Dry Needling

Dry needling might sound counterproductive when it comes to alleviating pain, but the procedure is quite comfortable and can release painful tension in your muscles. At Chiropractic, Rehab, and Sports Injuries of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky, chiropractor Michael Young, DC, and the team provide dry needling services alongside other treatments for musculoskeletal injuries. Call the office or schedule an appointment online to find out if dry needling is a good fit for you today.

What is dry needling?

Dry needling is a treatment for musculoskeletal pain, which works by releasing muscle tension and improving circulation in targeted areas. If you have musculoskeletal pain, Dr. Young and the team at Chiropractic, Rehab, and Sports Injuries of Louisville might recommend dry needling as part of a comprehensive holistic treatment plan. 

While you might be familiar with trigger point injections to treat pain, dry needling is similar but doesn’t use any medication whatsoever. It’s like acupuncture but uses a different technique and is more reliant on Western medicine principles, like orthopedics. During the treatment, Dr. Young places very fine needles in specific trigger points where muscle is tight and tense. 

Dr. Young’s deep knowledge of the musculoskeletal system allows him to place these needles precisely in areas where they’ll result in less pain. The treatment, combined with other therapies, might help restore function too. 

Which conditions can benefit from dry needling?

Dry needling can help with symptoms of a wide variety of musculoskeletal injuries causing pain and tension in your back, jaw, or extremities. It can also address referred pain, which is pain that originates in the spine but shows up elsewhere because of the affected nerves. 

You might benefit from dry needling as part of treatment for:

• Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)
• Tendinitis
• Strains and sprains
• Headaches and migraines
• Overuse injuries
• Spinal injuries and disc problems

The treatment usually works best alongside other treatments and services you can get at Chiropractic, Rehab, and Sports Injuries of Louisville such as medical massage or chiropractic adjustment.

Does dry needling hurt?

Some people assume dry needling is painful because of its use of needles. In reality, these needles are hair-thin and usually don’t cause pain. Your muscle might twitch as the needle enters it, and you might feel some soreness after the treatment, but most people find the treatment itself to be quite comfortable. 

Dry needling may be a solution to your pain from a sports injury, overuse, or any other musculoskeletal problem. Schedule a treatment consultation over the phone or online at Chiropractic, Rehab, and Sports Injuries of Louisville today.