Dry Needling Greater St. Peters, MO. It’s hard to describe how debilitating it can be when pain and lack of motion in our bodies keep us from the activities we love, or even make daily tasks like standing up or sitting down painful or even impossible. At Axes Physical Therapy in St. Peters, MO, we are constantly looking for innovative and treatments that have been proven through research to help St. Peters, MO residents return to normalcy and get back to what they most love doing. Many of our patients have found that dry needling is a beneficial, simple, and important part of a more comprehensive physical therapy plan with us. All of our treatment plans are personalized for each client, the pain or injury that’s affecting them, and the life they want to live. Contact Axes Physical Therapy in St. Peters, MO online or call the location most convenient for you and we will shepherd you away from chronic pain and back to the activities you love. Though it may be difficult to believe now, with our tailored care you will be sprinting down the court, riding your bike, or just painlessly going through daily life in no time.
What is Dry Needling? | St. Peters, 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 reduce chronic pain, boost range of motion and return you to the physical lifestyle your used to. Physical therapists often use it as part of a holistic physical therapy plan along with posture correction, stretching, massages, and more. Dry needling should only ever be carried out by medical professionals in St. Peters, MO, such as the licensed and experienced physical and occupational 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 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 option for St. Peters, MO residents who are saddled by the rising price of medication or have not seen their symptoms improve with other treatments.
We’ve also found trigger point dry needling to be effective for St. Peters, 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
- Various spinal issues
- Certain hand injuries like carpal tunnel
- Phantom pain
- Sciatica
If you’ve been flummoxed by unsuccessful treatments in the past and are getting anxious to get back to the activities you love, make an appointment for a free screening for your injury or chronic pain with one of our experienced physical and occupational therapists to see if dry needling can be implemented into a comprehensive and proven physical therapy plan with Axes.
How Does Dry Needling Work? | St. Peters, 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 pain may either be specific to the trigger point, or radiate out to affect an entire joint or muscle group. Trigger points are sections of inflamed taut or strained muscles or tissue that restrict the flow of blood to that muscle. That makes recovery more difficult. By lightly piercing or tearing the knots in your tissue, your Axes physical therapist in St. Peters, MO helps induce a natural response in your nervous system; the micro-tears tell the body to start the healing process and return blood flow, oxygen, 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 within the nervous system releases endorphins, which naturally reduces pain and even improves happiness.

Frequently Asked Questions: Trigger Point Dry Needling in St. Peters, MO
Does Dry Needling Hurt?
The needles used in dry needling are eight times thinner than needles used for shots and vaccines, so many of our St. Peters, MO patients don’t even feel 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 dull aches in the area for the first day or two, but after that, you should start feeling the beneficial effects, if not earlier.
Is Dry Needling Safe?
When it’s conducted by qualified physical therapists, yes. team in St. Peters, MO is made up of knowledgeable professionals with a deep understanding 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 St. Peters, MO physical therapists only use techniques and practices that have been proven to work through 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?
The specific dry needling techniques we use will be tailored to your needs. Some piercings will be largely superficial and the needles will only stay in for 15-20 seconds. In other cases, the needles will stay in for as many as 15 or 20 minutes and penetrate deep into the muscle, as often dry needling is the easiest 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. Most patients need anywhere from one to six sessions to reap the full benefits. We’ll customize your plan to you to get you the maximum benefit and safely get you back to doing what you love most.
How Quickly Will I See Results With Dry Needling?
Some St. Peters, MO patients obtain immediate relief, while others have to wait a day or two after their first appointment.
Isn’t Dry Needling Just the Same as Acupuncture?
Only in that they use similar needles. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical technique, practiced for thousands of years, that seeks to balance a patient’s flow of energy. Dry needling is based on Western medicine and has only reached widespread appeal 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 the active lifestyle they’re accustomed to. If it’s easiest for you, we can go over your insurance plan and investigate how much coverage you can receive.
Some of the other services we offer in St. Peters, 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 St. Peters, 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 qualified and skilled physical and occupational in St. Peters, MO work with you as a team to develop a personalized treatment plan that research and experience tells us is effective. We’ve dedicated 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, taking a morning job, or just being able to go about your day without feeling any pain. Get in touch with a knowledgeable St. Peters, MO physical therapist online or call the location most convenient for you.






