Dry Needling

What Is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a skilled technique done by a certified health care professional that involves the insertion of a thin filiform needle into the skin, muscles, ligaments, tendons, myofascial “trigger points,” or along nerve pathways. Dry needling is a powerful therapeutic technique that can help alleviate pain and discomfort caused by trigger points.

Common Conditions Treated with Dry
Needling:

Acute Injuries
Repetitive Stress Injuries
Muscle Strain (ie. Hamstring, Calf, Quadricep)
Muscle Spasms
Hip & Knee Pain
Patellar Tendinitis
Plantar Fasciitis

Shoulder pain
Rotator Cuff Tendinitis
Golfer’s/Tennis Elbow
Neck Pain
Headache
Back Pain
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

Clinical Benefits

Decreased muscle tension
Decreased pain
Decreased inflammation
Enhanced collagen deposition
Increased blood flow
Increased flexibility
Improved range of motion
Decreased hypersensitivity of the nervous system
Restoration of normalized movement when combined with corrective exercises

Resources

FAQ’s

What Is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a skilled technique done by a certified health care professional that involves the insertion of a thin filiform needle into muscles, ligaments, tendons or along nerve pathways. Dry needling is a powerful therapeutic technique that can help alleviate pain and discomfort caused by trigger points.
What is A Trigger Point?

A trigger point can be defined as the presence of increased tenderness in a tight band of muscle. Trigger points are commonly referred to as “knots,” and they can produce pain at the site of the trigger point and/or other areas of the body. The intent of dry needling is to cause the muscle to twitch or contract, then relax, therefore releasing the trigger point.
What Are the Effects of Dry Needling?
Decreased muscle tension

Decreased pain

Decreased inflammation

Enhanced collagen deposition

Increased blood flow

Increased flexibility

Improved range of motion

Decreased hypersensitivity of the nervous system

Restoration of normalized movement when combined with corrective exercises
Why is it Called “Dry” Needling?
What Is Dry Needling Used For?
Is Dry Needling Appropriate for Everyone?
There are conditions and situations when dry needling is NOT appropriate. A physical therapist will complete an evaluation and help patients decide if dry needling is appropriate. All patients will sign a consent form and answer specific questions about their medical history prior to receiving treatment. The TOP Contraindications:

Blood thinners

Cancer

Pregnancy

Allergies to Nickel/ Chromium

Immunocompromised

Extreme needle phobia
Is Dry Needling Like Acupuncture?

The only similarity between dry needling and acupuncture is that they both use needles, but these two practices differ greatly in their origin and applications.

Acupuncture is an ancient medicine performed by licensed acupuncturists. It is based on traditional Chinese Eastern medicine. Acupuncture treats musculoskeletal pain but also treats other systems of your body. It’s thought to balance the flow of qi (energy) throughout your body, causing your brain to release feel-good chemicals called endorphins and stimulating your natural ability to heal.

Dry needling is based on more contemporary Western medicine that treats muscle tissue with the goal of reducing musculoskeletal pain, inactivating trigger points and improving movement. In dry needling, points are chosen based on 1) Palpation, 2) Diagnosis, and 3) Functional Testing. Typically, dry needling is used as part of a broader pain management plan that includes corrective exercises, stretching, massage and other physical therapy techniques
When and Why Do You Use Electrical Stimulation?

Adding electrical stimulation provides multiple benefits to treatment. It increases the release of biochemical substances (“feel good” chemicals) and provides a stimulus to calm a hypersensitive nervous system. It can also be used to activate muscles that assist with certain movement patterns that are not being optimally recruited.
Does Dry Needling Hurt?
What Does Dry Needling Feel Like?
Are there Any Side Effects From Dry Needling?

Any medical procedure involving the placement of a needle into the body has some inherent risk, even though in this case it is small. We ONLY use sterile and disposable needles and ALWAYS dispose of each needle according to government standards. The same risks associated when skin is punctured by needle insertion, to include but not limited to:

Expected & Mild Side Effects of Dry Needling: Aching, soreness, stiffness, redness, bruising, muscle cramps and fatigue, minor bleeding, and muscle twitching where the needle is inserted. These may last a few hours to a few days. A few patients may experience fainting.

Uncommon/Unexpected Side Effects of Dry Needling: Excessive bleeding, nausea, shaking, dizziness, numbness, itching, allergic reaction to the needles (with or without rashes), and/or altered emotions.

VERY Rare Side Effects: Infection, nerve inflammation (neuritis), organ puncture (such as pneumothorax or collapsed lung), and pregnancy termination
What Should I Do After Treatment?
Avoid excessive physical activity for 48 hours

Increase your water intake for adequate hydration

Use heat for soreness
When Can One Exercise After Treatment?

Dry needling helps activate what is called the parasympathetic nervous system — most people know this as the “rest and recovery” system. This system helps your body and tissues restore and heal. After dry needling treatments, continued physical activity/movement is okay, but moderate activity is preferred. It is recommended to not exercise for 24-48 hours depending on how your body responds.
Should I Use Ice or Take Anti-inflammatories?

It is not recommended to ice or take anti- inflammatories directly after needling. Dry needling creates what is called “micro-inflammation” to help your body heal both at the site of pain and throughout the body. Ice and anti-inflammatories will counteract that process by limiting its effectiveness.
How Long are the Treatment sessions?

Typically, treatment sessions last anywhere from 15-30 minutes. Duration may vary depending on factors such as the patient’s tolerance, the type of tissue being treated, and the specific goals of the treatment. Your therapist will make a decision with you regarding frequency of dry needling depending on the evaluation and your body’s response as well. Typically, we schedule at least 1 week between dry needling of the same body part/location. This customized approach helps achieve the best results for each patient.
Do I Need a Doctor’s Prescription to Receive Dry Needling?
Do I Need to Be a Physical Therapy Patient to Receive Dry Needling?
Does My Medical Insurance Cover Dry Needling?
Typically NO. Most insurances will not pay for dry needling. Consequently, First Rehab charges a fee for dry needling. You are more than welcome to call your insurance provider and ask if they cover the following CPT billing codes:

20560 Needle insertion(s) without injections; 1 or 2 muscles

20561 Needle insertion(s) without injection(s); 3 or more muscle(s)

** If you are told by your insurance that the above CPT billing codes are paid for, we will need a statement in writing prior to us billing your insurance for these codes.

Ready to Get Better?

Contact one of our offices today to begin your journey back to wellness.

Hastings

Contact

Middleville

Contact

Dry Needling

What Is Dry Needling?

Common Conditions Treated with Dry
Needling:

Clinical Benefits

Resources

FAQ’s

Ready to Get Better?

Hastings

Middleville

Middleville Location

Hastings Location

Dry Needling

What Is Dry Needling?

Common Conditions Treated with DryNeedling:

Clinical Benefits

Resources

FAQ’s

Ready to Get Better?

Hastings

Middleville

Footer

Middleville Location

Hastings Location

Follow Us

Common Conditions Treated with Dry
Needling: