Dry needling, sometimes called myofascial trigger point dry needling or trigger point dry needling, is a medical treatment to relieve muscular pain associated with trigger points. Practitioners must complete comprehensive training before performing the treatment. Keep reading to learn more about dry needling and its benefits.
What Is Dry Needling Treatment
Many people confuse dry needling with acupuncture. Although both treatments use similar equipment and eschew the use of drugs for pain relief, that is about all they have in common. Acupuncture is based on Eastern medicine and is designed to influence energy meridians throughout the body. On the other hand, dry needling is a product of Western medicine. It is based on orthopedic science and a deep understanding of the musculoskeletal system. When performed at physical therapy OKC, dry needling is generally used to treat muscular pain.
The Treatment Process
Every patient will have a slightly different experience with dry needling, but they all follow the same basic principles. First, a very fine needle is inserted through the skin into a trigger point. Then, a skilled practitioner will manipulate the needle to target each trigger point and jumpstart natural healing.
Benefits Of Dry Needling Treatment
Patients report many benefits of dry needling treatments. However, you should remember that it is rarely used alone. Instead, it is often part of a comprehensive physical therapy treatment plan to reduce pain and increase mobility. When implemented in those situations, you can reasonably expect it to produce some of the following benefits.
Reduces Pain and Soreness
Many people that seek dry needling at midtown physical therapy are looking to reduce muscle pain and soreness. Luckily, that is one of the most prominent benefits of the treatment. The needles used in treatments act to disrupt pain signals originating from the trigger points.
Relaxes Muscles
Dry needling is generally used to treat trigger points that cause referred pain. Trigger points are areas of restriction in the muscle or fascia and are naturally tight. Treatment can help relax these areas, allowing more natural movement and less referred pain.
Increased Range of Motion
Because needling helps relax muscles around the trigger point, it can also help increase your range of motion. This allows you to resume more of your everyday activities that have been off-limits due to pain and stiffness.
Initiates Natural Healing
The needles used in dry needling pierce your muscles, creating a chain reaction throughout your body. Luckily, this is a positive one. Your body recognizes the injury and sends signals to begin natural healing. This often leads to improvement in older injuries that may not have completely healed.
Boosts Circulation
Another effect of dry needling is improved circulation to the treatment area. This is part of the natural healing process brought on by inflammation. Increased blood flow to the site also means more oxygen, which speeds recovery and reduces healing time.
Dry needling may be able to help relieve your pain from trigger points. It is a minimally-invasive treatment that can be performed on an outpatient basis. Some of its benefits include increased relaxation, reduced pain, and improved range of motion. Talk to your physical therapist to see if dry needling in OKC is right for you.
Read more interesting articles at Organised Everyday
