If you experience chronic pain, stiffness, or limited mobility in your back, muscles, or neck, a chiropractor may suggest adding dry needling to your tailored treatment plan. According to Dr. Jessica Schofield of Crestview Chiropractic in Crestview, FL, dry needling offers a great option for pain relief that targets knotted or tight muscles that other therapies cannot always effectively address.
What is Dry Needling?
Dry needling offers quick and accurate relief by targeting the primary source of muscular tightness and discomfort. During the procedure, thin, sterile needles are inserted into trigger points to help release tense muscles and accumulated scar tissue, with the objective of restoring normal muscle function.
How Does Dry Needling Reduce Pain?
When needles are inserted into trigger points, the body’s reaction offers these benefits –
- Breaks up adhesions within muscle fibers.
- Deactivates tender nerve endings.
- Increases blood flow to affected areas.
- Resets muscle contraction/relaxation mechanisms.
- Restores normal nerve signaling.
Patients often experience relief from muscle tightness and aches soon after their first session. Complete results may take several sessions of dry needling as muscles regain flexibility and strength.
Conditions That Respond to Dry Needling
Chiropractors use dry needling to manage various intermittent and chronic neuromusculoskeletal issues that include, in part -
- Neck and back pain.
- Headaches.
- Muscle strains.
- Repetitive motion injuries.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Plantar fasciitis.
- Rotator cuff tendonitis.
- Tennis elbow.
- Fibromyalgia.
- Pelvic floor dysfunction.
Any condition that can create localized muscle tightness and trigger points may benefit from dry needling and chiropractic being applied on a complementary basis.
What to Expect During Dry Needling Treatments
Dr. Schofield applies pressure to muscles to identify knotted, painful areas and marks the spots for needling.
- After cleaning the skin, several needles are inserted into the marked trigger points. A muscle may twitch when the needle hits the tight fiber bundle.
- Needles remain for several minutes, depending on technique. Most sessions take about 15-30 minutes.
The needles can be gently manipulated to intensify the release. Some also include e-stimulation or heat on the needled areas.
Precautions and Side Effects of Dry Needling
Most individuals find dry needling quite tolerable. Possible side effects of a dry needling session include the following -
- Mild muscle soreness with the potential to last for up to a few days.
- Minor and temporary bleeding or bruising.
In addition, one may feel mild or temporary fatigue or dizziness when the dry needling session is over.
Contact a Leading Crestview, FL, Chiropractor Near You Today
For more information on dry needling and other chiropractic techniques, contact Dr. Schofield or a staff member of Crestview Chiropractic at 850-682-0381 or online.