Trigger Point Dry Needling

Functional Dry Needling is a technique used to release tight muscle bands associated with trigger points or dysfunctional muscles that cause pain. Functional Dry Needling (FDN) uses acupuncture size needles to stimulate a neurological response in the muscle by activating the motor neuron. This treatment utilizes a thin solid filament needle to deactivate and desensitize the trigger points in muscles. Functional dry needling can also be used to facilitate dysfunctional muscles by applying electric current directly into the tissue.

doctor with gloves on doing a Dry Needling Treatment on a patients back

Will Dry Needling Work For me?

Conditions that may benefit from FDN can include repetitive stress injuries, muscle tendonitis, neck pain, headaches, rotator cuff impingement, frozen shoulder, carpal tunnel syndrome, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, sciatica, muscle strains, IT band syndrome, patellofemoral dysfunction, plantar fascistic and more. If active trigger points or dysfunction in the muscle group are found to be causing the pain or weakness, muscle tightness and/or muscle weakness then Dry Needling would be a good option.

Does Functional Dry Needling Hurt?

Most patients don’t feel the insertion of the needle. Remember, these needles are 0.25mm wide. That’s one fourth the size of a sewing needle.

However, patients may experience a twitch response when the needles are inserted. This local twitch response elicits a very brief cramping and/or deep aching sensation. While the needle is inserted, it might recreate your pain or may refer to other areas of the body. The twitch response and referred pain is actually a good and desirable reaction because it helps confirm a source of dysfunction.

How is Functional Dry Needling different than acupuncture?

Functional Dry Needling does use similar needles that acupuncturist use and some acupuncturist use the technique of dry needling. But with dry needling, the needles targeting specific muscles to deactivate trigger points or stimulate dysfunctional muscles that are causing pain.

Why is it called “Dry Needling”?

“Wet” needling would involve a hollow needle used to deliver a medical substance like saline, corticosteroids or anesthetics. Dry Needling is the use of a solid thin filament needle that does not use any injectable or medical substance.