Can Dry Needling Help?

Steve and Dr. Cole talk with Carson Lux, ?PT, CMTPT, SFG-I, 3DMAPS, FMS/SFMA. Carson is a Physical Therapist and Program Head at Athletico Physical Therapy in Naperville, Illinois and discusses the application and benefits of Trigger Point Dry Needling. Carson also specializes in Hip Preservation, ACL Rehab/Prevention, Overhead Athletes, Endurance Athletes having obtained Pose Method certification as a Running Technique Specialist and uses his personal passion for Kettlebells with his patients having obtained SFG Level I certification.

Dry needling is an innovative treatment technique performed by a licensed physical therapist to help reduce or heal pain symptoms. This technique has many useful applications ranging from soft tissue involvement to nerve irritation. In general, it is primarily used to target trigger points (sensitive spots in soft tissue) and reduce tension of taut muscles.

Dry Needling for Strains

The repetitive overload of taut muscles can result in a strain. Muscles connect to bones by tendons, so when a taut or strained muscle pulls at the attachment site of the tendon, the resulting breakdown can evolve into tendinitis. With dry needling, a thin needle is placed into the inflamed tissue and recruits the body?s acute healing response to aide in quicker recovery time. Additionally, chronic tendon conditions can benefit from the influx of blood flow that occurs from the needle micro trauma.

Dry Needling for Pinched Nerves

Taut muscles can also cause nerve impingement (pinched nerve) anywhere along the muscular complex. For example, in the neck, as the nerve roots exit, the muscles of the neck lay on top and can pinch down on the nerves. The same nerve could be affected further down the arm, under the muscles of the forearm. All could lead to numbness and tingling in the hand, mimicking symptoms of carpal tunnel. Dry needling in the neck or anywhere along the nerves track could resolve the symptoms.

If a nerve becomes affected by impingement or disc herniation, muscles may lose their mass (atrophy) due to the reduced nerve flow. Dry needling with electrical stimulation, early after injury, can directly aid in the re-development of the muscle.

More Conditions Dry Needling Can Help

Dry needling has many great benefits and can address a wide array of neural and musculoskeletal conditions, including:

? Rotator Cuff Tendinitis
? Cervical Strain
? Whiplash
? TMJ Dysfunction
? Headaches
? Carpal Tunnel
? Tennis Elbow
? Golfer?s Elbow
? Lumbar Strain
? Disc Herniation
? Gluteal Tendinitis
? Piriformis Syndrome
? Sciatica
? Quadriceps Strain
? Patellar Tendinitis
? Patellofemoral Syndrome
? Iliotibial Band Syndrome
? Shin Splints
? Plantar Fasciitis
? Achilles Tendinitis
? Tarsal Tunnel
? Scar Tissue Adhesions

This list is only a few of the conditions that may benefit from trigger point dry needling. If you have any questions whether or not dry needling can treat your specific pain or injury, contact an Athletico near you.