Dry Needling Greater Oakland, MO. It’s hard to describe how it feels when pain and lack of motion in our bodies keep us from the activities we love, or even make basic movements like picking something up off the ground challenging or even impossible. At Axes Physical Therapy in Oakland, MO, we are constantly looking for cutting edge and evidence-backed treatments to help Oakland, MO residents return to normalcy and get back to what they most love doing. Many of our patients have found that dry needling is an effective, easy, and essential part of their larger physical therapy plan with us. 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 Oakland, MO online or reach out to the location most convenient for you and we will shepherd 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? | Oakland, MO Physical Therapy

Dry needling, also known as trigger point dry needling, uses thin filiform needles to penetrate the skin and underlying muscles and connective tissue in order to relieve persistent pain, boost range of motion and return you to normal function and the active lifestyle you desire. Physical therapists often include it in a larger treatment regiment that can include posture education, stretching, massages, and more. Dry needling should only ever be carried out by medical professionals in Oakland, MO, such as the qualified and knowledgeable 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 known as a chronic pain condition that can greatly limit people in their daily lives for months or even years. In our experience and based on our research, dry needling is an easy and affordable option for Oakland, MO residents who are burdened with the exorbitant price of medication or have not seen their symptoms improve with other treatments.

Trigger point dry needling is also ideal for Oakland, 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 frustrated by treatments that just aren’t producing positive outcomes and are doubting whether or not you’ll ever get back to the activities you love, schedule a free screening for your injury or chronic pain with one of our expert physical and occupational therapists to discover if dry needling can be implemented into a comprehensive and evidence-backed treatment regiment with Axes.

How Does Dry Needling Work? | Oakland, MO Physical Therapy

Dry needling works by attacking trigger points in the body that are causing pain and lack of mobility. The pain may either be specific to the trigger point, or radiate out to affect an entire region of your body. Trigger points are sections of inflamed knotted 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 softly puncturing or tearing damaged muscles or tissue, your Axes physical therapist in Oakland, MO helps induce an intuitive response in your nervous system; the micro-tears signal the body to go into healing mode and return blood flow, oxygen, and critical nutrients into the area. In addition, 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 Oakland, 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 Oakland, MO patients don’t even feel them until they get deeper into the muscle. some patients report faint discomfort when the twitch response is induced, but it only lasts for a second and indicates that your body is initiating the desired response. You may feel some dull aches in the affected region for 24 to 48 hours, but after that, you should start noticing improvements in pain and mobility, if you haven’t already.

Is Dry Needling Safe?

When it’s carried out by licensed physical therapists, there is absolutely no risk. All of our physical therapists in Oakland, MO are knowledgeable professionals with a thorough 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 Oakland, MO physical therapists only use techniques and practices 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?

We base that on you, how severe the pain is, lack of mobility, and the affected muscle area. Some piercings will not go very deep and the needles will be consistently moved and changed out. Other times, the needles will remain for a few minutes and penetrate deep into the muscle, as often dry needling is the only way to access tissue deep within the muscles. All Axes treatment regiments are unique, just like our patients.

How Many Sessions Will I Need?

Again, that depends on you. 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 tailor your plan to you to get you the best outcome possible and effectively get you back to the activities that matter most to you.

How Quickly Does Dry Needling Work?

Some Oakland, MO clients express immediate relief, while others will need two or three sessions. Rest assured, all of our patients eventually see improvements.

Isn’t Dry Needling Just the Same as Acupuncture?

Only in that they use similar needles. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical technique, invented thousands of years ago, that seeks to align a patient’s “life force.” Dry needling has its roots in Western medicine and has only become popular in the last several decades.

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 contact your insurance company and investigate how much coverage you can receive.

Some of the other services we offer in Oakland, 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 Oakland, 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 experienced physical and occupational in Oakland, MO act as part of your team to develop a personalized treatment plan that research and experience tells us is effective. We’ve devoted our practice to reducing and eliminating pain, restoring mobility, and getting you back to the activities you love most, whether that be sliding into home plate, dominating your local pickleball league, or just being able to go about your day without feeling any pain. Reach out to a knowledgeable Oakland, MO physical therapist online or call the location nearest you.