How often and how long do I need dry needling?
Dry needling is usually performed 1-2 times per week, with 3-7 days between sessions to allow for muscle recovery. At Elite Muscle Recovery, we typically see our patients one time per week (though this can vary in certain cases). A standard course of dry needling usually lasts about 4-6 weeks, but many people start seeing improvements after 2-3 sessions.
Clients can receive maintenance or performance dry needling every 2-4 weeks when needed (i.e. people in high stress situations, labor-intensive jobs, long distance runners, athletes, etc).
We recommend allowing a 24- to 48-hour rest period between dry needling sessions to avoid over-stimulating muscles. Your physical therapist will be reassessing your pain levels, range of motion, and other goals and make sure that you are responding well to dry needling throughout your plan of care.
What’s the difference between acupuncture and dry needling?
Although dry needling and acupuncture both use similar needles inserted into the body, the two techniques are very different. Physical therapists who use dry needling have different training and licensing requirements than acupuncturists. Also, the theory and mindset behind dry needling and acupuncture differ.
Acupuncture is a type of Chinese medicine that dates back thousands of years. Acupuncturists insert needles at key points along energy channels called meridians throughout the body. The goal of acupuncture is to release energy flow to improve the body’s well being, decrease pain, and bring about healing.
Dry needling involves inserting needles directly into tight spots in muscles. Dry needling can stimulate the nervous system, causing a release of endorphins (feel-good neurochemicals). This relieves tension and pain and improves range of motion of the affected muscle. Dry needling treats a wide variety of conditions.
Does dry needling cause bleeding?
The needles used in dry needling are very thin and flexible (as opposed to thick, rigid needles used for injections. They are directly inserted into muscles and not veins (as when getting blood drawn). So, dry needling rarely causes bleeding. It is possible to draw very small amounts of blood with dry needling, but usually no more than a drop.
How long does it take to see results from dry needling?
Many people feel improvements immediately after their first dry needling treatment. On average, most people will see improvement after 2-3 treatment sessions. However, we usually recommend at least 6 sessions to tap into the full benefits of dry needling.
What should I do after a dry needling session?
After dry needling, it is very important to stay hydrated to reduce muscle soreness and promote healing. It is normal to experience mild to moderate soreness. Dry needling causes “micro-injuries” to muscles that elicit a necessary inflammatory response to bring more blood flow to the area in order to repair tissue and reduce pain. Patients can manage soreness with heat application, self- massage, and gentle movement. Try to avoid anti-inflammatory medication (i.e. Ibuprofen or Naproxen) for 24 hours after dry needling because they can interfere with the body’s natural healing process.
If you would like to be evaluated and learn if dry needling is right for you, or if you have any questions, please call or text us! We’d love to help you. ☎️ (423) 228-8120
Elite Muscle Recovery
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