Dry Needling

Dry needling isn’t the same as acupuncture. Both procedures involve penetrating your skin with needles. They use the same type of needles, but that’s where the similarities end.

Different providers with different training perform dry needling. Acupuncture is performed by licensed acupuncturists and based in Eastern medicine, while dry needling is based in Western medicine and evaluation of pain patterns, postures, faulty movement patterns and orthopedic testing.

Acupuncture treats musculoskeletal pain but also treats other systems of your body. Dry needling treats muscle tissue with the goal of reducing pain, inactivating trigger points and improving movement. Typically, it’s used as part of a broader therapy approach that includes other treatments.

DN is safe for MOST individuals, but there are some exceptions. Certain groups of people should avoid DN therapy:

• Pregnant women
• People very fearful of needles (trypanophobia)
• Anyone with a compromised immune system
• Patients who have been prescribed blood thinners
• Recent surgeries
• Anyone with a known blood borne pathology

*If you are unsure, you should consult your family physician first

First, your provider will use one hand or their fingers to feel (palpate) the area to locate the trigger point. With their other hand, they’ll place the needle — surrounded by a plastic guide tube — over the area. The guide tube helps your provider accurately tap the needle into place while working with one hand.

Your provider will gently tap the needle into the top layer of your skin and discard the guide tube. The technique your provider uses may vary. Common dry-needling techniques include:

• Superficial: Your provider will insert the needle 5 to 10 millimeters into the bottom layer of your skin above the trigger point.
• Deep: Your provider will insert the needle beyond the subcutaneous tissue deep into your muscle to penetrate the trigger point.
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Depending on the technique, your provider may leave the needle in place for as short as two seconds to as long as 20 minutes. They may also use the pistoning technique. Also called the in-and-out technique, this method involves your provider quickly moving the needle up and down through the tissue.

Your provider may only use one to two needles during your first treatment. Once they see your response to the method, your provider may start using more needles. It depends on your condition. For instance, they may use up to 10 to 15 needles along your spine for a back treatment.

During the treatment, you may feel muscle soreness or twitching. These sensations are normal and a sign that your muscles are responding to the treatment.

Trigger points are usually painful to the touch. So, before the needling, you may experience some pain while your provider is locating the trigger point.

You may also feel discomfort during the needling. Sometimes, people don’t feel the needle going in because it’s so small, but other times, people will feel a pinch. When the needle is in the trigger point, it can be painful (feels like a deep toothache) and cause a twitch response. Afterward, you may feel tightness or soreness near the insertion site, but it’s important to keep moving and stretching.

Some people feel improvement in their pain and mobility almost immediately after a dry needling session. For others, it takes more than one session. 

No, most insurances do not cover dry needling at this time.

Absolutely. Please ask us about how you can use your HSA/FSA to pay for treatment.