Dry Needling Greater Berkeley, MO. It’s hard to describe how debilitating it can be when pain and lack of mobility in our bodies won’t allows us to participate in the the things we love doing, or even make basic movements like standing up or sitting down challenging or even impossible. At Axes Physical Therapy in Berkeley, MO, we are constantly looking for new and treatments that have been proven through research to help Berkeley, MO residents get back to their active lifestyle, or just finally live pain free again. Dry needling has proven to be a critical tool for many of our patients that alleviates pain, softens stiffness, and restores mobility. Our treatment plans are as unique as each client, the pain or injury that’s affecting them, and the life they want to live. Contact Axes Physical Therapy in Berkeley, MO online or reach out to the location closest to you and we will guide you toward results and a positive outcome you may have never thought possible. While it might sound to good to be true, with our tailored care you will be leaping for joy in no time.
What is Dry Needling? | Berkeley, MO Physical Therapy
Dry needling, also called trigger point dry needling, uses thin filiform needles to penetrate the skin and underlying muscles and connective tissue in order to reduce chronic pain, enhance range of motion and return you to feeling like you again. Physical therapists often use it to amplify the effects of a broader treatment regiment that can include posture correction, manual therapy, electrical stimulation, and more. Dry needling should only ever be done by healthcare professionals in Berkeley, MO, such as the licensed and skilled 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 known as a chronic pain disorder that can affect people until they find proven and effective treatment. In our experience and based on our research, dry needling is an easy and cost-effective alternative for Berkeley, MO residents who are burdened with the increasing price of medication or have not seen their symptoms improve with other treatments.
Trigger point dry needling is also ideal for Berkeley, MO residents with:
- Soft tissue injuries
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Knee injuries and other joint problems
- Chronic migraines and headaches
- Arthritis
- Rotator cuff tears
- Various sports injuries
- Various spinal issues
- Certain hand injuries like carpal tunnel
- Phantom pain
- Sciatica
If you’ve been disheartened by unsuccessful treatments in the past and are wondering if you’ll ever get back to the lifestyle and routine you love and had grown accustomed to, schedule a free screening for your injury or chronic pain with one of our experienced physical and occupational therapists to discover if dry needling can be implemented into a holistic and proven treatment regiment with Axes.
How Does Dry Needling Work? | Berkeley, MO Physical Therapy
With dry needling, we treat patients by focusing on specific areas or regions, known as trigger points, that are the root cause of limiting pain. The trigger point can either affect a localized area or affect an entire joint or muscle group. Trigger points are portions of damaged knotted or stressed muscles or tissue that inhibit the flow of blood to that muscle. That makes recovery more difficult. By lightly puncturing or tearing damaged muscles or tissue, your Axes physical therapist in Berkeley, MO helps prompt an instinctive bodily reaction; the micro-tears influence the body to heal the muscle and tissue and return blood flow, oxygen, and vital nutrients into the area. When the tissue is pierced, the needles will stimulate a “twitch” response by initiating a nerve pathway that can change the biochemical makeup of the trigger point. That causes the brain to release endorphins, the body’s own, homegrown feel-good hormone.
Frequently Asked Questions: Trigger Point Dry Needling in Berkeley, MO
Is Dry Needling Painful?
The needles used to penetrate your muscles are eight times thinner than needles typically used at hospitals and doctors’ appointments for injections or blood samples, so many of our Berkeley, MO patients don’t even feel them pierce the skin. some patients report faint irritation when the twitch response is induced, but it lasts for less than two seconds and shows that the desired effect is already taking hold. Some patients report some dull aches in the pierced muscle or tissue for 24 to 48 hours, but after that, you should start feeling the beneficial effects, if you haven’t already.
Is Dry Needling Safe?
When it’s conducted by licensed physical therapists, there is absolutely no risk. All of our physical and occupational therapists in Berkeley, MO are knowledgeable professionals with a thorough grasp of the anatomy of the musculoskeletal system.
Is Dry Needling Really Effective?
Without a doubt, especially when combined with other pain management and mobility techniques. At Axes, our Berkeley, MO physical therapists only develop plans that we know are effective because of our experience and extensive research. Studies show the advantages trigger point dry needling can have for people with injuries or chronic pain.
How Long Do The Needles Stay in For? How Deep They Go?
The specific dry needling techniques we use will be personalized to your needs. Some piercings will not go very deep and the needles will only stay in for 15-20 seconds. In other cases, the needles will remain for as many as 15 or 20 minutes and penetrate deep into the muscle, as often dry needling is the most effective way to treat harder to reach muscles and tissue. Your entire experience at Axes will be based exclusively on what is best for you.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
Again, that we will make a personalized recommendation based on your needs. Depending on your injury or pain and how your body heals, you could need anywhere from one to six sessions to get the most out of dry needling. We’ll personalize your plan to you to get you the best outcome possible and effectively get you back to the activities that you love most.
How Quickly Will I See Results With Dry Needling?
Some Berkeley, MO clients can feel improvements right away, while others have to wait a day or two after their first appointment.
Isn’t Dry Needling Just the Same as Acupuncture?
Only in that they use similar needles. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical technique, practiced for thousands of years, that aims to align a patient’s “chi,” or vital life force. Dry needling is based on Western medicine and has only reached widespread appeal 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 live without pain and get back to the active lifestyle they’re accustomed to. If it’s easiest for you, we can contact your insurance company and determine if physical therapy is included in your coverage.
Some of the other services we offer in Berkeley, MO are:
- Stroke Rehabilitation
- Hip Replacement Physical Therapy
- Workers Comp' Physical Therapy
- Migraine Relief
- Sprain and Strain Treatment
- Geriatric Physical Therapy
- Injury Rehabilitation
- Pain Management Services
- TMJ Treatment
- Herniated Disc Treatment
Trigger Point Dry Needling in Berkeley, MO | 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 qualified and skilled physical and occupational in Berkeley, MO work with you as a team to implement a customized treatment plan that we’ve seen be successful with our own eyes. We’ve committed our practice to positive patient outcomes and getting you back to the activities you love most, whether that hitting a home run on your local softball team, biking through the park, or bending down and picking up your grandkids without feeling any pain. Get in touch with a knowledgeable Berkeley, MO physical therapist online or call the location closest to you.