OSC Offers Dry Needling Therapy as an Effective Treatment for Pain

The Physical Therapy Center at OSC offers Dry Needling Therapy for patients with chronically painful muscles.
What is Dry Needling?
Dry Needling is a treatment that involves inserting a tiny monofilament needle in a muscle in order to release tight areas within the muscle tissue and decrease trigger point activity. A “trigger point” is described as a painful spot in the muscle that corresponds with a knot you can feel, found within tight bands of muscle fibers. Dry needling can help resolve the trigger point, which in turn, helps resolve pain, decrease muscle tension, and promote healing.
What causes a Trigger Point? Trigger points can be caused by many different factors, including, but not limited to:
1. Injury
2. Stress
3. Overworking certain muscles
4. Failure to drink water and maintain proper hydration
How does Dry Needling work?
1. Dry Needling causes relaxation of the muscle by way of disrupting hyperactivity or increased electrical activity at the area where the nerve meets the muscle
2. Normalizes the chemical effects in the muscle by eliciting a Local Twitch Response (involuntary contraction of the muscle fibers within the trigger point)
3. Blocks the painful stimulus to the brain
4. Increases blood flow
5. Restores the length of the muscle
How long does it take to see results and what should I expect after treatment?
Many people have an immediate reduction in pain and muscle tension. However, it is normal to experience some increased soreness of the muscle as if you have been working out. If soreness occurs, it may last 24-48 hours, then you will feel an increase in mobility and a decrease in pain. Your Physical Therapist will determine how often and how long the dry needling session should be on an individual basis.
What Conditions does Dry Needling help?
In combination with Physical Therapy, Dry Needling has demonstrated effectiveness for treating many conditions including, but not limited to:
1. Chronic Pain
2. Neck and Low back pain
3. Headaches
4. Tendonitis
5. Post- surgical pain
6. Post Traumatic injury
7. Work related injuries
8. Overuse injuries
Is Dry Needling covered by insurance?
Most Insurers do not cover Dry Needling, and there is an out-of-pocket fee associated with this procedure. This fee is due before the dry needling treatment. Please contact our office for more information.