Dry Needling Greater Bismarck, MO. It’s impossible to describe how upsetting 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 getting in and out of the car challenging or even impossible. At Axes Physical Therapy in Bismarck, MO, we are constantly looking for cutting edge and evidence-backed treatments to help Bismarck, MO residents get back to their active lifestyle, or just finally live pain free again. Many of our patients have found that dry needling is an effective, easy, and important part of a more comprehensive treatment regiment with us. All of our treatment plans are personalized for each client, the pain or injury that’s affecting them, and the life they want to live. Contact Axes Physical Therapy in Bismarck, MO online or call the location nearest 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 customized care you will be leaping for joy sooner than you think.
What is Dry Needling? | Bismarck, MO Physical Therapy
Dry needling, also referred to as trigger point dry needling, uses thin filiform needles to perforate the skin and musculoskeletal tissue in order to relieve chronic pain, improve range of motion and return you to normal function and the active lifestyle you desire. Physical therapists often use it to amplify the effects of a larger physical therapy plan that can include posture correction, stretching, heat therapy, and more. Dry needling should only ever be performed by medical professionals in Bismarck, MO, such as the licensed and experienced physical therapists at Axes.
Dry needling is often used to treat myofascial pain. “Myofacial” comes from Greek, with myo meaning muscles and fascia meaning a “flat band,” or the connective tissue inside and surrounding the muscles. Myofascial pain is known as a chronic pain condition that can affect people until they find appropriate and successful treatment. In our experience and based on our research, dry needling is an easy and cost-effective alternative for Bismarck, MO residents who are burdened with the rising price of prescription meds or have been frustrated by poor results from other treatments.
We’ve also found trigger point dry needling to be effective for Bismarck, MO patients with:
- Soft tissue injuries
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Knee injuries and other joint conditions
- Chronic migraines and headaches
- Arthritis
- Rotator cuff tears
- Various sports injuries
- Certain spinal issues
- Certain hand injuries like carpal tunnel
- Phantom pain
- Sciatica
If you’ve been disheartened by treatments that just aren’t producing results 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 professional physical and occupational therapists to discover if dry needling could finally be the solution you’ve been waiting for.
How Does Dry Needling Work? | Bismarck, 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 region of your body. Trigger points are portions of inflamed tight or strained muscles or tissue that impede the flow of blood to that muscle. That makes recovery more difficult. By gently puncturing or tearing the knots in your tissue, your Axes physical therapist in Bismarck, MO helps induce a natural response in your nervous system; the micro-tears influence the body to heal the muscle and tissue and promote the flow of blood and critical nutrients into the area. Also, the needles will prompt a “twitch” response by initiating a nerve pathway that can change the biochemical makeup of the trigger point. That that communication within the nervous system releases endorphins, which naturally reduces pain and even improves happiness.

Frequently Asked Questions: Trigger Point Dry Needling in Bismarck, MO
Does Dry Needling Hurt?
The needles used in dry needling are eight times thinner than needles typically used at hospitals and doctors’ appointments for injections or blood samples, so many of our Bismarck, MO patients don’t even feel them at first. some patients report faint irritation when the twitch response is induced, but it only lasts for a second and is a signal that dry needling is working. Some patients report some dull aches in the affected region for up to a couple days, but after that, you should start noticing improvements in pain and mobility, if not earlier.
Is Dry Needling Safe?
When it’s performed by licensed physical therapists, yes. All of our physical and occupational therapists in Bismarck, MO are skilled professionals with a extensive understanding of the nervous and musculoskeletal systems and safe practices.
Is Dry Needling Really Effective?
Absolutely, especially when combined with other pain management and mobility techniques. At Axes, our Bismarck, MO physical therapists only recommend treatments that have been proven to work through extensive medical and academic studies. Studies have demonstrated 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, how severe the pain is, lack of mobility, and the affected muscle area. Some piercings will be incredibly shallow 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 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. Most patients need anywhere from one to six sessions to fully reduce pain and restore mobility. We’ll tailor your experience to you to get you the maximum benefit and effectively get you back to the activities that are most important to you.
How Quickly Does Dry Needling Work?
Some Bismarck, MO clients can feel improvements right away, while others have to wait a day or two after their first appointment.
Are Dry Needling and Acupuncture the Same?
Not really. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical technique, invented thousands of years ago, that seeks to align a person’s “chi,” or vital life force. Dry needling has its roots in Western medicine and has only recently become widely used by physical therapists and other medical professionals.
Will My Insurance Cover Dry Needling?
Insurance plans all vary, so we can’t know until we look at your personal plan. At Axes, we believe everyone should have access to the effective and evidence-backed physical therapy 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 see if dry needling is covered.
Some of the other services we offer in Bismarck, MO are:
- Back Pain Treatment
- Neck Pain Treatment
- Physical Therapy Clinic
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment
- Sciatica Treatment
- Sports Medicine
- Hand Pain Physical Therapy
- Foot & Ankle Pain Treatment
- Hip Pain Treatment
- Plantar Fasciitis Treatment

Trigger Point Dry Needling in Bismarck, MO | Axes Physical Therapy
Many of our patients come to us as their last resort because, after all sorts of medication and other treatments, they still just can’t find relief. At Axes, our professional and skilled physical in Bismarck, MO work with you as a team to develop a personalized treatment plan with a proven track record of success. We’ve pledged our practice to getting the best results for our clients and getting you back to the activities you love most, whether that hitting a home run on your local softball team, taking a morning job, or just being able to go about your day without feeling any pain. Get in touch with a knowledgeable Bismarck, MO physical therapist online or call the location most convenient for you.










