Dry Needling Therapy

Physical therapist, Tony Garcia, working with a patient.

What is Dry Needling?

Functional Dry Needling is a skilled intervention performed by a trained physical therapist using a small monofilament needle targeting trigger points within muscle tissue. Trigger points are hyperirritable spots within a taut band of muscle fibers that may cause local and referred pain. They also can contribute to dysfunction in the way the muscle functions. The aim of functional dry needling is to restore normal muscle function and reduce pain in these specific areas.

Dry needling is a treatment that our physical therapists, who have done extra training to be able to perform dry needling, use to help patients manage pain and movement issues. This treatment may be used as part of a larger pain management plan that includes other exercise and physical therapy techniques that the therapists will outline for you.

During Your Dry Needling Session

During a therapy visit where dry needling is utilized, one of our trained physical therapists will identify your trigger points and insert thin needles through your skin to cause a quick spasm of the muscle. Stimulating the area with a thin needle restores blood flow and helps release tension, so the muscle can function properly. The needle only stays for a short period of time, often between 10 seconds and 20 minutes, during treatment. Many people will notice a reduction in pain or an improvement in range of motion within minutes to hours after a dry needling session.
The needles used during this process are solid filiform needles that do not inject any fluid, unlike hypodermic needles used for injections. This is why it is known as “dry needling.”

Benefits of Dry Needling

Minimal Invasiveness & Discomfort
Natural Pain Relief Without Medication
Improved Mobility and Range of Motion
Increases Blood Flow to Muscles
Treats a Wide Range of Conditions
Many people feel improvement within minutes to hours after a dry needling session