Dry Needling

DRY NEEDLING 

Dry Needing is a specific treatment technique that uses a solid filament needle to treat muscle trigger points that are creating pain and discomfort or muscle inhibition.

A muscle trigger point is a highly localized, hyper-irritable spot in a palpable, taut band of skeletal muscle fibers. These muscle trigger points – which are located throughout the human body – play a role in producing and sustaining feelings of pain and discomfort or muscle dysfunction.

The mechanical stimulation of the muscle produces a local twitch or rapid depolarization of muscle fibers. After this process, muscle activity dramatically reduces resulting in relaxation and a decrease in pain and dysfunction. This decrease in pain is related to the removal of muscular compression on the joint, nerve, and vascular tissue, Occasionally, insertion of the needle will also reproduce “referred pain” symptoms. This is often a positive sign confirming the trigger point as being the cause of the pain

All sessions are hands-on, comprehensive, and interactive. Your treatment will be skilled, effective, and specific to your individual needs.  Due to the level of personalization and targeted treatments, you should experience improvement after every session.

INITIAL SESSION 

An initial evaluation is required in order to determine if dry needling is medically appropriate for your concern. The initial evaluation is 60 minutes and includes a thorough evaluation and suggested treatment plan. If dry needling is medically necessary and you decide you only want dry needling, we can proceed with the needling. If you would like additional treatment options, we can discuss a plan. 

PRICING AND PAYMENTS ACCEPTED

The initial evaluation fee is $200.

The traditional follow-up visit fee, including additional treatment and dry needling, is $150.

30-minute Dry Needling only: $65. This option is primarily recommended for preventative maintenance or a localized injury. It is an available option only after your initial evaluation. Consider this choice if your pain/injury is confined to a small area and you only want dry needling with minimal/no exercise instruction.

FORMS OF PAYMENT ACCEPTED

Payment is due the day of the session. I currently accept cash, check, credit card, and Venmo. I am a licensed healthcare provider, and you may also pay using your FSA/HSA/HRA card. 

Insurance is not accepted. Therefore, it is out-of-network with all insurances and cannot submit claims to insurance companies on your behalf.

FAQ

Is dry needling safe? 

Yes. The procedure will be done by a Doctor of Physical Therapy with post-graduate certification in dry needling. We will discuss risks specific to you but in general, it is a very safe and sterile technique. 

Are dry needling and acupuncture the same? 

No. The same needle is used but they use different techniques. Dry needling is based on traditional, studied, and tested Western medicine practices to restore normal muscle function. Traditional acupuncture practitioners follow Eastern Medicine’s key principle of holistic treatment which is based on normalizing the energy imbalance, or Chi, in the body to cure syndromes.

Does dry needling hurt? 

Typically there is some level of discomfort. The discomfort is an indication it is causing a change in the muscles and it is working. 

How will I feel after dry needling? 

It varies. Some people feel immediate relief from pain and tension. Others have achiness for the remainder of the day. Both responses are normal. Typically the pain has resolved by the following day and the improvement is noticed. 

Is there anything I need to avoid following dry-needling appointments? 

Dry needling is a release of tension in a muscle. There is no rule but it is generally a good idea to avoid working out for the remainder of the day. You can do other normal activities and stretch. It won’t hurt anything to work out, but the muscle may not respond as well to the needling. 

How many sessions will I need? 

This is also variable. Typically it is 1 to 4 sessions. Some may need a session every once in a while to manage a chronic problem. The plan will be specific to your needs.