Physical Therapy And Dry Needling
A Powerful Combination
What is Dry Needling
Understanding This Therapeutic Technique
Dry needling is a skilled intervention that uses a thin, sterile needle to penetrate the skin and stimulate underlying muscular trigger points—tight bands in muscle fibers that can cause pain and movement impairments. This technique aims to relieve neuromusculoskeletal pain and improve range of motion by alleviating muscle tension.
How Can Dry Needling Help You?
Dry needling effectively treats various acute and chronic pain conditions by targeting specific muscular trigger points. It is particularly beneficial for relieving headaches, jaw pain (such as TMJ issues), neck and shoulder pain, back pain, and discomfort in the limbs. This treatment helps reduce tightness, enhance mobility, and decrease pain through precise needle insertion into the affected muscles, which releases the knots and eases tension.
The procedure is noted for its ability to increase blood flow and reduce both localized and referred pain quickly, aiding in the recovery and healing processes.
At Zeal Health, we perform dry needling with utmost care, customizing each session to meet our patients’ individual needs. This technique is a pivotal part of our comprehensive treatment plans, designed to significantly improve recovery times and provide relief from musculoskeletal discomfort.
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Dry Needling Can Help With A Wide Range Of Concerns
By integrating dry needling with other physical therapy modalities, you achieve rapid pain relief and a comprehensive plan for sustained success.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dry Needling
At Zeal Health, we ensure that dry needling is applied with precision and care, tailored to each patient’s needs, to help them return to pain-free functionality as efficiently as possible.
No, dry needling is not the same as acupuncture. While both practices use similar thin needles, their origins and methodologies are distinctly different. Acupuncture is a component of Traditional Chinese Medicine and focuses on balancing the body’s energy flow. Dry needling, on the other hand, is based on Western medicine principles and is used to alleviate muscle pain and cramping, increase range of motion, and decrease muscular tension. It targets trigger points and has no historical ties to Traditional Chinese Medicine.
In Florida, physical therapists must undergo specific additional training and supervision to become certified in dry needling. This certification is optional, so not all physical therapists perform dry needling.
The needles used are sterile, disposable, and made of surgical-grade stainless steel. Their sizes vary typically from 0.18mm to 0.30mm in diameter and 15mm to 100mm in length, depending on the depth of the targeted tissue and the specific dry needling technique being used. Although these are the same types of needles used in acupuncture, the practices of dry needling and acupuncture are fundamentally different.
Most patients report minimal discomfort as the needles used are very thin. When the needle penetrates a trigger point, a brief painful response, lasting only a few seconds, may occur. This can feel like an electric shock, a cramp, or a dull ache, and is considered a positive sign indicating effective targeting of the problematic area. The sensation during treatment is typically described as uncomfortable rather than painful, and effective communication with your therapist can help minimize any discomfort.
Dry needling is a safe treatment when performed by a trained and certified professional. Standard precautions are taken to minimize risks and side effects. However, like all therapeutic treatments, there are inherent risks, which your therapist will discuss with you in detail before starting the treatment.
The most common side effect is a mild soreness around the treatment area that can last from one to three days post-treatment. This is a typical response and generally subsides on its own.
The response time to dry needling treatment varies among patients. Some may feel relief immediately after treatment, while others might notice improvements within three days. Depending on the specific condition being treated, several sessions may be necessary to achieve noticeable changes.
No, a referral is not necessary when you choose Zeal Health. Since we do not utilize insurance for payment, you can schedule an appointment and be seen as quickly as the same week without the need for a physician’s referral. This expedited process helps in starting your treatment sooner and on your terms, emphasizing efficiency and patient-centered care.
At Zeal Health, we operate on a cash-based system and do not accept insurance. This allows us to provide highly personalized and direct care without the limitations set by insurance providers. Patients may use Health Savings Accounts (HSA) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) to pay for their sessions. We are also happy to provide detailed invoices for those who wish to pursue reimbursement through their insurance company. Payments can be made using cash, credit, or debit cards.
While out-of-pocket payments may seem higher initially, several factors make this a cost-effective choice:
Co-pays and Co-insurance: Many patients find the cost of co-pays and co-insurance, when added up, is comparably high to our rates.
Quality of Care: Patients at cash-based practices like Zeal Health often require fewer sessions than those at insurance-based clinics, thanks to our focused, one-on-one approach.
Privacy and Comfort: Unlike conventional clinics with open spaces and shared treatment areas, Zeal Health offers private sessions, ensuring personal attention and confidentiality.