Exploring Dry Needling – What It Is and What It Helps

Dry needling is an effective way to treat pain and movement disorders using myofascial trigger points. At Stretch Wichita, it is one of the many treatment options we offer to our patients. If you are looking for pain relief in Wichita, KS, dry needling could be a good choice for your needs.

How Does Dry Needling Work?

During dry needling, your physical therapist will pace thin needles in your skin to trigger myofascial trigger points. These points are tender areas found in the fascia, the thin connective tissue around your muscles. Applying needles to this area increases blood flow and reduces tightness, which can reduce pain.

This treatment works because of the way blood flows through your muscles. When you overuse a muscle, its fibers do not get enough blood. This lack of blood supply causes the tissue near the trigger point to become acidic, causing pain and inflammation. Adding the needle draws the blood back to the muscle, which flushes the area and reduces tension. The pricking of the skin and also stimulate the brain to release endorphins, which reduce pain sensations.

What Type of Pain Can Be Treated with Dry Needling

Dry needling can fix both pain in the trigger points and referred pain. Referred pain is pain in another area of the body that stems from the inflammation and tightness in the trigger point. Specific conditions you can treat using dry needling include:

• Joint and disc issues
• Tendonitis
• Migraine and tension headaches
• Whiplash
• Repetitive motion injuries
• Jaw and mouth issues
• Problems with the spine
• Pelvic pain
• Phantom limb pain

If you are struggling with any of these, reach out to the fitness and stretching coaches at Stretch Wichita to see if dry needling is the right option to add to your care.