Dry Needling Greater Shrewsbury, MO. It’s hard to describe how crippling it can be when pain and lack of mobility in our bodies is preventing us from participating in the the things we love doing, or even make basic tasks like standing up or sitting down painful or even impossible. At Axes Physical Therapy in Shrewsbury, MO, we are constantly looking for cutting edge and evidence-backed treatments to help Shrewsbury, 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 alleviates pain, releases tension, and restores mobility. Our treatment plans are as unique as each client, their injury, and the life they want to live. Contact Axes Physical Therapy in Shrewsbury, MO online or reach out to the location closest to you and we will guide you toward true pain relief and freedom of mobility. While it may be hard to believe now, with our tailored care you will be leaping for joy in no time.
What is Dry Needling? | Shrewsbury, MO Physical Therapy
Dry needling, also referred to as trigger point dry needling, uses thin filiform needles to pierce 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 to amplify the effects of a larger treatment plan that can include posture education, exercises, heat therapy, and more. Dry needling should solely be performed by healthcare professionals in Shrewsbury, MO, such as the qualified and skilled 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 disorder that can affect people for months or even years. In our experience and based on our research, dry needling is an easy and economical option for Shrewsbury, MO residents who are saddled by the rising cost of prescription meds or have been frustrated by lack of results from other treatments.
Trigger point dry needling is also ideal for Shrewsbury, MO residents with:
- Soft tissue injuries
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Knee injuries and other joint issues
- Chronic migraines and headaches
- Arthritis
- Rotator cuff tears
- Certain sports injuries
- Certain spinal issues
- Certain hand injuries like carpal tunnel
- Phantom pain
- Sciatica
If you’ve been frustrated by ineffective treatments in the past 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 licensed physical and occupational therapists to see if dry needling can be implemented into a comprehensive and evidence-backed physical therapy regiment with Axes.
How Does Dry Needling Work? | Shrewsbury, 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 joint or muscle group. Trigger points are sections of damaged tensed or strained muscles or tissue that impede the flow of blood to that muscle. That makes recovery more difficult. By lightly piercing or tearing damaged muscles or tissue, your Axes physical therapist in Shrewsbury, 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 critical nutrients into the area. When the tissue is pierced, the needles will induce a “twitch” response by initiating a nerve pathway that can change the biochemical makeup of the trigger point. That tells the brain to release endorphins, the body’s own, homegrown feel-good hormone.

Frequently Asked Questions: Trigger Point Dry Needling in Shrewsbury, 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 Shrewsbury, MO patients don’t even feel them at first. some patients report faint discomfort once the nerve pathways have been activated, but it lasts for less than two seconds and shows that the desired effect is already taking hold. You may feel some dull aches in the pierced muscle or tissue for up to a couple days, but after that, you should start feeling the beneficial effects, if you haven’t already.
Is Dry Needling Safe?
When it’s performed by qualified physical therapists, there is nothing to worry about. All of our physical therapists in Shrewsbury, MO are skilled professionals with a extensive grasp of the anatomy of the musculoskeletal system.
Is Dry Needling Really Effective?
Absolutely, especially when it is part of a larger, comprehensive physical therapy plan. At Axes, our Shrewsbury, MO physical therapists only develop plans that we know are effective because of our experience and 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?
The specific dry needling techniques we use will be personalized to your needs. Some piercings will not go very deep and the needles will only stay in for 15-20 seconds. Other times, the needles will remain for a few minutes and go to the core of the muscle, as often dry needling is the easiest way to access 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 tailor your experience to you to get you the maximum benefit and safely return you to doing what you love most.
How Quickly Will I See Improvements With Dry Needling?
Some Shrewsbury, 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.
Are Dry Needling and Acupuncture the Same?
Not really. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical technique, invented thousands of years ago, that aims to align a person’s “chi,” or vital life force. Dry needling has its roots in Western medicine and has only gained traction in the last several decades.
Will My Insurance Cover Dry Needling?
That depends on your specific insurance 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. If it’s easiest for you, we can reach out to your insurance company and determine if physical therapy is included in your coverage.
Some of the other services we offer in Shrewsbury, MO are:
- 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
- Stroke Rehabilitation

Trigger Point Dry Needling in Shrewsbury, 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 licensed and experienced physical in Shrewsbury, MO act as part of your team to implement a tailored treatment plan with a proven track record of success. We’ve devoted our practice to reducing and eliminating pain, restoring mobility, 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 wake up, go to sleep, and in between do what you want to do without feeling any pain. Reach out to a knowledgeable Shrewsbury, MO physical therapist online or call the location nearest you.





