Dry Needling FAQs
Dry needling is a relatively “new” intervention performed by Physical Therapists and hands down my favorite tool to help expedite healing in my clients! If you are curious about this treatment intervention, follow along to read the answers to the most frequently asked questions from my dry needling clients.
When my clients hear “needles” most of them react with a bit of trepidation. These needles are different than most, I swear! Unlike “wet needling” where someone is injecting a steroid or other medication into the body, “dry needling” is just the needle itself entering the body and promoting healing. This makes it a more holistic option with far fewer side effects than traditional injections, and the research shows it can be just as effective if not MORE effective than some of these more invasive pain relief and healing strategies.
In today’s blog, I’m going to address some of the most common questions I get about dry needling so you are fully informed prior to your first appointment with Wildflower Physical Therapy & Wellness.
What is dry needling?
Dry needling involves the insertion of a monofilament needle into the body in order to restore proper function and blood flow and expedite the healing process.
Dry needling is NOT the same as acupuncture. Dry needling is based on modern medicine, whereas acupuncture is based on traditional Chinese medicine. Read more about the similarities and differences here.
What are the benefits of dry needling?
There are MANY benefits. Some dry needling benefits include reduced muscle tension and pain, improved blood flow, improved joint range of motion, and faster healing time. Click here to go in more depth on the benefits of dry needling!
What does dry needling feel like?
Due to the small nature of the needles, you likely won’t feel the needle being tapped into the skin. Once the needle is moved, or manipulated, you may feel a brief cramping in the muscle and some soreness following treatment for 24-48 hours.
What are the potential side effects of dry needling?
In highly skilled hands, there are minimal side effects from dry needling. Some common side effects include minor bruising, bleeding or muscle soreness. Our Physical Therapists are well-trained in safety and that is our #1 priority when delivering dry needling to you.
There are many different dry needling organizations that offer training to Physical Therapists, but we chose a company called Integrative Dry Needling, which offers a whole-body approach and inclusive clinical reason for better patient outcomes.
How many sessions of dry needling do I need?
This depends on the severity of your symptoms as well as how long your issue has been going on. Most pain conditions resolve within 4-6 sessions, however significant relief can often be felt after the first session.
Once you have experienced pain relief, it is recommended that you continue regular needling “maintenance” in order to maintain progress gained as well as try to prevent recurrence in the future.
Do I need a referral from my doctor to get dry needling?
You do not need a referral from your physician to get dry needling. This varies by state, but in the state of Indiana, you can see a Doctor of Physical Therapy for up to 42 days before requiring a referral from your physician to obtain care.
I hope you got all of your burning dry needling questions answered, and if not please reach out to us or schedule a complimentary consult with one of our Doctors of Physical Therapy at Wildflower Physical Therapy & Wellness today to chat about how dry needling can benefit you!
Have you had dry needling services in the past and you want to jump right into treatment?? Book a “Dry Needling Evaluation” today to get the process started!