Breaking Down Dry Needling: How It Targets Muscle Pain and Tension

Are you tired of temporary fixes for muscle pain and tension? It’s time to learn about dry needling — a treatment that targets the root cause of your discomfort, unlocking tight muscles and helping you move freely.

At Twin Acupuncture in the New Springville neighborhood of Staten Island, New York, Kerri Kuhlsen, Lac, cSMA, offers dry needling as a solution for patients struggling with chronic pain or acute pain. Here, we explain exactly how it works and what to expect during a treatment session.

What is a trigger point?

Trigger points are areas of tension that develop within myofascia, the web-like connective tissue that supports your muscles. Sports injuries, overuse, poor posture, and even emotional stress can cause groups of muscle fibers to contract and form a painful nodule or knot that you can feel under your skin.

The knot itself feels sensitive and tender to the touch, and it may also send pain signals to other areas of the body, called referred pain. For instance, applying pressure to a trigger point in your neck may cause pain or tingling sensations in your arm or hand.

Trigger points can occur anywhere in the body, but they are most common in areas prone to stress and strain, such as the neck, shoulders, lower back, and gluteal muscles. Without treatment, these knots can become a source of chronic pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion.

The science behind dry needling

Dry needling uses the same type of thin needles as acupuncture, but the approach is slightly different. Instead of inserting needles along meridian lines to direct the flow of energy, dry needling works by directly stimulating and deactivating stubborn trigger points.

The needle stimulation relaxes contracted muscle fibers and restores proper blood flow to the area, flushing out metabolic waste and delivering oxygen and nutrients your tissues need to heal. It also prompts the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers.

By easing tight muscles and promoting healing, dry needling offers a lasting solution for painful musculoskeletal conditions, including sprains, strains, tendonitis, and tension headaches. It provides quick relief from acute flare-ups and helps break the cycle of chronic pain, so you can return to your normal routine with less discomfort and a greater range of motion.

What to expect during your first dry needling session

Kerri begins with a brief consultation to discuss your symptoms and medical history. This conversation helps her get a better understanding of your condition and overall health so she can develop a personalized treatment plan to address your concerns.

Once you’re in a comfortable position, Kerri locates the trigger point(s) causing your pain by gently pressing around the area. Then, she inserts one or more ultrafine, sterile needles into this specific spot.

As the needle reaches the trigger point, you may feel an aching pain, sometimes accompanied by twitching in the muscle. A twitch response is a good sign — it means the muscle is reacting and the knot is being released.

It’s normal to feel some muscle soreness for around 24-36 hours after your session. Staying well-hydrated and performing gentle movement, such as light stretching, promotes recovery and helps relieve any lingering tension.

Taking control of muscle pain and stiffness

Dry needling can be an effective treatment on its own or as part of a larger pain management plan. It’s a minimally invasive, medication-free way to address the root cause of your discomfort and restore your body’s natural function.

Ready to break the cycle of chronic muscle pain and stiffness? Contact Twin Acupuncture today to schedule your consultation and learn if dry needling is the right choice for you.