Dry Needling

Dry Needling, known as IntraMuscular Stimulation (IMS) or Trigger Point Dry Needling (TDN), is a treatment performed by a certified physical therapist specialist to:

• Relax myofascial trigger points
• Restore normal muscle tone, muscle length
• Restore muscle coordination and function

Dry Needling is often an effective technique for patients with certain musculoskeletal presentations.

During Dry Needling a “dry” thin monofilament needle penetrates the skin and treats the underlying trigger point to manage neuromusculoskeletal pain and movement impairments. A trigger point is a tight band of muscle fiber that disrupts muscle function, limits range of motion, and causes tenderness and pain. By applying Dry Needling to a trigger point, it produces an involuntary spinal cord reflex, or Local Twitch Response (LTR). LTR creates lasting muscle relaxation because it releases the shortened bands of muscle fibers found in overactive tight muscles, as well as activate underactive weak muscles. By deactivating these trigger points, there is an immediate relief of symptoms, a decrease in banding or tightness, and reduction in pain.

Dry Needling and acupuncture are not the same. While both use a similar tool, a dry, solid filament needle, the difference is how it is performed by different practitioners with different training. Acupuncture is based on Eastern medicine, while Dry Needling is based on western medicine, neuroanatomy, the modern study of musculoskeletal and nervous systems, as well as pain patterns, posture, movement impairment, functional and orthopedic tests.

Dry Needling is a safe and natural way to relieve pain, improve motion, and restore function. However, it is rarely a standalone procedure.

Dry Needling is part of a physical therapy approach which incorporates other forms and techniques of physical therapy treatment.

Dry Needling, as part of a traditional physical therapy treatment, has successfully been used to treat a variety of conditions including:

• Back Pain: including lumbar degenerative disk disease, arthritic changes, and herniated discs
• Neck Pain: whiplash, headaches, degenerative joint disease, degenerative disk disease or osteoarthritis
• Dental (Teeth) and Orthodontic (Jaw and Occlusal) Pain: including temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction
• Shoulder Pain: including rotator cuff muscle tears, bursitis, adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder), tendonitis and impingement syndrome
• Elbow Pain: including lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) and medial epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow)
• Hand and Wrist Pain: including gamekeeper’s thumb, DeQuervain’s syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, degenerative joint disease, and osteoarthritis
• Hip Pain: including degenerative joint disease, and osteoarthritis
• Knee Pain: including degenerative changes or osteoarthritis
• Shin/Ankle/Foot Pain: including shin splints, metatarsalgia and Morton’s Neuroma
• Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)
• Acute and Chronic Tendonitis
• Post- Surgical Pain
• Athletic and Sports-related Overuse Injuries
• Post-Traumatic Injuries, Car Accidents, Work-related Injuries
• Other Chronic Pain Conditions: including myofascial pain and myofascial pain syndrome (MPS)