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Dry Needling General Information

What is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a precise therapeutic technique employing thin, solid filament needles to address trigger points and alleviate pain arising from muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves. Additionally, dry needling enhances mobility and overall bodily function.

How Does Dry Needling Work?

When your muscles, ligaments, or tendons register pain signals, they transmit this information to your brain. In response, your brain initiates a protective mechanism, causing the structures surrounding the painful area to tense up, which may lead to nerve and joint compression, intensifying the pain. This results in a recurring cycle of pain signaling. Dry needling disrupts this cycle by introducing a new stimulus to the brain, prompting it to release the tension in these structures. Consequently, your muscles and tendons relax, leading to pain reduction.

Purposes of Dry Needling:

Relieve muscle tension, enhancing Range of Motion (ROM)
Eliminate pain sources, such as trigger points and inflammatory agents
Stimulate tissue healing through controlled microtrauma

Increase red blood cell production
Foster the release of growth factors
Alleviate overall stress and tension related to pain

Evidence Supporting Dry Needling:

Numerous studies have reported the effectiveness of dry needling in various aspects of pain management and musculoskeletal health, including:

Equivalent efficacy to trigger point injections (AY, Clin Rheum 2010)
Correction of abnormal muscle activation (Lucas, Clin Biomech, 2010)
Mechanical transduction through needle rotation (Langevin, J Cell Physio 06)
Improvements in local circulation and the opposite limb (Kubo E J App Phys 2010) (Kubo, Int J Sp Med 2011)
Enhanced circulation near joints (Loaiza, Autonomic Neiro 02)
Rapid collagen production increase (Lee, Burns, 2011)
Relief of remote pain (Hsieh, APMR, 2011)
Potential benefits for tendinopathy (Br J SP Med 2007)

Modulation of inflammatory mediators (Sub P, serotonin, interleukins, epinephrine) (Dommerholt, 2013)
Increased endogenous opiates (Clement-Jones AJPMR 2011)
Reduction of peripheral and central sensitization (Mense, J Musculo Pn 2010; etc)
Decreased spasticity post-CVA (NeuroRehabd 2017)
Alterations in Ach and AchR levels while increasing AchE (Liu, Evidence-based Alt & Comp Medicine 2017)
Immediate improvements in ROM, strength, and muscle thickness (Med & Science in Sports and Ex 17; etc)

Is Dry Needling Similar to Acupuncture?

While dry needling utilizes the same type of needles as acupuncture, it differs significantly in its principles and aims:

Acupuncture:

Focuses on balancing Qi (energy) within Meridian lines (74 total channels)
Needle placement is determined by Meridian lines
Addresses a wide range of diagnoses

Dry Needling:

Aims to restore the body's Homeostasis influenced by the nervous system (autonomic, sympathetic, parasympathetic)
Needle placement guided by palpation and muscle testing
Primarily treats musculoskeletal and neural diagnoses

Why Is There an Additional Cost for Dry Needling?

We charge an extra fee to cover the cost of supplies and the specialized skills of our Therapists. While it is an additional expense, it can expedite your recovery process. We recommend a minimum of 3-5 dry needling sessions to fully experience its benefits.

Purposes of Dry Needling:

Initial evaluation: $200
Follow-up visit range: $105-$150

Discount options:

Booking at an event
Paying for 4 weeks of therapy in advance
Group dry needling booking:

We will come to a location of your choosing to treat with dry needling. If you organize a group at the same location who all want to receive dry needling, we offer a discount depending on the size of the group. There are 30-60 minute booking options.