The Latest Techniques
I recently returned from an eye opening training & certification session on dry needling at the Kinetacore Teaching Center in Virginia. I not only became certified in Functional Dry Needing, but I also saw first hand how dry needling applications significantly bring lasting relief to a broad range of neuromuscular conditions.
What is Dry Needling?
Dry Needling is a general term for a therapeutic treatment procedure that involves multiple advances of an extremely thin filaform needle into the muscle in the area of the body which produces symptoms and typically contains a trigger point. Most patients will not even feel the needle penetrate the skin, but once it advances into the muscle, they may feel a slight discomfort or twitching sensation. Usually a healthy muscle feels very little discomfort upon insertion of the needle; however, if the muscle is sensitive and shortened or contains active trigger points, the subject may feel a sensation much like a muscle cramp, often referred to as a ‘twitch response”. In some cases electrical stimulation may be administered through the needles to help “reset” a muscle that is moving abnormally, allowing it to resume a normal pattern of movement.
What Can You Treat with Dry Needling?
The focus of the Functional Dry Needling is treatment for management of discomfort such as lumbago and sport related injuries. We are able to treat symptoms and dysfunction that originate from active myofascial trigger points that can lead to conditions like tendinopathies, movement impairments, and other orthopaedic and sport-related conditions of the hip, lumbar spine, thigh, cervical spine, shoulder, upper and lower extremities. Radiating symptoms and persistent injuries in the extremities may also have a spinal component and often improve after treatment of the appropriate spinal segment in addition to the area of soreness.
Dry Needling may also be used for acute and chronic sport-related injuries such as:
- Tendinitis
- Recovery from surgery
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Tennis elbow
- Running injuries
Dry Needling can also be used for spinal conditions in which the underlying pathology may have triggered a movement disorder. This can result in the presence of reduced ROM or discomfort due to abnormal muscle tone or spasms. Such conditions may include:
- Piriformis syndrome
- Cervicogenic headaches
- Sciatica
- Sacroiliac symptoms
Common lower extremity conditions treated with Functional Dry Needling include:
- Patello-femoral syndrome
- Achilles tendonitis
- Hamstring strain
- Plantar fasciitis
Common upper extremity conditions treated with Functional Dry Needling include:
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Lateral Epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
- Medial Epicondylitis (golfers elbow)
- Shoulder impingement syndromes
Is Dry Needling Medically Approved?
The state of Louisiana has approved Dry Needling to be within the scope of practice for Physical Therapists with the approved training. Therapists are required to complete a rigorous course of study including theory and practical examinations prior to treating patients.
Only Physical Therapists who have completed the training are certified to perform these techniques.
​Is Dry Needling Right for You?
To find out if dry needling is right for you, contact us to schedule an evaluation. We will not only evaluate your condition and review your treatment options, we’ll also contact your insurance provider to see if the procedures are covered. CONTACT US
