Dry Needling
Dry needling. What is it? Is it right for you?
Dry needling is a specific and individualized treatment where a certified therapist uses a solid thin filament needle to treat a designated area. The areas being treated may range from trigger points to tight spots in the muscle to various connective tissues. After the needle is placed, the body utilizes its natural healing processes by stimulating the nervous system, muscular components, and connective tissues.
This is similar to the method of pressing CTRL-ALT-DELETE to fix our computer. Dry needling resets structures in our body to help with pain control, muscle tightness, improving range of motion, and overall healing.
It is important to note that dry needling is not acupuncture but rather is based on western medicine and science. Recent research on the biochemical and neurological effects on the body have propelled its use as treatment in physical therapy.
Benefits of dry needling include:
- Decrease in pain
- Increased blood flow in the region
- Improved range of motion of the muscles
- Restoration of functional movement
The Rec Center physical therapy staff have been using and treating a number of its patients with dry needling for a number of years now. Often dry needling is used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan but has also been used as a single treatment for our patients.
Conditions that we commonly treat include:
- Tennis elbow
- Golfers elbow
- Hip bursitis
- Headaches
- Back pain
- TMJ
- Muscle tightness and pain
- Foot pain
If you are wondering how dry needling may help you, contact Rec Center Physical Therapy and let one of our experienced clinicians evaluate and answer your questions.
David McEowen, PT, DPT earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Des Moines University. He has been practicing physical therapy for nearly 20 years. He holds advanced certifications in Astym, Functional Movement Screen (FMS), Selective Functional Movement (SFMA), Y Balance, and Functional Dry Needling. He enjoys working with all patients but particularly enjoys working with athletes of all ages.
When he is not working at the Rec Center, you will find David spending time with his family. He enjoys traveling and experiencing the beauty of the outdoors.
