Functional Dry Needling
Functional Dry Needling is a treatment technique that utilizes thin, solid filament needles to deactivate and desensitize trigger points (knots) in muscles that contribute to pain, decreased flexibility, and decreased muscle function. Myofascial trigger points are knots in muscles that can contribute to pain, decreased flexibility, and decreased muscle function. Dry needling is the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal systems based on pain patterns, muscular dysfunction, and loss of function. It is used to treat injured muscle (strains/tears) or overused or over-trained muscles (the result of fitness/exercise, repetitive motions), resulting in pain and weakness. Prime candidates for functional dry needling include individuals with tendonitis who have a muscular injury that has not improved, runners, cyclists, those training for fitness, and industrial athletes performing repetitive movements. Dry needling is not acupuncture, a practice based on traditional Chinese medicine and performed by acupuncturists. Dry needling is a part of modern Western medicine principles and supported by a growing body of research.
Common Questions
As part of their entry level education, physical therapists are well educated in anatomy and therapeutic treatment of the body. Physical therapists who perform dry needling supplement that knowledge by obtaining specific postgraduate education and training. When contacting a physical therapist for dry needling treatment, be sure to ask about their specific experience and education.