Trigger Point Dry Needling - Oklahoma Physical Therapy

Have you ever experienced pain that just won’t resolve no matter the treatment plan? In order to address this problem some physical therapists  use a technique called dry needling (DN).

Dry needling is a modern technique that medical professionals utilize to alleviate their patients’ pain. While it is commonly compared to acupuncture, the traditional Chinese technique, its goals and philosophy are quite different.

Unlike acupuncture that seeks to affect the patient’s energy flow or Qi, dry needling targets knots or trigger points with the aim of reducing muscular pain, lowering chronic pain, and reducing local inflammation. These results are achieved by releasing muscle spasm and tension in the stubborn muscles, as well as stimulating the patient’s body to release natural pain-blocking and anti-inflammatory chemicals.

The certified and highly experienced physical therapists at Oklahoma Physical Therapy use this method to effectively treat and relieve pain  in the shortest time possible.

Here are some quick notes about dry needling:

• It has demonstrated results
• It involves very few risks
• It takes a relatively short time
• The number of treatments required can vary from person to person depending on individual needs, but symptoms can sometimes be resolved in just a few treatments.
• The technique should only be performed by a certified and highly trained expert

Our trained and certified physical therapists at Oklahoma Physical Therapy will perform a thorough evaluation to determine if dry needling is a good fit for you. If so, we will use this technique to effectively relieve the tension and pain, as well as improve your flexibility and mobility.

Effects

The dry needling technique has a few known side effects. They include:

• Soreness (temporary)
• Minor bleeding
• Bruising
• Fatigue
• Some patients may faint as the pressure that has built up in the muscle is relieved (very rare)

Dry needling should only be performed by well-trained and experienced physical therapists like those at Oklahoma Physical Therapy. These therapists take the utmost care when performing this technique making sure they minimize the possible occurrence of any side effects while remaining effective in alleviating the pain.

You can arrange a one-on-one meeting with one of our physical therapists who will identify the trigger points or painful regions and use dry needling to alleviate the pain. Contact us today and schedule an appointment.