The Science Behind Dry Needling: Does It Really Work?

As the population of pain seekers increases nationwide, particularly in an expanding metropolis like Denver, investigating the efficacy of dry needling becomes critical. 

This article will review the effectiveness of dry needling for pain relief, the research supporting dry needling, the procedure, and what to anticipate during treatment compared to other treatments.

What Is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a treatment method performed by licensed physical therapists to relieve pain and dysfunction of skeletal muscle. A thin, sterile needle is inserted into the tight muscle tissue or trigger point. A trigger point can feel like a small knot and be painful to the touch (it can also refer pain elsewhere, presenting as a painful spot in another area away from the trigger point).

Dry needling in Denver relieves muscle tension, promotes blood flow, reduces pain, and encourages healing. While it may resemble acupuncture, dry needling is based on Western and modern medicine instead of Chinese Medicine and meridian pathways.

How Does Dry Needling Work?

When the needle goes into a trigger point, it may also cause a small reflexive muscle twitch. This muscle twitch reflex helps reset the muscle and let go of excess tightness, with the intention of restoring function. Simultaneously, the needling promotes the body's natural response to increased blood flow and healing agents in the area. Natural pain relief occurs in tandem with increased blood flow to the site of dry needling, decreasing pain and inflammation, and restoring normal muscle function. 

Research indicates dry needling is an effective physical therapy treatment to increase range of motion and decrease symptoms for: 

• Chronic low back or neck pain
• Sports injuries and strains
• Muscle stiffness and tightness
• Migraines and tension headaches
• Joint discomfort (shoulders, hips, knees, etc.)

What to Expect During a Dry Needling Session

Before your dry needling session, like the one you'd receive at a Denver physical therapy clinic, a licensed therapist observes your posture, movement, and resting muscle tension prior to treatment. They identify various trigger points relevant to your issue, and they place a sterile, hair-like needle in those spots. 

During treatment, you may experience a small prick. However, most people state it's merely slight discomfort, not overwhelming pain. Each appointment lasts 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the targeted area. 

After your appointment is over, anticipate soreness in the muscles treated, similar to post-exercise discomfort. This will dissipate within 24 to 48 hours. In the meantime, hydrate and engage in gentle movement and rest to mitigate any discomfort post-session.

Benefits of Dry Needling Therapy

Dry needling offers numerous therapeutic benefits for anyone with muscle tightness, chronic pain, or reduced range of motion. If a physical therapist suggests dry needling for a personalized treatment plan, this adjunct therapy can enhance the healing process and quality of life in the following ways: 

1. Pain Relief 

One of the most sought-after benefits of dry needling is pain relief. Whether someone is in pain from tight, irritated muscles and trigger points or they aren't quite sure of the source of their discomfort, dry needling proves effective. Patients report significant pain reduction after an average of two or three sessions. Because this technique gets to the underlying cause of pain instead of masking symptoms, it's a natural solution to long-term pain relief. 

2. Greater Range of Motion and Flexibility 

Reduced range of motion often occurs because overly tight muscles or trigger points prevent how much as you can stretch or bend. Dry needling reduces tight trigger points, so it's easier to move joints and muscles. A greater range of motion and flexibility are essential not only for athletes and active people, but also for people going through rehabilitation. 

3. Faster Healing and Recovery

Dry needling promotes healing by reestablishing blood flow in the area and helping to jump-start one's natural healing abilities. The slight injury induced by the needling promotes a microtrauma healing response that helps the body heal the muscle tissue faster and reduce inflammation in the area. 

4. Decreased Need for Medications 

One unfortunate side effect of many chronic pain conditions is the dependence on medications, as many people seek daily solutions for anti-inflammatories or pain relief. Once patients undergo regular dry needling therapy, pain is often much more manageable, allowing patients to decrease or eliminate their need for anti-inflammatories or pain medications. It also decreases the chances of adverse side effects from addictive, long-term medications.

Who Can Benefit from Dry Needling Physical Therapy?

Many people can benefit from dry needling as a treatment option for painful conditions, tight muscles, or poor range of motion. Whether the underlying condition was caused by injury or develops over time, dry needling is a great way to facilitate healing without medication.

1 - Athletes and Active People

Sports injuries, strained muscles, and overused muscles are common complications for people who exercise. At the same time, weekend warriors or people who only engage in physical activity once a week but still put their bodies through the stress of exercise can develop strains and tightness that dry needling alleviates. Runners, cross-fitters, yogis, and every active person in between can utilize dry needling as an effective treatment.

2 - Office Workers and Sedentary Professionals

If you work at a desk and behind a computer, you're no stranger to poor posture, strained neck muscles, and lower back tightness. Extended hours seated at a desk promote dysfunction and cause trigger points throughout multiple muscles. Dry needling can relieve pain and restore to natural range of motion while encouraging better postural positioning.

3 - Post-Surgery Patients

For anyone who has recently undergone surgery, rehabilitation is critical to repositioning their body back to its pre-surgery state. Dry needling can improve flexibility for stiff and sore post-operation muscles while reducing tightness associated with trauma from scar tissue when healing begins. However, dry needling works best in conjunction with a larger rehabilitation process for post-surgical patients.

4 - Chronic Pain Patients

Those who suffer from chronic pain have been known to feel better when dry needling is introduced to the following treatments:

• Fibromyalgia
• Sciatica
• Tension headaches or migraines
• Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorder
• Myofascial pain syndrome

When dry needling attacks muscle dysfunction at the source, chronic tension and pain are alleviated, making movements easier.

Is Dry Needling Safe? 

Yes. Dry needling is safe when performed by a certified physical therapist. These people understand the anatomy of the human body and what planes to assess relative to muscle trigger points. 

Most people will feel only slight adverse effects, such as soreness the following day, some light bruising, and feelings similar to post-workout. This soreness usually dissipates after 24 to 48 hours. 

How Is It Different from Other Treatments? 

Dry needling differs from other treatments, especially more conventional ones, such as medication or surgery. It does not require medicines because it does not inject anything foreign into your body. Instead, it uses a needle in the immediate area of pain, tight, sore, or knotted muscles. In comparison to surgery, it's a minimally invasive procedure with no downtime to follow. 

Dry needling is often used in conjunction with other physical therapy services, such as:

• Therapeutic exercises for strengthening weakened areas 
• Massage or manual therapy to relieve stiff tissues 
• Postural education to prevent repetitive tension 

What Does the Research Say?

The research is supportive of dry needling scientifically for all different kinds of conditions. Research supports that dry needling can: 

• Relieve discomfort from acute and chronic muscular concerns 
• Promote flexibility and range of motion in joints/muscles 
• Shorten the healing time from an injury 
• Help patients return to daily life or athletic pursuits sooner 

There are many studies still in progress. However, for those findings that are conclusive, they're remarkably favorable, especially when dry needling is part of a holistic rehabilitative approach. 

Conclusion 

Dry needling therapy is a scientifically backed therapy that can relieve discomfort, enhance functioning, and facilitate healing. Thus, if you're an athlete, a busy mom, or anyone experiencing chronic discomfort symptoms, dry needling therapy could be a practical approach for you. If you're in Colorado, seeking a dry needling provider in Denver could be your first stop to feeling better.