At Awaken Chiropractic, we are committed to helping our patients in Parker and Highlands Ranch achieve optimal health and freedom from pain. As part of our holistic approach to care, we offer dry needling, a powerful technique for relieving muscular pain and dysfunction. So, if you’re considering dry needling, here’s what you should know about this safe, effective treatment modality.
What is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is a therapeutic technique that involves inserting thin, sterile needles into specific points in the muscle, known as trigger points. Trigger points are taut, hypersensitive bands of muscle fiber that can cause pain, stiffness, and referred pain in other areas of the body. The needles used in dry needling are similar in thickness to human hair and are solid, not hollow, like those used for injections.
When a needle is inserted into a trigger point, it stimulates a local twitch response, causing the muscle to relax and release. This helps relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and restore normal muscle function. Dry needling is based on Western medical principles and should not be confused with acupuncture, which is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine.
What Conditions Can Dry Needling Help?
Dry needling can be an effective treatment for a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, including:
- Myofascial pain syndrome
- Headaches and migraines
- Neck and back pain
- Shoulder, elbow, and knee pain
- Sciatica
- Bursitis and tendinitis
- TMJ disorders
- Sports and overuse injuries
- Post-stroke spasticity
By targeting the root cause of muscular pain and dysfunction, dry needling can provide significant relief and improved function. It is often used in conjunction with other therapies like chiropractic adjustments, manual therapy, and corrective exercises for a comprehensive approach to care.
How Dry Needling Fits Into Your Chiropractic Care Plan
At Awaken Chiropractic, we view dry needling as a valuable complement to chiropractic care. While chiropractic adjustments focus on restoring proper alignment and function to the spine and joints, dry needling addresses the muscular component of pain and dysfunction.
Our trained providers strategically place needles in trigger points to elicit a healing response. This involves targeting knots of contracted muscle fibers to relieve tightness, pain, and muscle dysfunction. By releasing these trigger points, dry needling helps the muscles relax, which can take pressure off the joints and allow for more effective chiropractic adjustments.
Dry needling also stimulates blood flow to the area, which promotes tissue healing and reduces inflammation. This is especially beneficial for acute injuries and chronic pain conditions. By reducing inflammation and promoting healing at a cellular level, dry needling supports the body’s natural recovery processes.
When combined with spinal adjustments and other chiropractic techniques, dry needling offers a powerful solution for pain relief and improved function. Our goal is not just to alleviate symptoms, but to address the underlying causes of your pain and optimize your body’s innate ability to heal.
So, if you’re struggling with muscular pain or dysfunction, dry needling may be an excellent addition to your chiropractic care plan. With your Highlands Ranch and Parker chiropractors, you can get back to feeling your best. Book your appointment with our caring and compassionate team today!
