Dry Needling can help realign muscle fibers, release tight muscles, improve blood flow, decrease inflammation, quiet the nervous system’s pain cycle, and even improve sleep! Dry Needling can also be very beneficial in promoting scar healing (new and old scars!)

I was first exposed to dry needling as a patient myself, recovering from sports injuries as a Division I soccer athlete. I found Dry Needling to be an effective treatment modality after traditional trigger point release manual therapy, exercises, ice, heat and medications weren’t working well enough to get me back on the soccer field. I earned my Dry Needling Certification through the American Academy of Manipulative Therapy (AAMT). I am excited to offer this healing modality at Cedar Physical Therapy!

I am trained in both superficial and deep dry needling techniques. I have completed these three Dry Needling Courses through AAMT:

1. DN-1 (Cranium, Cervical, Thoracic and Upper Extremity)

2. DN-2 (Lumbar and Lower Extremity)

3. DN-3 (Ultrasound Guided Dry Needling)

4. Dry Needling for the Pelvic Floor (Lumbar, Abdomen, Perineum/Saddle area, Hips and Glutes).

Yes.

No, Dry Needling and acupuncture are different treatment modalities.

Dry Needling falls within the framework of western musculoskeletal diagnoses and focuses on treating neuromuscular pain and physical trigger points

In contrast, Acupuncture falls within the theoretical framework of traditional Chinese medicine, and works by altering the flow of Qi or energy along traditional Chinese meridians.

Yes, I offer electrical stimulation (ESTIM) as a complementary treatment with dry needling. While “electrical stimulation” can sound scary, it does not involve shocking patients with electricity! Rather, ESTIM involves attaching small alligator clips (small clamps) to the stainless steel needles after they have been inserted into the symptomatic tissues. This allows a safe form of electrical current to travel from the portable electrical stimulation unit (similar to a TENS machine) into the tissues being treated.

Benefits of ESTIM include:

• The release of endorphins (the body's natural painkillers) that help block pain signals from reaching the brain

• Decreased muscle tension & relaxation

• Improved circulation (blood flow)

Dry Needling can be beneficial for the following symptoms:

• Tension-type headaches

• Migraine headaches

• Rib syndromes

• Facet joint syndromes

• Cervical radiculopathy

• Neck pain

• Temporal Mandibular Dysfunction (TMD or commonly called TMJ)

• Upper back pain

• Generalized shoulder pain

• Rotator cuff injuries

• Shoulder impingement syndrome

• Lateral epicondylitis

• Medial epicondylitis

• Carpal Tunnel syndrome

• Dequervian’s Tenosynovitis

• Thumb pain

• Finger pain

• Trigger finger

• Abdominal Pain

• Low back pain

• Pelvis, Perineum, and saddle area pain

• Vaginal Pain

• Uterine Pain

• Testicular Pain/Penile Pain

• Pubic Symphysis Pain

• Round Ligament Pain

• SIJ Pain

• Hip Pain

• Knee pain

• Ankle/foot pain

Yes! Dry Needling can help improve tissue mobility and sensation, and promote scar healing around your cesarean scar.

Yes! There are many research articles/studies that support the safety and benefits of dry needling. Here are a few examples:

• Dry needling: a literature review with implications for clinical practice guidelines (Narrative Review 1)

• Conservative management of temporomandibular dysfunction: A literature review with implications for clinical practice guidelines (Narrative review part 2)

• Dry needling and upper cervical spinal manipulation in patients with temporamandibular disorder: A multi-center randomized clinical trial

• Peripheral and Spinal Mechanims of Pain and Dry Needling Mediated Analgesia: A Clinical Resource Guide for Health Care Professionals

• Spinal Manipulation and Electrical Dry Needling in Patients With Subacromial Pain Syndrome: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial