Dry Needling Greater St. Louis, MO. It’s impossible to describe how it feels when pain and lack of motion in our bodies is preventing us from engaging in the the things we love doing, or even make daily tasks like getting in and out of the car difficult or even impossible. At Axes Physical Therapy in St. Louis, MO, we are constantly looking for innovative and treatments that have been proven through research to help St. Louis, MO residents get back to their active lifestyle, or just finally live pain free again. Many of our patients have found that dry needling is an effective, effortless, and essential part of their larger physical therapy plan with us. Our treatment plans are as distinctive as each client, their ailment, and the life they want to live. Contact Axes Physical Therapy in St. Louis, MO online or call 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 personalized care you will be leaping for joy sooner than you think.
What is Dry Needling? | St. Louis, MO Physical Therapy
Dry needling, also known as trigger point dry needling, employs thin filiform needles to perforate the skin and musculoskeletal tissue in order to reduce persistent pain, boost range of motion and return you to the physical lifestyle your used to. Physical therapists often use it to amplify the effects of a larger treatment plan along with posture correction, manual therapy, electrical stimulation, and more. Dry needling should only ever be carried out by medical professionals in St. Louis, MO, such as the licensed and skilled physical 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 referred to as a chronic pain disorder that can affect people until they find appropriate and effective treatment. We’ve found that dry needling is a simple and cost-effective option for St. Louis, MO residents who are saddled by the rising cost of medication or have not seen their symptoms improve with other treatments.
We’ve also implemented trigger point dry needling for St. Louis, MO residents with:
- Soft tissue injuries
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Knee injuries and other joint problems
- Chronic migraines and headaches
- Arthritis
- Rotator cuff tears
- Certain sports injuries
- Certain spinal issues
- Various hand injuries like carpal tunnel
- Phantom pain
- Sciatica
If you’ve been frustrated 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 professional physical and occupational therapists to learn if dry needling could finally be the solution you’ve been waiting for.
How Does Dry Needling Work? | St. Louis, 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 tensed or irritated muscles or tissue that restrict the flow of blood to that muscle. That makes recovery more difficult. By lightly stabbing or tearing damaged muscles or tissue, your Axes physical therapist in St. Louis, MO helps induce an intuitive response in your nervous system; the micro-tears tell the body to heal the muscle and tissue and promote the flow of blood and vital nutrients into the area. In addition, the needles will stimulate 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, which naturally reduces pain and even improves happiness.
Frequently Asked Questions: Trigger Point Dry Needling in St. Louis, MO
Does Dry Needling Hurt?
The needles used to penetrate your muscles are eight times thinner than needles used for shots and vaccines, so many of our St. Louis, MO patients don’t even notice them at first. some patients report slight irritation when the twitch response is induced, but it is incredibly brief and is a signal that dry needling is working. Some patients report some dull aches in the pierced muscle or tissue 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 done by experienced physical therapists, there is nothing to worry about. All of our physical and occupational therapists in St. Louis, MO are knowledgeable professionals with a deep 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 treatment plan. At Axes, our St. Louis, 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?
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. In other cases, the needles will stay in for a few minutes and penetrate deep into the muscle, as often dry needling is the easiest way to access tissue deep within the muscles. All Axes physical therapy regiments are unique, just like our patients.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
Again, that we will make a personalized recommendation based on your needs. 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 experience to you to get you the maximum benefit and efficiently get you back to doing what you love most.
How Quickly Will I See Results With Dry Needling?
Some St. Louis, MO patients get immediate relief, 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?
This is a common misconception, but no. Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical practice that aims to align 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?
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 improve their quality of life and get back to the active lifestyle they’re accustomed to. If it’s most convenient for you, we can contact your insurance company and determine if physical therapy is included in your coverage.
Some of the other services we offer in St. Louis, MO are:
- Stroke Rehabilitation
- Hip Replacement Physical Therapy
- Workers Comp' Physical Therapy
- Migraine Relief
- Sprain and Strain Treatment
- Geriatric Physical Therapy
- Injury Rehabilitation
- Pain Management Services
- TMJ Treatment
- Herniated Disc Treatment
Trigger Point Dry Needling in St. Louis, 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 experienced physical in St. Louis, MO work with you as a team to implement a customized treatment plan that research and experience tells us is effective. We’ve pledged our practice to reducing and eliminating pain, restoring mobility, and getting you back to the activities you love most, whether that backward kicks on a soccer field, taking a morning job, or just being able to go about your day without feeling any pain. Reach out to a knowledgeable St. Louis, MO physical therapist online or call the location most convenient for you.