Trigger Point Dry Needling

Dry needling therapy is a method of releasing toxic chemicals that inflame your muscles known as a trigger points (aka “muscle knots”). Trigger points are caused by trauma to an injured area and your muscles react by seizing up to protect it from further damage. This is why trigger points feel like muscle knots and are often painful upon applying pressure. They can cause a myriad of problems from pain in injured and surrounding areas, dysfunctional movement patterns, headaches and migraines, and joint dysfunction.

Does Dry Needling Hurt?

Dry needling therapy uses a very thin solid needle or filament to disrupt the trigger point, or muscle knot, and elicit a “twitch response” which returns that muscle to a normal state by allowing inflammatory chemicals to leave the trigger point, relax the muscle and restore blood flow to the area. Dry needling often uses the same type of needle as used in acupuncture, however while acupuncture remains close to the skin, dry needling penetrates deeper and so requires a physical therapist’s expert knowledge of the musculoskeletal system to administer. While dry needling does penetrate the muscles, the needles are very thin and you may or may not feel the insertion of the needle. Some patients may feel a brief ache or cramping sensation during the twitch response.