Dry Needling

Muscle knots are small but can cause severe pain and tenderness. If you struggle with intense muscle pain, it’s time to consult the team at FIX Medical Group in San Diego, California, and Scottsdale, Arizona. They specialize in dry needling, a treatment that quickly eases pain caused by trigger points, tight muscles, and scarring. Call the nearest FIX Medical Group office today or request an appointment online to get rapid relief from your pain.

What is dry needling?

Dry needling eases muscle pain by relaxing tight, cramped muscles and does the job using nothing but a filiform needle.

Filiform needles are incredibly thin and tapered at one end (similar to the needles used for acupuncture). Their size and shape allow them to easily glide through your skin and into the targeted muscle.

As your provider inserts the needle, it immediately disrupts muscle contractions. Any nerves compressed by the tight muscles are released as the muscle relaxes. As a result, normal nerve function returns, and your pain disappears.

When might I need dry needling?

FIX Medical Group recommends dry needling to:

Relax trigger points

Dry needling is frequently used to relax trigger points. A trigger point is a small, hard area of knotted muscles. Knots form when the muscle fibers remain in constant contraction rather than relaxing. The tight muscle also pinches nearby blood vessels and nerves.

You develop trigger points as a result of stress, repetitive movements, or an injury. Poor posture can also cause a trigger point.

Relieve chronic musculoskeletal pain

Dry needling helps ease the pain of fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome. Fibromyalgia causes muscle pain throughout your body, so dry needling can’t directly treat the condition. However, people with fibromyalgia frequently develop trigger points.

Myofascial pain syndrome occurs when you have trigger points in the fascia, a layer of connective tissues surrounding your muscles.

Treat muscle tightness

Dry needling also relieves pain caused by scar tissue or a large band of tight muscles. That means dry needling treats conditions like:

• Joint problems
• Tendinitis
• Whiplash
• Migraines and tension headaches
• Neck and shoulder pain
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder

You might also benefit from dry needling when stress tightens your shoulder and neck muscles.

What should I expect during dry needling?

Each person’s dry needling session is based on where and how severe the muscle knot is. Your provider could guide the needle just below the skin’s surface or need to go to a deeper level. The needle might only stay in for seconds, or your provider could leave it in place for up to 15 minutes.

If you’re in pain, don’t wait to get relief. Call FIX Medical Group today or book an appointment online to learn how dry needling can help.