Nashville Chiropractic & Sports Therapy offers Dry Needling

What is dry needling?

Dry Needling involves multiple advances of a thin, sterile, solid filiform needle into the muscles in the region of a trigger point or other specifically selected areas of the body.  Dry Needling has been proven to be a reliable method of interrupting the cycle that is involved with perpetuation of the pathological muscular contracture known as a myofascial trigger point.  Proper insertion of a dry needle into the trigger point by a skilled practitioner has been shown to effectively reduce or eliminate the focal area of contracture more quickly than manual approaches.  

What is a trigger point?

A myofascial trigger point is a tender ropey band in a muscle, which can cause pain at the site or refer pain to a specific area related to a muscle. 

Is dry needling acupuncture?

No.  Acupuncture is an ancient philosophy, and its  practice in Traditional Chinese or Oriental Medicine is not based on modern science. Instead it is based on unseen energy flow or Chi.  Dry Needling is a medical procedure that requires a modern understanding of anatomy and physiology and a contemporary clinical diagnosis.

Does dry needling hurt?

Most of the time patients do not even feel the needle enter the skin.  If so, it may be a quick, mild pinching sensation.  There may be a slight cramping sensation felt with the elicitation of a "local twitch response".  This is the muscle's response to the treatment and typically subsides within a few seconds.