What is Dry Needling?
What is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is an advanced technique that uses very small needles to puncture the skin around stiff muscles.
Patients describe this feeling as a painful balloon being “deflated.” With each prick, the muscle tension, pain, and spasms are calmed and released. There are no medications in the needles.
When performed by our skilled physical therapists, this treatment is a safe and effective way to eliminate pain, muscle tension, stiffness, and muscle spasms. Our dry needling services help patients regain their full range of motion, allowing them to participate in their daily activities, sports, and hobbies again…pain-free at our Fort Myers, FL clinic and our Cape Coral, FL physical therapy office.
The Conditions Dry Needling Can Help With
The Conditions Dry Needling Can Help With
Dry needling and acupuncture may appear similar because they both involve sterile needles getting placed into areas of the skin.
However, unlike dry needling, acupuncture does not follow an evidence-based approach for the treatment of pain, stiffness, injuries, and neuromuscular conditions.
Instead, acupuncture is a type of traditional Chinese medicine that works to alter the flow of energy (known as Qi) to give patients the perception that their pain is relieved. Many scientific studies suggest that acupuncture is a placebo effect and does not provide lasting treatment for most conditions.
On the other hand, dry needling DOES follow an evidence-based approach to treatment.
When performed by a trained physical therapist, dry needling is proven to effectively treat a variety of conditions, such as pain and stiffness.
Many patients feel that their range of motion improves immediately from dry needling treatment.
About 2-3 days after dry needling treatment, most patients feel a dramatic decrease in pain and stiffness.
How We’ve Helped Others With Dry Needling
How We’ve Helped Others With Dry Needling
Want Help To Decide If Dry Needling Is Right For You?
Want Help To Decide If Dry Needling Is Right For You?
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Dry Needling Services
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Dry Needling Services
A lot of people wonder if the needles feel like those you would get at the doctor’s office. Luckily, the needles are so thin that most people hardly notice the prick.
Instead, you may feel more of a cramp-like sensation for about 15-30 seconds when the needle reaches the trigger points. This sensation is usually considered less painful than the pain you already feel from your condition.
Of course, your physical therapist can stop at any time if you are feeling uncomfortable. During treatment, many patients feel some quick cramping coupled with a feeling that the tension is melting away.
After treatment you may feel some lingering soreness or achiness for the first 24-48 hours after treatment.
Once the soreness disappears, you can expect to feel a significant improvement of your symptoms and a greater ability to move freely.
The more treatments you have, the less likely you are to feel post-treatment soreness.
Some patients with acute pain (pain that has lasted less than a week), may only need one treatment to feel better.
Patients with chronic pain (pain that has lasted at least three weeks), may need one treatment per week to start feeling permanent symptom relief.
Show up to your dry needling appointment in comfortable and loose-fitting clothing (we can also provide comfortable clothing for you to borrow at no cost).
Before your dry needling session begins, your physical therapist will ask you questions about your condition, such as how long you’ve had it, what the symptoms are, and what makes it feel better or worse.
You will then lie on a massage table and your physical therapist will start treatment. Your physical therapist may continue to discuss your condition and provide suggestions on how to resume treatment at home.
Most dry needling sessions last about 30 minutes.
Our dry needling services are the only ones in the world performed by physical therapists who are trained in the GRAY METHOD™.
The GRAY METHOD™ is a trademarked method of treatment that fixes the underlying cause to permanently fix the symptoms.
This means we can determine the underlying cause of your condition and accurately locate the trigger points to provide you with lasting relief.