Dry Needling in Orlando

Understanding Dry Needling: A Physical Therapist's Perspective

If you've ever experienced muscle tightness, chronic pain, or movement restrictions, you may have heard of dry needling as a treatment option. But what exactly is dry needling, and how does it differ from acupuncture? As a physical therapy clinic, we often get these questions, so let's break it down in simple terms.

What is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a skilled technique performed by trained physical therapists using very thin needles to target areas of muscle tension and dysfunction. These needles are inserted into specific points within muscles, tendons, ligaments, or other soft tissues to reduce pain, improve mobility, and promote healing. Unlike injections, dry needling does not involve any medication, which is why it is referred to as "dry."

How Does Dry Needling Work?

Dry needling is often used to treat trigger points—tight, tender “knots” in muscles that can contribute to pain and restricted movement. By inserting a needle into these trigger points, the goal is to elicit a twitch response (literally you will feel the muscle which hurts twitch, funky I know), which can help relax the muscle, improve blood flow, and decrease pain. The technique is backed by modern musculoskeletal and neurological research and is used as part of a broader physical therapy plan.

What Conditions Can Dry Needling Help Treat?

Dry needling is commonly used to treat:

• Muscle tightness and spasms
• Chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia
• Tendonitis (Tendinopathies) and overuse injuries
• Joint pain
• Sports-related injuries
• Post-surgical scar tissue restrictions

It is important to remember that dry needling is not a standalone treatment but rather a tool within a comprehensive physical therapy plan designed to address movement dysfunction and pain. In simpler terms, dry needling is a great tool we use to help with pain but it usually doesn't solve the problem on its own. In physical therapy we will use exercise, hands on treatment and other tools to help solve the root cause of your problem.

Dry Needling vs. Acupuncture: What’s the Difference?

One of the most common misconceptions about dry needling is that it is the same as acupuncture. While both treatments involve the insertion of thin needles, they are based on different philosophies and principles:

• Acupuncture is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine and focuses on stimulating specific points along meridians to balance the body's energy (Qi) and promote overall wellness.
• Dry Needling is based on modern Western medicine and is primarily used to treat neuromuscular pain and dysfunction by targeting muscle trigger points “knots” and tissue restrictions.

While both physical therapists and acupuncturists use needles, the intent and application of the techniques differ significantly.

Is Dry Needling Safe?

When performed by a trained and licensed physical therapist, dry needling is generally safe and well-tolerated. Some patients may experience mild soreness or bruising at the treatment site, but serious side effects are rare. Before undergoing dry needling, your therapist will assess your condition and determine if it is an appropriate treatment for you.

Additional Considerations

• We treat joint pain & dysfunction with manual therapy, weakness with therapeutic exercise, and pain associated with trigger points (muscle knots) with dry needling, which can be very effective.
• Dry needling should not be used as an exclusive treatment, as relieving pain alone rarely leads to permanent functional improvement.
• Dry needling has been shown to be highly effective for chronic pain, with many times immediate pain relief when the most painful spot is needled.

Understanding Trigger Points “Knots”

Trigger points are tender spots in taut bands of muscle that produce local and referred pain (Referred pain is when you feel pain in a part of your body that isn't actually injured or affected. This pain is caused by an issue in another area of your body). Lets get nerdy for a second: A trigger point is like a bundle of tiny muscle knots that form when certain muscle fibers stay tight and don’t relax properly. One theory, called the integrated trigger point hypothesis, suggests that too much of a chemical called acetylcholine is released at the spots where nerves connect to muscles. This keeps the muscle fibers stuck in a tightened state, leading to pain and discomfort.

How Dry Needling Works: Effects on Muscles and Nerves

• Research shows that injecting lidocaine into muscle trigger points (MTrPs) works just as well as dry needling for pain relief (Cummings TM et al., 2001; Ga H et al., 2007).
• Studies by Shah et al. (2005, 2008) found that active trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle contain higher levels of chemicals linked to inflammation, nerve signaling, and stress responses, which may contribute to pain and muscle tightness.
• When muscle cells are damaged, they release various chemicals, including bradykinin, serotonin, norepinephrine, and inflammatory substances like pain-related chemicals like Substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), which can make the area more sensitive and painful.
• Research by Shah et al. found that when a muscle twitches during dry needling (called a local twitch response or LTR), levels of Substance P decrease in active trigger points, potentially reducing pain.

Should You Try Dry Needling?

If you’re struggling with muscle pain, stiffness, or limited movement, dry needling may be a beneficial addition to your physical therapy plan. It can help accelerate recovery, relieve pain, and restore function, allowing you to get back to doing what you love.

At RehabSpot Physical Therapy, our goal is to provide research-based treatments tailored to your needs. If you're curious about dry needling and whether it's right for you, contact us today to schedule a consultation!