Dry Needling

Dry Needling

Proven treatment plans that work to free you from pain and return your mobility

Dry Needling Greater St. Louis. It’s impossible to describe how upsetting it can be when pain and lack of mobility in our bodies keep us from the activities we love, or even make basic tasks like climbing the stairs difficult or even impossible. At Axes Physical Therapy in St. Louis, we are constantly looking for new, innovative, and evidence-backed treatments to help St. Louis residents get back to living pain-free and getting back to what they most love doing. Many of our patients have found that dry needling is an effective, simple, and important part of their larger treatment plan with us. We tailor all of our physical therapy services specifically to each client, their injury, and the life they want to live. Contact Axes Physical Therapy in St. Louis online or call the location nearest you and we will guide you toward true pain relief and freedom of mobility. Though it may be hard to believe now, you with our tailored care you will be leaping for joy in no time.

What is Dry Needling? | St. Louis Physical Therapy

Dry needling, also called trigger point dry needling, employs thin filiform needles to penetrate the skin and underlying muscles and connective tissue in order to relieve persistent pain, boost range of motion and return you to normal function and the active lifestyle you desire. Physical therapists often use it as part of a larger treatment plan that can include posture correction, stretching, exercises, electrical stimulation, and more. Dry needling should only ever be carried out by medical professionals in St. Louis, such as the licensed and experienced physical therapists at Axes.

Dry needling is often used to treat myofascial pain. The root myo refers to your muscles, while fascia refers to the connective tissue between the muscles. Myofascial pain is considered a chronic pain disorder that can affect people for months or even years. We’ve found that dry needling is a safe and cost-effective pain reliever for St. Louis residents who are burdened with the rising cost of medication or have not seen their symptoms improve with other treatments.

Trigger point dry needling is also ideal for St. Louis residents with:

If you’ve been frustrated by unsuccessful treatments in the past and are getting anxious to get back to the activities you love, schedule a free screening for your injury or chronic pain with one of our expert physical and occupational therapists to see if dry needling can be implemented into a comprehensive and evidence-backed physical therapy plan with Axes.

How Does Dry Needling Work? | St. Louis Physical Therapy

Dry needling works by attacking trigger points in the body that are causing pain and lack of mobility. The trigger point can either affect a localized area or affect an entire region of your body. Trigger points are sections of damaged, inflamed, taut, knotted or irritated muscles or tissue that restrict blood flow to that area and surrounding areas. That makes recovery more difficult. By gently piercing or tearing damaged muscles or tissue, your Axes physical therapist in St. Louis helps stimulate a natural bodily reaction; the micro-tears signal the body to go into healing mode and promote the flow of blood and nutrients into the area. In addition, the needles will stimulate a “twitch” response by initiating a nerve pathway and sending Axons, or nerve fibers, to the affected area. That causes the brain to release endorphins, the body’s own, homegrown pain reliever.

Dry Needling St. Louis | Pain Management | Trigger Point Dry Needling Near ME

Frequently Asked Questions: Trigger Point Dry Needling in St. Louis

Does Dry Needling Hurt?

The needles used in dry needling are eight times thinner than needles used for shots and vaccines, so many of our St. Louis patients don’t even feel them pierce the skin. You may feel some mild discomfort when the twitch response is induced, but it is incredibly brief and is a signal that dry needling is working. You may feel some soreness in the area for the first day or two, but after that, you should start feeling the beneficial effects, if you haven’t already.

Is Dry Needling Safe?

When it’s performed by professional physical therapists, yes. All of our physical therapists in St. Louis are licensed and experienced professionals with a deep understanding of the anatomy of the musculoskeletal system.

Is Dry Needling Really Effective?

Absolutely, especially when it is part of a larger, comprehensive physical therapy plan. At Axes, our St. Louis physical therapists only use techniques and practices that have been proven to work through extensive research. Studies show that trigger point dry needling effectively reduces pain and improves function.

How Long Do The Needles Stay in For? How Deep They Go?

That depends on you, your level of pain, lack of mobility or function, and the affected muscle area. Some piercings will be incredibly shallow and the needles will only stay in for 15-20 seconds. Other times, the needles will stay in for a few minutes and will go deeper into the muscle, as often dry needling is the only way to access tissue deep within the muscles. All Axes treatment plans are unique, just like our patients.

How Many Sessions Will I Need?

Again, that depends on you. Some patients see significant improvement after one session, while others need five or six sessions to get the full benefit. We’ll tailor your plan to you to get you the maximum benefit and safely, effectively, and efficiently get you back to doing what you love most.

How Quickly Does Dry Needling Work?

Some St. Louis patients express immediate relief, while others have to wait a day or two after their first appointment. If your pain is chronic or lack of mobility severe, it may take two or three sessions before you see the benefits.

Isn’t Dry Needling Just the Same as Acupuncture?

Not really. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical technique, practiced for thousands of years, that seeks to balance a person’s flow of energy or “life force.” Dry needling is based on Western medicine and has only gained traction in the last couple decades.

Will My Insurance Cover Dry Needling?

That depends on your specific insurance plan. At Axes, we believe everyone deserves the professional, personalized, and proven treatment plans they need to improve their quality of life and get back to feeling like themselves. We are more than happy to call your insurance company and investigate how much coverage you can receive.

Dry Needling St. Louis | Pain Management | Trigger Point Dry Needling Near ME

Trigger Point Dry Needling in St. Louis | Axes Physical Therapy

We’ve seen so many patients frustrated by an inability to find pain relief or a return to normal function and activity through medication or other treatments. At Axes, our licensed physical and occupational therapists in St. Louis work with you as a team to develop a personalized treatment plan with a proven track record of success. We’ve dedicated our practice to positive patient outcomes and getting you back to the activities you love most, whether that be sliding into home plate, biking through Forest Park, or bending down and picking up your grandkids without feeling any pain. Reach out to an experienced and knowledgeable St. Louis physical therapist online or call the location nearest you.

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