The Benefits of Therapeutic Dry Needling

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You might be familiar with acupuncture, but have you heard of dry needling? Poking needles into your body might not sound like it’s your cup of tea, but don’t knock it until you try it. Dry needling, a treatment that involves inserting thin needles into tight muscles and/or trigger points, does wonders! 

First and foremost, acupuncture and dry needling are not the same. Dry needling is a technique that involves placing very thin needles into the muscle at the trigger point which is typically an area where the muscle tends to be stiff and/or tender.

Preliminary research supports that dry needling provides a number of benefits including reducing muscle tension, managing pain, alleviating headaches and anxiety, and providing relief for injuries.

While dry needling may sound intimidating, it is safe and effective. If your physical therapist has suggested you try dry needling or you’re interested in understanding the many benefits, here are a few reasons you should try dry needling for pain relief. 

Improve Overall Physical Function

Did you know dry needling can enhance your mobility and help you enjoy improved range of motion?

Active trigger points are typically very tender and can cause pain on a daily basis. Dry needling addresses your body’s trigger points which ultimately leads to increased blood flow and oxygen circulation to the area. What this means is that dry needling essentially removes any blocks that your trigger points may cause in your muscle. 

 

Pain Relief 

Pain is tricky. We can all pop an Advil and it’ll take the edge off and provide some temporary relief, but when it comes to your body, don’t settle for a band-aid — work on finding a real solution! 

If you’re looking for a wonderful way to ensure pain reduction, look no further. Tension relief and reduced pain levels can typically be noticed after one session. The beauty of dry needling is that it’s customized to your body to treat either acute or chronic pain!

Dry needling commonly treats conditions such as:

    • Muscle and joint pain
    • Sciatic and lower back issues
    • Neck pain
    • Headaches
    • Athletic injuries

 

Relax Your Tight Muscles 

Dry needling is truly the best way to recharge your muscles. Besides reduced pain and achieving a better range of motion, dry needling promotes muscle relaxation. The needles target and treat almost instantly to ensure your body is relaxed and you can return back to doing the things you love to do! 

Are you interested in talking to a physical therapist trained in dry needling to see if you are a candidate? Relieve your painful symptoms and start to feel like yourself again by booking a dry needling appointment today!

 

The Importance of Pelvic Floor Exercise 

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Think pelvic problems are reserved only for women? Think again! 

Do you suffer from incontinence or find it difficult to control your bladder? Or maybe you’re a brand new mom and you’ve noticed that intercourse has been painful since childbirth. Whatever the case may be, if you’ve experienced pelvic floor weakness then it’s time to begin working on strengthening those muscles!

The adverse effects of weakened pelvic floor muscles include pelvic pain, painful sex, and loss of bladder control. Let’s get to the nitty gritty.

 

What Are Pelvic Floor Disorders?

You may be asking “What causes these problems to occur in the first place?” or “How do I prevent my muscles from weakening?” There are a number of ways this can happen including obesity, pregnancy, and even repeated heavy lifting. Both men and women alike can weaken or damage their pelvic floor.

Pelvic floor muscles stretch like a trampoline but the good news is that they can be controlled and trained just like any other muscle.

We know that seeking out help for these types of issues can be an uncomfortable task and that’s why our amazing physical therapists possess the expertise and training to help you deal with this personal issue in a productive way. The key to undoing the damage is learning how to relax your pelvic muscles but also strengthen them so that the negative symptoms disappear. 

 

How Can A Physical Therapist Help?

Our therapists create a customized plan that is tailored to your body. Pelvic floor physical therapy is a treatment approach that is geared to improve the strength and function of your pelvic floor.

If our physical therapists determine that you are a good candidate for pelvic floor physical therapy, then they will proceed in evaluating your body in order to put together the best care plan. This plan of treatment could potentially include:

  • Strengthening exercises
  • Relaxation exercises
  • Breathing techniques

 

Why Is This Important?

Working your pelvic floor is important because it’s just like any other muscle in your body — if you don’t move it, you lose it! Training these muscles to do their job well is crucial to ensuring that you never experience pelvic floor dysfunction.

Strengthening your pelvic floor can be done in small steps and doesn’t need to be intimidating. In fact, a lot of these small exercises can be done either at a gym or in the comfort of your own home.

Be sure to meet with a trained physical therapist so that you’re following a specific exercise plan that is tailored to your body’s individual needs. If you’re experiencing pelvic dysfunction or just want to learn new ways to target your pelvic floor muscles, chat with one of our knowledgeable physical therapists today.