Dry Needling

Find Relief From Muscular Pain

Dry needling is the precise insertion of acupuncture needles into muscle tissue, without the use of medication, hence the term “dry” needling. This technique is highly effective in pain management, especially when combined with exercise. Our approach to dry needling focuses on improving movement and enhancing your exercise tolerance.

Conditions Treated with Dry Needling

Dry needling targets trigger points, tight muscles, and painful areas, offering relief for various conditions including:

• Cervical and lumbar radiculopathies 
• Headaches
• Myofascial pain
• Degenerative conditions

Commonwealth Pain & Spine offers a wide range of pain management treatments. Our team will work with you to determine if dry needling is the right option for your unique needs.

How it Helps

The insertion of the thin needle prompts a response from the muscle tissue, potentially reducing pain, enhancing range of motion, and restoring muscle function. In some cases, we combine dry needling with electrical stimulation/TENS for added benefit.

Dry needling can provide:

• Decreased tightness in the muscle
• Increased blood flow
• Reduced pain

With the right treatment plan in place, Commonwealth Pain & Spine is ready to help you address your chronic pain.

What to Expect

The team at Commonwealth Pain & Spine is more than happy to walk you through the dry needling procedure.

Here’s what to expect during your dry needling experience:

1. Referral: Fill out our self-referral form, and we will contact your primary care physician to review your medical history and contact you for an appointment. If your physician has already referred you to us, we will reach out to schedule an appointment.
2. Consultation: Our team will meet with you to discuss your symptoms, unique needs, and explore treatment options.
3. Day-of: First, your therapist will palpate the affected area to pinpoint target points. They will then gently insert the needle and use several different techniques depending upon your needs. We may insert and withdraw the needle in the same area, followed by gentle movements to stimulate the muscles. This may elicit a twitch response in the muscles.
4. Recovery: After dry needling, you may experience increased muscle soreness for 24-36 hours. This is normal, but it is important to keep moving the muscle. You may also notice some bruising in the area where your therapist inserted the needle.