Dry needling has become increasingly popular as a non-drug, non-operative therapy for chronic pain. Unlike acupuncture, dry needling procedures and results come from real science. In other words, it works.
Let’s learn more about it and how you can find a certified provider near you.
What Does Dry Needling Do?
Dry needling is an effective pain control technique that causes therapeutic contraction and relaxation of knotted muscle groups. Inserted into these “trigger points,” the thin, filiform needles gently pierce the fascia covering the shoulder, neck, jaw, and other muscles which are continually painful and sore.
The physical therapist rotates the needles and removes them within a certain time period. With the needle, no medication of any kind enters the muscles. Rather, it is the body’s own endorphins (pain-relieving and mood-elevating brain chemicals), along with the action of the dry needles and the actions employed by the therapist, which produce the pain-relieving results.
Most people experience some soreness and lingering discomfort after their dry needling sessions, which gets resolved. Plus, you should know that you likely will need more than one session to obtain lasting pain relief.
Does Dry Needling Really Work to Relieve Pain?
Most dry-needling patients experience relief for their chronic back, neck, and jaw pain. Migraine sufferers also feel better, as do individuals with arthritis, sciatic nerve pain, rotator cuff syndrome in the shoulder, herniated discs in the back, and more.
However, dry needling results always improve when combined with other physical or occupational therapies, such as massage, stretching, heat application, and more. In fact, this is the essence of physical therapy: customized treatments used in unique combinations to relieve pain, heal injury, improve function, strength, balance, and coordination and help people move and stay as independent as possible.
Where Can I Find a Certified Dry Needling Provider?
The American Physical Therapy Association reports that licensed physical therapists are allowed to perform dry needling as part of their day-to-day practices. Therapists who offer dry needling to qualified patients must complete a course in the technique as part of postgraduate education. Texas is one of the many states which allows physical therapists to perform dry needling.
Physical Therapy in Austin, TX
If you’re dealing with chronic pain and wish to get a pain relief evaluation by an expert physical therapist, visit us at Endeavor Physical Therapy & Wellness. We offer top-notch trigger finger therapy for our patients. Our team of certified and skilled physical therapists provides specialized services to alleviate pain in the fingers, hands, and upper extremities.
To know more, call us today at (512) 886-7110, or you may request an appointment online by filling in our convenient appointment request form.
We have several fully-staffed, convenient locations in Austin, Bee Cave, San Marcos, Pflugerville, Hutto, Round Rock, Kyle, and Cedar Park, TX. We look forward to helping you conquer your chronic pain.
