Dry Needling Greater Ironton, MO. It’s impossible to describe how crippling it can be when pain and lack of motion in our bodies is preventing us from participating in the activities we love, or even make daily movements like getting in and out of the car challenging or even impossible. At Axes Physical Therapy in Ironton, MO, we are constantly looking for cutting edge and treatments that have been demonstrated through research to help Ironton, MO residents get back to living pain-free and getting back to the activities they love the most. Many of our patients have found that dry needling is a valuable, effortless, and vital part of a more comprehensive physical therapy plan with us. All of our treatment plans are personalized for each client, their ailment, and the life they want to live. Contact Axes Physical Therapy in Ironton, MO online or call the location closest to you and we will shepherd you away from chronic pain and back to the activities you love. While it may be hard to believe now, with our customized care you will be skipping out the door in no time.
What is Dry Needling? | Ironton, MO Physical Therapy
Dry needling, also known as trigger point dry needling, employs thin filiform needles to puncture the skin and musculoskeletal tissue in order to relieve chronic pain, boost range of motion and return you to normal function and the active lifestyle you desire. Physical therapists often include it in a holistic physical therapy plan that can include posture correction, exercises, electrical stimulation, and more. Dry needling should only ever be performed by healthcare professionals in Ironton, MO, such as the licensed and experienced physical and occupational therapists at Axes.
Dry needling is often used to treat myofascial pain. “Myofacial” is rooted in Greek, with myo meaning muscles and fascia meaning a “flat band,” or the connective tissue inside and surrounding the muscles. Myofascial pain is considered a chronic pain condition that can affect people for months or even years. In our experience and based on our research, dry needling is an easy and cost-effective pain reliever for Ironton, MO residents who are burdened with the rising price of prescription meds or have not seen their symptoms improve with other treatments.
We’ve also found trigger point dry needling to be effective for Ironton, MO residents with:
- Soft tissue injuries
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Knee injuries and other joint conditions
- Chronic migraines and headaches
- Arthritis
- Rotator cuff tears
- Certain sports injuries
- Various spinal issues
- Various hand injuries like carpal tunnel
- Phantom pain
- Sciatica
If you’ve been disheartened by treatments that just aren’t producing results and are doubting whether or not you’ll ever 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 knowledgeable physical and occupational therapists to discover if dry needling could finally be the solution you need to end your chronic pain for good.
How Does Dry Needling Work? | Ironton, MO Physical Therapy
Dry needling works by attacking trigger points in the body that are the root cause of your 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 portions of inflamed tight or irritated muscles or tissue that limit 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 Ironton, MO helps stimulate an instinctive response in your nervous system; the micro-tears signal the body to go into healing mode and promote the flow of blood and vital nutrients into the area. When the tissue is pierced, 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 that communication to the brain releases endorphins, the body’s own, homemade feel-good hormone.
Frequently Asked Questions: Trigger Point Dry Needling in Ironton, MO
Is Dry Needling Painful?
The needles that physical therapists use 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 Ironton, MO patients don’t even sense them until they get deeper into the muscle. You may feel some light irritation once the nerve pathways have been activated, but it only lasts for a second and indicates that your body is initiating the desired response. Some patients report some soreness in the affected region for up to a couple days, but after that, you should start feeling the beneficial effects, if not earlier.
Is Dry Needling Safe?
When it’s done by professional physical therapists, there is nothing to worry about. All of our physical and occupational therapists in Ironton, MO are skilled professionals with a deep understanding of the nervous and musculoskeletal systems and safe practices.
Is Dry Needling Really Effective?
Without a doubt, especially when it is part of a larger, comprehensive physical therapy plan. At Axes, our Ironton, MO physical therapists only use techniques and practices that we know are effective because of our experience and extensive research. Studies show the benefits 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 tailored to your needs. Some piercings will be incredibly shallow and the needles will be consistently moved and changed out. Other times, the needles will stay in for as many as 15 or 20 minutes and go to the core of 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 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 personalize your experience to you to get you the best outcome possible and effectively return you to doing what you love most.
How Quickly Does Dry Needling Work?
Some Ironton, MO clients can feel the process working right away, while others may have to wait a day, or may not feel the benefits until their second session.
Isn’t Dry Needling Just the Same as Acupuncture?
Not really. Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical practice that seeks to balance a person’s flow of energy. 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?
That depends on your particular 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 you’d like, we’ll go over your insurance plan and investigate how much coverage you can receive.
Some of the other services we offer in Ironton, 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 Ironton, MO | Axes Physical Therapy
Many of our patients come to us after months or even years of pain and mobility issues that just won’t go away, even after extensive treatment. At Axes, our qualified and knowledgeable physical in Ironton, MO work with you as a team to design a tailored treatment plan with a proven track record of success. We’ve committed our practice to positive patient outcomes and getting you back to the activities you love most, whether that be sliding into home plate, taking a morning job, or just being able to go about your day without feeling any pain. Contact a professional Ironton, MO physical therapist online or call the location nearest you.