Dry Needling
Dry needling is a hands-on treatment that targets trigger points and restricted tissue, performed here by a therapist certified in the technique and aimed at what your evaluation found.
Dry needling is one of the manual therapy techniques we use, and like every treatment here, it's chosen after testing shows it's the right tool, not applied as a standalone special.
Why We Test Before We Needle
A lot of patients have had dry needling before without anyone identifying which tissue was actually causing their pain. We run strength testing, range of motion testing, and movement analysis first, so the technique is aimed at a specific finding rather than applied broadly.
It is done by using very thin needles that are inserted into the muscles in the body that are experiencing dysfunction or pain. The needle causes a twitch response. This is the muscle fibers involuntarily contracting. That causes the fibers in a sense to “reset“.
Who Performs It
Scott Christensen, DPT, is certified in trigger point dry needling and is completing an orthopedic fellowship through Regis University. He runs your evaluation and stays on your case, needle included, through discharge.
I had a knee replacement in December 2021 and was still struggling with climbing stairs, kneeling, aching and numbness (almost constantly) in the leg that had the knee replacement in March 2023. A friend recommended RX Rehab...and I'm sooo glad she did! After two needle treatments I realized I no longer had aching in the knee. After 4 months the numbness has been reduced to 2 spots about the size of a quarter and I can walk up stairs normally. The strength in my legs has increased tremendously. I'm so grateful for ALL the PTs at RX Rehab! They really listen to your concerns and adjust their treatment to provide the best care. I will DEFINITELY use them whenever I need PT!
What to Expect
We tell you what dry needling is going to feel like before we do it, and we check in during treatment. It's added to a plan alongside manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and a home program built around the activity you're working to get back to.
Many people feel a twitch response. A twitch response is an involuntary muscle contraction of the targeted muscles.
It is a quick contraction of the muscle that can be uncomfortable at times but the common response when it happens is surprise rather than pain.
Another common response to dry needling physical therapy is people will sometimes feel what they call a “deep ache“ or a “toothache“ type feeling in the muscles.
This is a passing feeling that happens during treatment and goes away when the treatment is finished.
There is also a chance to hit a blood vessel or a nerve when doing this therapy which can produce a sharper pain. This sounds scary and does hurt, but this can be minimized by a practitioner that has the experience and good knowledge of anatomy.
This allows them to know how to avoid these structures. If they do hit them inadvertently, it just requires a small readjustment of the needle and no lasting damage or pain should occur.
Conditions We Use It For
Shoulder pain and impingement, low back pain, hip pain, knee pain, rotator cuff injuries, and chronic muscle tension that hasn't resolved with other treatment.
How It Fits Into Your Plan of Care
Dry needling is never the first thing that happens at Rx Rehab. Your evaluation decides whether it belongs in your plan, and your numbers get re-measured as treatment progresses to confirm it's working.
Know What's Wrong and What's Next
No guessing, no generic exercise sheet. Just a measured answer and a plan with your name on it.