What is dry needling?

Dry needling (DN) is a technique used to treat dysfunction of skeletal muscle and connective tissue, minimize peripheral pain, and improve or regulate structural or functional damage. Acupuncture needles are used in an evidenced based approach in order decrease pain, reduce size of trigger points, help oxygenate connective tissue to help heal chronic/acute injuries

Who can benefit from dry needling?

In short People in pain. Almost everyone can benefit from dry needling, from athletes with frequent muscular injuries to the most sedentary people with muscle weakness and poor posture related pain. If you can point to your pain, DN will most likely help you. People with diabetes may benefit from DN as well. Steroid injections increase blood sugar and may cause undesirable side effects for some patients. Many patients use dry needling in the interim of steroid injection or in lieu of it. DN is a preferable option for most patients.

What are the benefits of dry needling?

DN can inhibit the transmission of pain signals in the spinal cord, reduce inflammation and promote the release of the body’s own pain-relieving chemicals, to improve healing, decrease pain and increase the body’s ability to perform activities without limitations.

Dry Needling can be used to treat so many ailments to include Chronic headaches, neck pain, plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, golf elbow, shoulder pain, muscle knots, tendinitis, osteoarthritis, back pain, knee pain, carpal tunnel and more.

What is the difference between dry needling and acupuncture?

DN uses the same traditional acupuncture needles, however it differs due to its western scientific, evidence based approach to target specific pain, aches, connective tissue, tendons and trigger points in the muscles. Acupuncture derives from the meridians in eastern medicine which believes that the body is broken up in sectors with needle insertion in one area of the body affecting or/ curing diseases and ailments in another part of the body.

How quickly does Dry Needling work?

Most patients feel relief immediately following 1st treatment and need no more than 8 treatments in a 1-2 month treatment time. Some patients may return for “tune ups” for minor reoccurrences

What are the side effects of Dry Needling?

Although uncommon, some people may experience mild bruising and soreness following DN, similar to a massage. On rare occasions some people may also feel tired, drowsy or faint following DN.

Does Dry Needling hurt?

Dry needling is generally a pain free process. Most people are unaware when needles are placed or they may feel a small pinch in which the pain quickly dissipates. If you experience pain with the placement of the needle that does not quickly dissipate please let the physical therapist know so that the needle can be removed and replaced. There are many tiny pain receptors in the body and the needle may have been inadvertently placed there, with a small adjustment, the pain receptors that can be avoided. Many clients enjoy the sensation of needles and electrotherapy and describe it as feeling like “ a massage from the inside.”

Where to go for dry needling?

Prime Choice Physical Therapy is the best place to receive dry needling from a doctor of physical therapy that is certified in dry needling. Other physical therapy clinics may be able to provide dry needling services but because of their time constriction from insurance companies they just don’t have the time to sit and listen and give you the individualized care and 30 to 60minute time blocks for dry needling. But we do!!! We are positive that you will not receive the same individualized care anywhere else.

Why come to Prime Choice Physical Therapy?

PCPT is a self pay dry needling clinic and physical therapy clinic. Each therapist never has more than two dry needling patients at one time. New patient evaluations are not double booked and patients are carefully curated so the therapist does not have 2 complex cases at the same time. Your therapist will be with you the entire time to answer questions and monitor you. Also our prices are listed on our website and full payment is due at visit so there will never be any surprise bills in the mail.

How do I schedule an appointment?

Click on the green prompt on the webpage or call (336)529-1682 to schedule an appointment.

You will receive a confirmation email or text about appointment time and an email for intake paperwork. All first time dry needling appointments will be scheduled as PT initial evaluation and treatment and patients will receive DN on that visit.

More Resources on Dry Needling

utts, R., & Dunning, J. (2016). Peripheral and Spinal Mechanisms of Pain and Dry Needling Mediated Analgesia: A Clinical Resource Guide for Health Care Professionals. International Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 04(02). https://doi.org/10.4172/2329-9096.1000327

Unverzagt, C., Berglund, K., & Thomas, J. (2015). DRY NEEDLING FOR MYOFASCIAL TRIGGER POINT PAIN: A CLINICAL COMMENTARY. The International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy |, 10(3). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4458928/

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