Explore Dry Needling
Expert Pain Management Solutions at Monmouth Beach PT
How Dry Needling Works:
This technique involves inserting thin, sterile needles into specific areas of the body, including muscles, tendons, and near nerves, to promote healing, alleviate pain, and enhance functional mobility.
Muscle Recovery and Pain Management: Dry needling is an effective treatment modality that targets myofascial trigger points— localized, hyperirritable spots in skeletal muscle. The process involves inserting a fine needle into these trigger points, which leads to:
Release of Muscle Tension: When a needle is inserted into a trigger point, it can cause the muscle fiber to contract briefly. This reaction, known as a local twitch response, breaks the cycle of pain-muscle spasm-pain, allowing the muscle to relax.
Improved Blood Flow: Vasodilation occurs. The increased circulation flushes out built-up of chemicals which cause pain while bringing in fresh oxygen and nutrients to the area, speeding tissue healing.
Stimulation of Healing: The minor injury caused by the needle insertion stimulates the body’s natural healing processes. This includes the release of natural painkillers and anti-inflammatory agents at the site, which reduce spain and speeds recovery. It can help break a chronic cycle.
Normalization of Neurological Activity: Dry needling helps normalize the electrical activity within the muscle, which is disrupted when trigger points are active. This normalization reduces tightness and discomfort.
Reduction of Chemical and Mechanical Pain: Research suggests that dry needling reduces the concentration of pain-inducing substances around muscles and it can mechanically disrupt the dysfunctional endplates, leading to pain relief.
Tendon Repair Via Collagen Stimulation:
The controlled insertion of needles induces a natural healing response, boosting collagen production essential for tendon repair and strengthening.
Parasympathetic Stimulation:
Dry needling activates the parasympathetic system—often referred to as the ‘rest and digest’ system—which works reduce overall stress and inflammation, placing the body in a state of recovery and regeneration. This is the system responsible for the relaxed feeling people report after a session.
Pain Relief for Various Conditions:
Dry needling is particularly effective in managing and treating conditions such as:
Plantar Fasciitis: Alleviates heel and foot pain by releasing tension in the foot, and stimulating generation of new collagen in the fascia. Studies have shown results equal to cortisone injections at 3, 6, and 12 months post treatment.
Tendonitis: Causes localized flushing to reduce inflammation and also induces the body to fortify the frayed tendon.
Low Back Pain: Targets lower back muscles to release tension and reduce pain in ways that superficial treatments do not.
Knee Pain: Studies have shown (as well as patient reports), that dry needling improves pain level and function in people with painful arthritic knees.
TMJ and Headache: Restoring normalized muscle pull and releasing tension alleviates head, neck and jaw pain in many who try needling.
Additional Benefits for Pelvic Health:
This treatment is also beneficial for those experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction, which can include symptoms such as pelvic pain, incontinence, and erectile dysfunction (ED). Issues like ED and urinary leakage can stem from tight or dysfunctional pelvic floor muscles. Dry needling can help relieve this, improving blood flow and functionality.
Begin Your Path to Recovery:
If you’re experiencing pain, mobility issues, or concerns related to pelvic floor health, consider how dry needling could be part of your treatment solution. Contact Monmouth Beach Physical Therapy to explore your options and how we can help you return to a pain-free, active life.