Dry Needling

Dry Needling is a therapy developed by Dr. Janet Travell and Dr. David Simon in the 1940’s. Dr. Travell discovered that if she had used a needle without a steroid in a trigger point (a tender point in a muscle that can cause referred pain to a different area) that she often would obtain the same effect without the use of a steroid and the patient would have reduced pain. Dr. Travell found that stimulating or causing a twitch response in a muscle aka trigger point could overall reduce pain in the whole muscle by causing a brief sudden contraction of the muscle fibers which releases tension in the area. This was named dry needling because they were no longer using a steroid for the injection. The needles used today are filiform needles identical to the ones used in acupuncture rather than the more intimidating needles used for injections. This therapy is very helpful in reducing pain in the body. 

During a dry needling session, a trained practitioner locates the trigger points or areas of muscle tension causing pain and dysfunction. The insertion of the needles into these points stimulates the release of muscle knots and tension, often resulting in immediate relief. Dry needling is commonly used to treat conditions such as muscle strains, sports injuries, chronic pain, and even conditions like fibromyalgia and tension headaches. It can help restore normal muscle function, improve range of motion, and reduce pain, making it a valuable adjunct to physical therapy and rehabilitation programs for individuals seeking non-invasive, drug-free pain relief and improved physical performance.