Broomfield, Colorado
Dry Needling
Dry needling is a therapeutic treatment that utilizes extremely thin needles to address musculoskeletal abnormalities and pain that stem from active trigger points and soft tissue adhesions throughout the body.
Over time, trigger points, more commonly referred to as muscular knots, can develop as a result of repetitive movement. These dense, contracted nodules of muscle tissue may feel tender to the touch and often limit motor function when the affected muscles are involved. At Fox Integrated Healthcare, we perform dry needling therapy as part of our integrated health approach to treating musculoskeletal dysfunction and pain.
Conditions That Can Benefit from Dry Needling
A wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions can benefit from dry needling therapy, including:
- Neck and back pain
- Knee and hip pain
- Headaches
- Shoulder pain and dysfunction
- Soft tissue injuries
- Strains and sprains
- Tendonitis
- Joint pain and dysfunction
- Plantar fasciitis
Health Benefits of Dry Needling
If you struggle with musculoskeletal pain or dysfunction, dry needling offers a variety of healing benefits, including:
Accelerated Soft Tissue Recovery
Dry needling stimulates increased blood flow to injured and dysfunctional soft tissues, thereby delivering substantial oxygen, nutrients, and healing blood platelets to the treatment area. Because injured and dysfunctional tissues require adequate blood flow for healing to occur, dry needling demonstrates considerable efficacy in speeding healing time.
Pain Relief and Tension Release
Active, hypersensitive trigger points form when dense nodules of muscle tissue compress the delicate nerves and capillaries that pass through the area. In many cases, movements that involve active trigger points can provoke significant discomfort because tense, contracted muscle tissue places excessive pressure on the surrounding nerves. As we restore blood flow to these areas, we allow the tension to relax, thereby alleviating nerve pressure and reducing associated pain.
Increased Range of Motion and Mobility
Because dry needling encourages dense, contracted muscle tissue to relax, it can significantly improve limited range of motion and increase overall mobility.
What to Expect With Dry Needling
At Fox Integrated health, our chiropractors — Dr. Derek Fox,Dc, BCN — take the time to get to know you before beginning your treatment. Before we can begin formulating your plan of care, you’ll have a consultation, during which you’ll discuss your individual health concerns and goals of treatment.
If you’re a candidate for chiropractic care, we’ll then proceed with a physical evaluation and health history to gain a comprehensive understanding of your unique condition and how we can serve you best. After your evaluation, we’ll discuss our findings with you and design a custom treatment plan designed to bring your body back into balance, restore normal functioning and alleviate discomfort. Depending on the results of your evaluation, we may recommend dry needling in conjunction with other therapies as part of an integrative health care plan to address musculoskeletal dysfunction and pain.
During your dry needling treatment, we insert fine filament needles into the center of your active trigger points or the surrounding tissues. Throughout treatment, you may experience slight, brief pinching sensations during needle insertion. In some cases, localized muscle twitching may also occur as your trigger points respond to the treatment. Though the sensation can be slightly uncomfortable, it is quite brief and indicates that the needle is in the correct location to stimulate increased blood flow and healing.
Frequently Asked Questions
On the outside, dry needling and acupuncture appear nearly identical; however, the two therapies are drastically different, both in theory and practical application. Dry needling targets contracted trigger points within your muscle tissue, helping them to relax and receive adequate blood flow, which expedites healing and increases mobility. Dry needling is based purely on Western medical philosophy and evidence-based research.
Acupuncture, on the other hand, is an ancient Eastern therapeutic modality designed to promote healing by balancing the body’s energy. Practitioners believe that by inserting tiny needles at specific points, they’re able to restore healthy energy flow through the body’s meridians.
Some patients report experiencing mild muscle soreness after dry needling treatments, which typically lasts anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days. If you feel sore after treatment, we recommend applying heat and ice to the area, modifying any activities that cause soreness and performing gentle stretching. We also recommend drinking plenty of water after each treatment to help maintain muscle hydration and relieve residual soreness.
Request Appointment
Interested in Chiropractic care? Contact Fox Integrated Healthcare to request additional information or schedule an appointment!