Dry Needle Treatment In Bethesda MD

What is Dry Needling?

Dry Needling is a treatment technique that utilizes thin, solid filament needles designed to penetrate the skin and stimulate underlying neural muscular and connective tissues. Dry Needling evokes a healing response in painful neuromusculoskeletal conditions and improves movement impairments.

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How does it work?

When a needle tip hits a trigger pint, a characteristic local twitch response (LTR) in the muscles is noted by the clinician and the client. This LTR is involuntary. It has been shown that the elicitation of local twitch responses mechanically disrupts the contracted nature of the trigger point and is important for trigger point deactivation.

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Is Dry Needling the same as Acupuncture?

Dry Needle treatment is not acupuncture or Oriental Medicine. It does not have the purpose of altering the flow of energy (“Qi”) along traditional Chinese meridians for the treatment of disease. In fact, DN is a modern, science based intervention for the treatment of pain and dysfunction in musculoskeletal conditions.

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What kind of problems can be treated?

Patients with the following symptoms may benefit from Dry Needling – Neck pain, muscle strains, repetitive stress injuries, lower back pain, sciatica, tendinitis, adhesive capsulitis, knee osteoarthritis, bursitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, SI joint dysfunction, plantar fasciitis, headaches, chronic pain, decreased mobility.

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Is the procedure painful?

Most people do not feel the insertion of the needle. The local twitch response elicits a very brief cramping and/or deep aching sensation.

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Are there any side effects?

It is typical to experience soreness in the area treated for 24-48 hours. The soreness is quite tolerable for most and is easily alleviated with cold/heat.

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How long does it take for the procedure to work?

In some cases, decreased pain and improved mobility is immediate. Typically, it may take a few treatment sessions for a lasting positive effect. We are trying to cause mechanical, biochemical and neurological changes without drugs or surgery. Therefore, we are looking for a cumulative response to deactivate trigger points, disrupt pain and to restore optimal muscle function.

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What’s the next step?

If you would like to see if you are a candidate for dry needling, the first step is to call our office and set up an initial consultation. Based on your health history and current pain, the doctor will be able to determine if this is a viable treatment option for you.

Don’t wait, call (301) 907-6533 today!