Trigger Point Dry Needling

An effective treatment for myofascial (muscle) pain.

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Dry needling is a technique used to treat myofascial pain syndromes by our team at VSI Physical Therapy, who are all certified in dry needling.  Myofascial pain syndromes, also known as muscular dysfunction, have been recognized by medical practitioners for causing sensory, motor, and autonomic symptoms and dysfunctions since the 16th Century. Dry needling became a more popular treatment technique through the evolution of Drs. Janet Travell and David Simons collective research in mapping pain patterns associated with trigger points with myofascial pain syndromes. Myofascial pain syndromes are associated with palpable nodules or taut bands known as myofascial trigger points. Drs Travell and Simons discovered an injection of analgesic medication into trigger points caused a decrease in symptoms, pain, and sensitivity to touch in the trigger points. Through the evolution of trigger point dry needling research we now know pain relief is possible without the need for medicine to be injected into the trigger point.  The research has shown the actual insertion of the needle alone causes stimulation of the muscle trigger point thereby causing a therapeutic benefit that can include pain relief or a reduction in abnormal muscular tightness/tone.

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Conditions Treated

By Trigger Point Dry Needling

  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Lower back pain
  • Neck pain
  • Rotator cuff disorders
  • Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
  • Knee pain
  • Achilles tendonitis
  • Other myofascial related disorders

Frequently Asked Questions

Trigger Point Dry Needling

A trigger point is a discrete, focal, hyperirritable spot located in a taut band of skeletal muscle that often refers pain. Trigger points develop in muscles, mainly in the center of a muscle belly and present with palpable nodules and taut bands found within the tight muscle. Trigger points can be found in any skeletal muscle of the body.  Trigger points can be caused by acute trauma or repetitive muscular stress causing micro trauma to the muscle.  When a trigger point is palpated properly it often has a twitch response or jump sign associated with it. A twitch response is when the trigger point can be touched in a way to cause a mini contraction. A Jump Sign is when the trigger point is pressed firmly causing the patient to jump or move due to pain caused by the pressure. 

Trigger points are often associated with chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Common causes of trigger points include:

  • Aging
  • Traumatic Injury
  • Poor Posture
  • Lack of Exercise
  • Repetitive Muscular Stress
  • Muscle overuse and microtrauma
  • Chronic Stress Conditions (Anxiety, Depression, Psychological Stress Trauma)
  • Vitamin Deficiencies
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Joint Laxity or Hypermobility Syndromes

“Is Dry Needling that same as Acupuncture” is a common question from our patients.  The primary similarity is that trigger point dry needling and acupuncture use the same type of needles.  Other than the needle, the two techniques have very different methods of treatment.  

Acupuncture is a highly recognized alternative treatment technique that addresses energy flow in the human body.  Meridians are energy highways that Acupuncturists will evaluate a patient’s energy flow by assessing their pulses. The goal of acupuncture is to rebalance a patient’s energy flow.  Poor energy flow can be associated with poor health, dysfunction, medical conditions, and disease. 

Dry Needling is a well-recognized specialized therapeutic skill to address myofascial pain syndromes.  A Physical Therapist who is a Certified Dry Needling Specialist will assess the patient for trigger points by locating palpable nodules within taut bands in the surrounding tissue of the injury.  

Improvement after dry needling is determined not only by whether your pain has improved, but by how much your body shows improvement in your functional movements. Generally, it takes a few sessions to have a positive effect, though many people can feel an immediate decrease in pain and an increase in mobility. When your body is aligned properly, moves better, and functions better it often responds by reducing the pain you feel. You often will show improvements in the muscle tightness, improvements in joint motion, and improvements with dysfunctional joints after one treatment. However, to eliminate a patient’s pain requires sustained improvement in all the categories discussed above. To maintain improvement often requires several treatment sessions that combination of myofascial techniques (including dry needling), manual therapy techniques, and targeted exercise that specifically addresses your body’s biomechanical dysfunctions. As your body progressively improves your pain will diminish over time and often resolves.

It is common to have soreness in the muscles that were needled for 24-48 hours.  Soreness can linger sometimes, but should dissipate each day.  

Following dry needling treatments, you should:

  • Promote circulation in the muscle that was needled.
    1. Keep Moving: you want to frequently and repetitively move the body part that was needled.  Go for a walk after having your lower extremity needled.  Shoulder rolls and repeated movements 
    2. Avoid sedentary positions (long drives, prolonged sitting) after dry needling. 
    3. Use heat, not ice.  Heat will increase the circulation in the area that was needled.  Taking a hot bath, hot shower, or heating pad will help promote circulation.  Ice will restrict microcirculation of a muscle and should not be used immediately after needling. 
  • Stay Hydrated.
    1. Drink lots of water to help promote better cellular circulation and health.
    2. Limit diuretic drinks by limiting caffeine and alcohol in your drinks. 
  • Light stretching of the muscles that were needled.

Get The Pain Relief You Need
From Trigger Point Dry Needling

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