Dry Needling West Alton, MO | Pain Management

Dry Needling Greater West Alton, 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 reaching for something on the top shelf difficult or even impossible. At Axes Physical Therapy in West Alton, MO, we are constantly looking for cutting edge and evidence-backed treatments to help West Alton, MO residents recover from their injuries or chronic pain and get back to the activities they love the most. Dry needling has proven to be an irreplaceable tool for many of our patients that eases pain, softens stiffness, and restores mobility. All of our treatment plans are personalized for each client, their ailment, and the life they want to live. Contact Axes Physical Therapy in West Alton, MO online or reach out to the location closest to you and we will guide you away from chronic pain and back to the activities you love. 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? | West Alton, MO Physical Therapy

Dry needling, also known as trigger point dry needling, employs thin filiform needles to pierce the skin and underlying muscles and connective tissue in order to relieve frequent pain, boost range of motion and return you to the physical lifestyle your used to. Physical therapists often include it in a holistic treatment regiment along with posture correction, exercises, heat therapy, and more. Dry needling should exclusively be carried out by medical professionals in West Alton, 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 disorder that can significantly limit people in their daily lives until they find appropriate and successful treatment. We’ve found that dry needling is a simple and economical alternative for West Alton, MO residents who are saddled by the increasing cost of prescription meds or have been frustrated by poor results from other treatments.

Trigger point dry needling is also ideal for West Alton, MO patients with:

Soft tissue injuries
Back pain
Neck pain
Knee injuries and other joint issues
Chronic migraines and headaches
Arthritis
Rotator cuff tears
Various sports injuries
Certain spinal issues
Certain hand injuries like carpal tunnel
Phantom pain
Sciatica

If you’ve been vexed by ineffective treatments in the past and are doubting whether or not you’ll ever get back to the activities you love, make an appointment for a free screening for your injury or chronic pain with one of our licensed physical and occupational therapists to discover if dry needling can be implemented into a holistic and proven physical therapy plan with Axes.

How Does Dry Needling Work? | West Alton, MO Physical Therapy

With dry needling, we treat patients 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 region of your body. Trigger points are segments 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 the knots in your tissue, your Axes physical therapist in West Alton, MO helps induce a natural bodily reaction; the micro-tears influence the body to heal the muscle and tissue and return blood flow, oxygen, and vital nutrients into the area. In addition, 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, homegrown feel-good hormone.

Dry Needling West Alton, MO | Pain Management | Trigger Point Dry Needling Near West Alton

Frequently Asked Questions: Trigger Point Dry Needling in West Alton, MO

Does Dry Needling Hurt?

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 West Alton, MO patients don’t even feel them pierce the skin. some patients report slight discomfort from the twitch response, but it only lasts for a second and is a signal that dry needling is working. You may feel some soreness in the area for the first day or two, but after that, you should start feeling better, if not earlier.

Is Dry Needling Safe?

When it’s performed by professional physical therapists, there is nothing to worry about. team in West Alton, MO is made up of knowledgeable professionals with a deep grasp of the anatomy of the musculoskeletal system.

Is Dry Needling Really Effective?

Absolutely, especially when it is part of a larger, comprehensive treatment regiment. At Axes, our West Alton, MO physical therapists only use techniques and practices that we know are effective because of our experience and extensive research. Studies show the advantages 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 personalized to your needs. Some piercings will be incredibly shallow and the needles will only stay in for 15-20 seconds. 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 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. Most patients need anywhere from one to six sessions to fully reduce pain and restore mobility. We’ll personalize your plan to you to get you the best outcome possible and effectively return you to the activities that matter most to you.

How Quickly Will I See Results With Dry Needling?

Some West Alton, MO patients can feel the process working right away, 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 an ancient Chinese medical technique that aims to balance a patient’s “chi,” or vital life force. Dry needling is based on Western medicine and has only gained traction in the last couple decades.

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 deserves the professional, personalized, and proven treatment plans 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 West Alton, MO are:

Dry Needling West Alton, MO | Pain Management | Trigger Point Dry Needling Near West Alton

Trigger Point Dry Needling in West Alton, 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 professional and experienced physical in West Alton, MO act as part of your team to design a tailored treatment plan with a proven track record of success. We’ve committed our practice to getting the best results for our clients and getting you back to the activities you love most, whether that be sliding into home plate, dominating your local pickleball league, or bending down and picking up your grandkids without feeling any pain. Contact a knowledgeable West Alton, MO physical therapist online or call the location closest to you.

West Alton, MO