Dry Needling

Effectively Treating Trigger Points

Dry needling is a common approach in physical therapy. Its benefits include pain reduction, increased strength and range of motion, and general muscle function restoration. The process involves inserting a thin solid needle (the  width of two human hairs and not the kind of needle used for injections or blood draws) into trigger points found in muscles. This creates a small muscle twitch or dull ache (that quickly dissipates). This results in the release of the muscle which provides relief in the form of pain reduction, improved range of motion and/or increased strength. Electrical stimulation can be added to intensify and accelerate the body’s response to the process.

During your initial evaluation if your therapist believes dry needling will benefit you, they will discuss it with you and obtain your consent. Not everyone likes needles, so dry needling isn’t the best treatment option for some clients. In the State of Georgia it is required by law to have a physician prescription for physical therapy to perform dry needling as part of your care. If we believe you would benefit from dry needling but you don’t have a prescription, we can help you obtain one from your physician.