Dry Needling Trigger Point Therapy in North Miami
Dry needling physical therapy is a technique that physical therapists and other trained healthcare providers use to treat musculoskeletal pain and movement issues. It's almost always used as part of a larger pain
management plan that could include exercise, stretching, massage and other techniques. During this trigger point therapy, a provider inserts thin, sharp needles through your skin to treat underlying myofascial trigger points.
In the word "myofascial," "myo" means "muscle." Fascia is the thin, white connective tissue wrapped around your muscles.
Trigger points are knotted, tender areas that develop in your muscles. These trigger points are highly sensitive and can be painful when touched. Sometimes, a trigger point may be near the location of your pain. But they're also often the cause of referred pain. Referred pain is pain that affects another part of your body. Dry needling for muscle pain targets these trigger points effectively.
Physical therapists use needles to alleviate your trigger points during dry needling physical therapy sessions. When dry needling is applied to your muscles and tissues, it can decrease tightness, increase blood flow and reduce local and referred pain. Providers use solid needles that don't contain any kind of medication. This is why the technique is called "dry." Nothing is injected into your body. Trigger point injections are different. They contain medicine and are performed by a physician.
Other names for dry needling are trigger point dry needling and intramuscular stimulation, both of which are forms of trigger point therapy available at Integrated Physical Therapy & Wellness.
How does dry needling physical therapy work?
When your muscle is overused, it goes into an energy crisis where the muscle fibers aren't getting an adequate blood supply. When they don't get the normal blood supply, they don't get the oxygen and nutrients that allow your muscle to go back to its normal resting state. This is where dry needling for muscle pain can be particularly effective.
When this happens, the tissue near your trigger point becomes more acidic. Your nerves are sensitized, which makes the area sore and painful. Trigger point therapy in North Miami, including dry needling, can help address these issues.
Stimulating a trigger point with a needle helps draw normal blood supply back to flush out the area and release tension. The prick sensation can also fire off nerve fibers that stimulate your brain to release endorphins, your body's homemade pain medication. This is one of the key benefits of dry needling physical therapy.
Once your therapist locates a trigger point, they'll insert a needle through your skin directly into it. They might move the needle around a little to try to get what's called a local twitch response — a quick spasm of your muscle. This reaction can be a good sign that your muscle is reacting to the dry needling for muscle pain treatment.
Some people feel improvement in their pain and mobility almost immediately after a dry needling session. For others, it takes more than one session of trigger point therapy to see results.
Experience the benefits of dry needling physical therapy at Integrated Physical Therapy & Wellness in North Miami. Our expert therapists are trained in this effective technique for muscle pain relief and improved mobility. Don't let pain hold you back any longer. Take the first step towards recovery today! Contact Integrated Physical Therapy & Wellness at 305.967.8976 to schedule your dry needling session and start your journey to pain-free living.
