While we’ve been treating patients with dry needling therapy since March of 2015. However, dry needling treatment is still considered relatively new to the general public. that’s why I was so happy to see this recent article in Men’s Health detail the wide spectrum of conditions that can be treated with dry needling.
The Men’s Health article does a deep dive into how dry needling therapy is showing fantastic results with conditions like:
- Upper & Lower Back Problems
- Headache
- Neck Ache
- Post-Op Symptoms
- Rotator Cuff Injury
- TMJ dysfunction
- Hip Bursitis
- Stroke Rehab
- Plantar Fasciitis
In our Dry Needling in Sports post, NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw discussed how LSU’s Team Physical Therapist uses dry needling treatment as part of the Tiger’s competitive edge.
From back pain to temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), dry needing is rapidly becoming a popular choice for the treatment of musculoskeletal pain.
How Dry Needling Differs from Acupuncture
Both dry needling therapy and acupuncture treatments use solid filiform needles so they may appear similar, however the underlying approaches to care are different. Acupuncture is based on traditional eastern medicine and focuses on energy meridians in the body.
Dry needing, on the other hand, targets chronically tight areas of muscles in the body known as trigger points. These trigger points can cause symptoms locally or can cause conditions where discomfort is felt in other parts of the body, for example, sciatica.
Doctors have been treating trigger points for decades by injecting medication such as lidocaine or cortisone. Dry needling does not involve medication so there are fewer side effects. And unlike epidural steroid injections, which can only be given up to three times a year, dry needling can be performed on a weekly basis as part of a patient’s Physical Therapy program.
Why Dry Needling Treatment for Multiple Conditions
Why does dry needling work for such a wide spectrum of conditions? One word – Muscles. Our muscles are a true system that creates movement, maintains our posture and circulates blood throughout the body.
Muscle dysfunction can be the root of many uncomfortable, common conditions such as Iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS). It can also be a contributing factor, although not the primary cause, in other conditions such as migraine headaches.
Dry Needing helps to normalize muscle function and restore healthy movement. This, in turn, leads to a significant reduction in abnormal symptoms and a faster recovery. Dry needling therapy can be used alone or in combination with other therapy techniques or medical procedures.
Can Dry Needling Therapy Help You?
Now that Physical Therapy is available without a prescription in Louisiana, you can call one of our offices in Hammond or Madisonville to see one of our Licensed Physical Therapists. Jones Physical Therapy takes most insurances and offers late hours for added convenience.
So why wait? Call us today to find out if dry needling treatment is right for you.
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