Dry needling is becoming more and more popular, but you might be wondering what it is and how it works. Read on to learn more about this procedure and how it may benefit you.

Dry needling is growing in popularity, and if you’ve heard about this new and advanced treatment, you might be wondering what it can be used for.

Dry needling is a treatment procedure that physical therapists use to treat pain and muscle movement issues associated with myofascial trigger points. One or more thin, monofilament needles are inserted into or near your trigger points in order to get your muscles to contract. This can help to relieve pain and improve range of motion.

Joel S. Tupper, MD, and Daniel Jones, MD, and the rest of our team at Prairie Garden Medical in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, understand that dealing with pain of any kind can be frustrating and even debilitating. Here’s a closer look at how dry needling works and what you can use it for.

Explaining dry needling
When your muscles are overused, they go into crisis and they don’t get the regular blood supply and oxygen that they need to go back to their resting state. The tissue around your trigger points then becomes acidic, which sensitizes your nerves and makes the surrounding area sore and painful.

Dry needling uses thin needles to stimulate your trigger points and draw blood flow back to the area to release tension. The inserted needles can also cause your body to release endorphins which jumpstarts your natural healing process.

Once your provider finds the right trigger point for your pain, they will try to move the needle around to get a twitch response from your muscle, which means the process is working.

What can dry needling be used for?
Dry needling can help with joint issues, disk issues, muscle pain, tendinitis, and any other health issues that require physical therapy. It can help with healing and recovery by triggering your body’s natural healing process and improving range of motion.

Maybe you’re recovering from an ACL, meniscus, or rotator cuff tear. Dry needling can help relieve any muscle stiffness and help jump start the healing process while also helping to mitigate pain as you recover.

Dry needling can also help with pain as you do physical therapy to recover from procedures like knee or hip replacement surgery.

Next steps
If you’ve recently experienced a sports injury or are struggling with muscle pain and need physical therapy, dry needling could be an integral part of your health care plan. To learn more about this treatment procedure or to schedule a consultation, contact our office located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, or use our online booking tool today.