Dry Needling Greater Bridgeton, MO. It’s impossible to describe how upsetting it can be when pain and lack of mobility in our bodies is preventing us from engaging in the activities we love, or even make ordinary movements like reaching for something on the top shelf painful or even impossible. At Axes Physical Therapy in Bridgeton, MO, we are constantly looking for new and treatments that have been demonstrated through research to help Bridgeton, MO residents get back to their active lifestyle, or just finally live pain free again. Dry needling has proven to be an indispensable tool for many of our patients that relieves pain, softens stiffness, and restores mobility. We tailor all of our physical therapy services specifically to each client, the pain or injury that’s affecting them, and the life they want to live. Contact Axes Physical Therapy in Bridgeton, MO online or find the location nearest you and we will guide you away from chronic pain and back to the activities you love. While it might sound to good to be true, with our tailored care you will be skipping out the door sooner than you think.
What is Dry Needling? | Bridgeton, MO Physical Therapy
Dry needling, also referred to as trigger point dry needling, uses thin filiform needles to perforate the skin and underlying muscles and connective tissue in order to alleviate persistent pain, boost range of motion and return you to feeling like you again. Physical therapists often use it as part of a holistic treatment plan along with posture correction, stretching, heat therapy, and more. Dry needling should exclusively be carried out by healthcare professionals in Bridgeton, MO, such as the qualified 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 referred to as a chronic pain condition that can significantly limit people in their daily lives until they find appropriate and effective treatment. In our experience and based on our research, dry needling is an easy and economical option for Bridgeton, MO residents who are burdened with the rising cost of prescription meds or have not seen their symptoms improve with other treatments.
We’ve also implemented trigger point dry needling for Bridgeton, 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
- Certain spinal issues
- Certain hand injuries like carpal tunnel
- Phantom pain
- Sciatica
If you’ve been disheartened by unsuccessful treatments in the past and are doubting whether or not you’ll ever get back to the activities you love, make an appointment for a free screening for your injury or chronic pain with one of our knowledgeable physical and occupational therapists to see if dry needling can be implemented into a holistic and proven physical therapy plan with Axes.
How Does Dry Needling Work? | Bridgeton, MO Physical Therapy
Dry needling works 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 segments of inflamed tight or strained muscles or tissue that impede the flow of blood to that muscle. That makes recovery more difficult. By softly puncturing or tearing the knots in your tissue, your Axes physical therapist in Bridgeton, MO helps induce an intuitive bodily reaction; the micro-tears influence the body to go into healing mode and promote the flow of blood and critical nutrients into the area. In addition, the needles will stimulate a “twitch” response by sending Axons, or nerve fibers, to the affected areathat will make the trigger point less irritable. That tells the brain to release endorphins, the body’s own, homegrown feel-good hormone.
Frequently Asked Questions: Trigger Point Dry Needling in Bridgeton, MO
Is Dry Needling Painful?
The needles used to penetrate your muscles are eight times thinner than needles used for shots and vaccines, so many of our Bridgeton, MO patients don’t even notice them until they get deeper into the muscle. some patients report faint irritation from the twitch response, but it is incredibly brief and indicates that your body is initiating the desired response. You may feel some soreness in the area for 24 to 48 hours, but after that, you should start noticing improvements in pain and mobility, if not earlier.
Is Dry Needling Safe?
When it’s conducted by qualified physical therapists, yes. team in Bridgeton, MO is made up of skilled professionals with a extensive grasp of the anatomy of the musculoskeletal system.
Is Dry Needling Really Effective?
Without a doubt, especially when it is part of a larger, comprehensive physical therapy plan. At Axes, our Bridgeton, MO physical therapists only recommend treatments that we know are effective because of our experience and 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?
The specific dry needling techniques we use will be tailored to your needs. Some piercings will be largely superficial and the needles will be consistently moved and changed out. In other cases, the needles will stay in for a few minutes and will go deeper into the muscle, as often dry needling is the most effective way to manipulate tissue deep within the muscles. 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. Some patients see significant improvement after one session, while others need five or six sessions to get the full benefit. We’ll personalize your experience to you to get you the best outcome possible and safely get you back to the activities that matter most to you.
How Quickly Does Dry Needling Work?
Some Bridgeton, MO patients 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, practiced for thousands of years, that aims to align a patient’s “life force.” Dry needling is based on 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 live without pain and get back to feeling like themselves. If you’d like, we’ll contact your insurance company and determine if physical therapy is included in your coverage.
Some of the other services we offer in Bridgeton, MO are:
- Pain Management Services
- TMJ Treatment
- Herniated Disc Treatment
- Rotator Cuff Tear Treatment
- Running Injury
- MCL Tear
- ACL Rehabilitation
- Functional Capacity Evaluation
- Vertigo Treatment
- Total Knee Replacement Physical Therapy
Trigger Point Dry Needling in Bridgeton, 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 licensed and skilled physical in Bridgeton, MO act as part of your team to devise a tailored treatment plan that we’ve seen be successful with our own eyes. 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, dominating your local pickleball league, or bending down and picking up your grandkids without feeling any pain. Reach out to a knowledgeable Bridgeton, MO physical therapist online or call the location closest to you.