Top 3 benefits of dry needling
Dry needling is the insertion of a solid, stainless steel needle into a muscle trigger’s point. There is no medicine injected into the skin, making dry needling an effective and safe modality, when performed by a practitioner licensed by the Oregon Medical Board. Here are three benefits of dry needling (check this out if you’re confused about the difference between acupuncture and dry needling).
#1: Dry needling relieves pain and muscle tightness
Dry needling targets trigger points in the body. The needle releases tension, inflammation, natural pain-killing opioids in your body and breaks down the muscle that is causing you pain so it can rebuild without knots or deformities. The results will lead to an improved range of motion and immediate pain relief.
#2: Improved Range of Motion
A tight muscle with trigger points is a weak muscle. And a weak muscle doesn’t have the same range of motion as a strong muscle. If you’re a runner, having full range of motion in your hips is important when running long distances. By constantly pounding the pavement, you put a lot of stress on your hips and glutes. Dry needling can help reduce this pain and improve overall function of your hips so you won’t feel constant discomfort in your hips or low back — or sustain another injury. Check out these case studies for examples of how dry needling can help you.
#3: Speeds Up Recovery
Anytime you suffer an injury, the worst and longest part is the recovery process. With dry needling, patients have experienced quicker pain relief and improved range of motion - some even get better on the first try! This is one of the best benefits of dry needling therapy as it speeds up the healing process compared to other treatment options.
There are a few key differences between dry needling and acupuncture - and it’s up to you about the type of experience you’d prefer at To The Point PDX. If you’re still unclear if dry needling or acupuncture is the best modality for you, give us a call at 503-705-6637. Both are effective, when preformed by a practitioner with over 2,000 hours of training.