Dry Needling

Dry needling, also known as trigger point dry needling and myofascial trigger point dry needling, is a procedure that treats myofascial pain.

Muscles sometimes develop knotted areas called trigger points. These trigger points are highly sensitive and can be painful when touched. During a dry needling procedure, a thin solid needle is pushed through the skin into trigger points. The needles are used to stimulate the tissue, not to inject medication.

Pain affects how your body moves. It is thought that dry needling changes the way the brain and muscles talk to each other to let the system return to a more normal movement pattern.

Dry needling can be used as a part of an overall plan that will likely include some type of exercise, manual therapy, heat therapy, and education. Dry needling is used to increase range of motion that may be limited due to muscle tightness or scar tissue.