Dry Needling Greater Ferguson, MO. It’s hard to describe how it feels when pain and lack of mobility in our bodies keep us from the the things we love doing, or even make basic movements like standing up or sitting down painful or even impossible. At Axes Physical Therapy in Ferguson, MO, we are constantly looking for cutting edge and evidence-backed treatments to help Ferguson, MO residents get back to living pain-free and getting back to the activities they love the most. Dry needling has proven to be an irreplaceable tool for many of our patients that alleviates pain, releases tension, and restores mobility. All of our treatment plans are personalized for each client, their injury, and the activity level they’re striving to get back to. Contact Axes Physical Therapy in Ferguson, MO online or reach out to the location most convenient for 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 personalized care you will be skipping out the door in no time.
What is Dry Needling? | Ferguson, MO Physical Therapy
Dry needling, also known as trigger point dry needling, employs thin filiform needles to puncture the skin and underlying muscles and connective tissue in order to reduce chronic 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 broader physical therapy plan along with posture education, stretching, massages, and more. Dry needling should only ever be done by healthcare professionals in Ferguson, MO, such as the licensed and knowledgeable 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 disorder that can drastically limit people in their daily lives until they find appropriate and successful treatment. We’ve found that dry needling is a safe and economical alternative for Ferguson, 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 Ferguson, 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
- Various hand injuries like carpal tunnel
- Phantom pain
- Sciatica
If you’ve been discouraged by treatments that just aren’t producing results and are getting anxious to get back to the lifestyle and routine you love and had grown accustomed to, make an appointment for a free screening for your injury or chronic pain with one of our qualified physical and occupational therapists to discover if dry needling can be implemented into a comprehensive and proven physical therapy regiment with Axes.
How Does Dry Needling Work? | Ferguson, 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 damaged tight or irritated muscles or tissue that restrict blood flow to that area and surrounding areas. That means the affected area is not able to heal as it needs to. By lightly puncturing or tearing the knots in your tissue, your Axes physical therapist in Ferguson, MO helps prompt an instinctive response in your nervous system; the micro-tears tell the body to start the healing process and promote the flow of blood and crucial nutrients into the area. Also, the needles will induce a “twitch” response by initiating a nerve pathway that can change the biochemical makeup of the trigger point. That that communication to the brain releases endorphins, the body’s own, homegrown painkiller.
Frequently Asked Questions: Trigger Point Dry Needling in Ferguson, MO
Does Dry Needling Hurt?
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 Ferguson, MO patients don’t even notice them at first. some patients report light discomfort when the twitch response is induced, but it lasts for less than two seconds 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 better, if you haven’t already.
Is Dry Needling Safe?
When it’s done by experienced physical therapists, there is nothing to worry about. All of our physical therapists in Ferguson, MO are skilled professionals with a deep understanding of the human body.
Is Dry Needling Really Effective?
Without a doubt, especially when combined with other pain management and mobility techniques. At Axes, our Ferguson, MO physical therapists only develop plans that have been proven to work through extensive research. 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, your level of pain, lack of function, and the affected tissue. Some piercings will be largely superficial and the needles will only stay in for 15-20 seconds. In other cases, the needles will remain for a few minutes and penetrate deep into the muscle, as often dry needling is the easiest way to treat harder to reach muscles and tissue. All Axes treatment plans are unique, just like our patients.
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 customize your plan to you to get you the best outcome possible and efficiently get you back to the activities that are most important to you.
How Quickly Does Dry Needling Work?
Some Ferguson, 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?
Not really. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical technique, practiced for thousands of years, that seeks to balance a patient’s flow of energy. Dry needling has its roots in Western medicine and has only become popular in the last two or three 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 contact your insurance company and see if dry needling is covered.
Some of the other services we offer in Ferguson, MO are:
- Rotator Cuff Tear Treatment
- Running Injury
- MCL Tear
- ACL Rehabilitation
- Functional Capacity Evaluation
- Vertigo Treatment
- Total Knee Replacement Physical Therapy
- Vestibular Therapy
- Concussion Treatment
- Soft Tissue Mobilization
Trigger Point Dry Needling in Ferguson, 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 professional and experienced physical and occupational in Ferguson, MO act as part of your team to develop a customized treatment plan that we’ve seen be successful with our own eyes. We’ve committed our practice to reducing and eliminating pain, restoring mobility, and getting you back to the activities you love most, whether that running a fast break, dominating your local pickleball league, or bending down and picking up your grandkids without feeling any pain. Get in touch with a knowledgeable Ferguson, MO physical therapist online or call the location nearest you.