Dry Needling Q&A
Dry Needling can be a scary concept, especially if you are not sure what it is and how it works. You may have heard about it through a friend, a medical professional, an article, or an online site. Hopefully, this blog post will allay your fears and answer your questions.
What is Dry Needling?
It is a technique in which a very thin needle is inserted through the skin, into your muscles, and toward your bones. The intent is to cause a mechanical disruption in those tissues that result in increased blood flow and stimulation of your parasympathetic nervous system which facilitates rest, healing, and homeostasis/balance in your system.
Is it like Acupuncture?
In some ways, it is like acupuncture and in some ways it is different; the chart below outlines the main differences.
| Acupuncture | Dry Needling |
| Balance Qiàbody energy | The goal is Homeostasis |
| Needle placement is based on specific points to balance meridians. | Needle placement based on Anatomy: palpation, Individual’s history/symptoms |
| Traditional Chinese Medicine | Western Medical Diagnoses |
How Does My Therapist Know Where to Place Them?
The practitioner will place the needles in muscles that may have trigger points or localized irritable spots with palpable tight bands of muscles. They will also place them in places and around joints that may be inflamed/irritated in order to facilitate the parasympathetic nervous system and stimulate blood flow that can help clear out the “gunk” from an inflamed/irritated joint.
Does Dry Needling Hurt
The more irritated a muscle is the more of an ache you will feel. Dry needling is similar to a massage, it will initially feel achy with more irritated muscles, and then during the 10-30 min session, the ache will decrease. Trained practitioners will monitor you during dry needling and make adjustments if a needle is not tolerable.
Is Dry Needling Harmful?
Because dry needling is a needle inserted into tissue, some people may feel instant relief after a session, others will have aching for 24-48 hrs, then feel relief after that. There is also a risk of bruising if an artery or vein is penetrated. Though this is a risk, chances are low due to the small size of the needle and the training of the practitioner. Bruising will be no worse than a bruise you may receive when getting blood drawn.
Who should try Dry Needling?
Dry needling is known to help those with multiple joint and muscle diagnoses including muscle strains, joint swelling, joint/neck/back pain, joint pain related to muscle spasms, and tendinopathies. It is always best used in conjunction with physical therapy to facilitate the best possible outcome.
Is Dry Needling covered by insurance?
Currently, dry needling is not covered by all insurance providers. At Action Potential, we classify Dry needling as a “wellness service”. A service one can receive in conjunction with regularly scheduled physical therapy visits. Services are billed at a cash-based rate of $110/session but we offer packages for reduced rates.
Where can I schedule Dry Needling?
Action Potential Physical Therapy is currently offering dry needling to patients. Give us a call at 484-841-6154 or check out our website!