep in the muscles can be felt with the needle via feedback on the quality of the tissues that it is penetrating.

For more information, please call our office to set up a consultation on the phone or set up an initial evaluation in our office.  Call His Therapy at 864-534-1780 today! 

Have a Blessed Day!

DRY NEEDLING – What is it?

Dry needling is a treatment that involves a very thin needle being pushed through the skin to stimulate a trigger point. Dry needling releases the tight muscle bands associated with trigger points and leads to decreased pain, improved function, and speeds up the recovery process. 

Trigger points are irritable, hard “knots” within a muscle that may cause pain over a large area, leading to difficulty performing everyday tasks. When a person has painful muscles and trigger points, it is sometimes called myofascial pain syndrome.
 
Myofacial Trigger points are a common type of pain. The word myofascial means muscle tissue and the connective tissue in and around it. These trigger points are usually the result of a muscle injury, resulting from repetitive strain. They are painful when pressed on and can create pain in another area as well, which is called referred pain.

Dry Needling is becoming a popular modality in medical practices, as musculoskeletal complaints are one of the most reported reasons to seek medical attention. Because contractures and trigger points are invisible to X-rays, MRI, CT’s, a Dry Needling Therapist can “feel” with the needle and utilize it as a diagnostic instrument. Contractures deep in the muscles can be felt with the needle via feedback on the quality of the tissues that it is penetrating.

For more information, please call our office to set up a consultation on the phone or set up an initial evaluation in our office.  Call His Therapy at 864-534-1780 today! 

Have a Blessed Day!