When is dry needling indicated?
A PT or OT may use dry needling to release or deactivate trigger points, aiming to relieve pain or improve range of motion. It can be incorporated into a personalized treatment plan to address your specific needs. Dry needling may benefit individuals with various diagnoses, such as spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, chronic pain conditions, neurogenic muscle weakness, and other conditions that result in pain or movement dysfunction. If you’re considering dry needling, we encourage you to ask your therapist whether this treatment is a suitable option for you.
What are the goals for dry needling?
In neurorehabilitation, the goals of dry needling are to help manage pain, reduce muscle spasticity, improve muscle function, and enhance range of motion. By targeting specific trigger points or areas of muscle dysfunction, dry needling can help release tension, decrease muscle tightness, and normalize motor control. This technique supports the overall rehabilitation process by facilitating movement, improving strength, and aiding in the restoration of functional abilities. Preliminary research supports that dry needling improves pain control, reduces muscle tension, and normalizes dysfunctions of the motor end plates, the sites at which nerve impulses are transmitted to muscles. Dry needling targets trigger points to alleviate discomfort and facilitate a quicker return to active rehabilitation. (unsure if we need this information but could probably be deleted).
Our therapists have extensive knowledge of anatomy and therapeutic treatments, which they further enhance through specialized postgraduate education and training in dry needling. This additional expertise ensures that our team provides safe, effective treatment tailored to your individual needs.