Dry Needling is a technique that uses a monofilament needle inserted through a guide tube into affected tissue for pain relief. Dry needling is comparative to acupuncture, however it is used in different manners and for different purposes. While acupuncture is used for energy or “chi” alignment, the purpose of dry needling is more localized to muscle, tendon, and nerve function. In this blog, we will discuss only 3 benefits of needling, however many more could be listed. Dry needling is just one service that is provided at Rebalance Physical Therapy in Greenville, SC. To learn more about the other services provided at this clinic, click the button below.

What are the benefits of Dry Needling?

1. Reduction of pain

A significant benefit of dry needling is its ability to reduce pain both in new and old injuries. The needle is inserted into the painful area/trigger point to produce a mechanical and chemical response that will lead to pain reduction and decreased muscle tension. This release can produce what we call a twitch response, where the muscle contracts and there is an increase in blood flow to the area. This creates a decrease in overall pain and improvement in muscle function. This is very effective in various conditions such as tendonitis, trigger point related pain, chronic muscle guarding, and myofascial pain syndromes.  

2. Increase range of motion and flexibility

Another related benefit from dry needling is increased flexibility and range of motion. After the muscle twitch response from the needling of trigger points, the muscle is now allowed to return to its resting position and be in a more “relaxed” state. The needle initially increases blood flow to the area through micro-trauma of the tissue while allowing the muscle to return to resting position. This increase in blood flow to the muscle is very helpful specifically for chronic conditions where the body has adjusted to this “new normal” and can be a catalyst into healing!  Below is a quote from a patient post needling:

3. Improvement of function and daily activities

As well as pain reduction and improvement in range of motion, dry needling is beneficial for improvement of function. Numbness and tingling can be a big reason why people are not able to perform certain activities. Numbness and tingling can come from different reasons, but one reason may be due to compression of surrounding muscles. Once those surrounding muscles are released through dry needling, the numbness and tingling therefore decrease due to pressure being released from the nerve.

Another benefit for improvement of function is the muscle being re-aligned and therefore better able to fire correctly again. An injured muscle tends to fire incorrectly or not activate as appropriately or efficiently as normal. Needling goes into the muscle and serves as a jump start for the muscle to be reconnected to the brain and function as it is intended. Read what one of our patients had to say about their specific success story through dry needling below:

And so many more…

Increased oxygen to damaged tissue, improved neural connection with brain, and improved healing of tissue, improved tissue reconstruction and more.

In order to get the most benefit from dry needling it is imperative to follow up with movement and overall improved activation of muscles needled. Strengthening the new gained motion will allow for long lasting results and improved outcomes.

A few more questions?

1. Is dry needling painful? This question is hard to answer objectively due to everyone having a different pain tolerance. Most of our patients say it is not bad once they know what to expect. It’s always the fear of the unknown that is the worst part!
   The insertion of the needle can cause a pin prick sensation; however a dull toothache sensation is the goal. The twitch response that is sometimes elicited with dry needling can be a short term irritant causing muscle soreness for 24-48 hours.

2. Who can benefit from dry needling? Dry needling can be useful for a whole gambit of diagnoses. Almost any area of the body that is hurting or holding tension could be a potential candidate for needling. Some common examples include neck pain, shoulder impingement, headaches/migraines, low back pain, hip pain/tendonitis, sciatica/piriformis syndrome, plantar fasciitis, shin splints, jaw pain/TMJ and so many others.

Ready to give Dry Needling a try?

Conclusion

How can dry needling benefit vestibular dysfunctions?

Dry Needling can help as an add-on in vestibular rehabilitation to address headaches and migraines associated with stiffening up of the head and neck due to reduction of head movements. The vestibular system fires when we rotate our head to either side. So, if you are having more neck pain, you typically start muscle guarding and therefore do not turn your head as much…leading to reduced firing of the vestibular nerve.

Seeing a licensed vestibular therapist when experiencing any types of dizziness, vertigo, or feelings of off-balance can be the difference between living your best life and living a life in fear of falling or with constant limitations. Don’t settle for the latter!

Does this sound like you? Schedule your initial evaluation today!