Dry needling therapy involves tiny needles inserted into your trigger points. The needles are hair-thin, and they penetrate sensitive spots or knots in the muscle, relaxing it. As you research physical therapy jobs near me , you can learn about the requirements for a therapist who specializes in this treatment. In addition, these are some common conditions this therapy works well with.
For Temporomandibular Jaw Pain
Temporomandibular joint disorders often cause you to grind or clench your teeth. TMJ can cause arthritis, jaw pain and ligament damage. Some physicians prescribe mouthguards or suggest surgery for these conditions. However, most may also suggest physical therapy with dry needling treatment.
General physical therapy techniques, such as stretching and exercising your jaw, can help with this condition. Dry needling treatments can reduce your jaw pain and improve how your jaw works. It will also reduce the headaches you receive as a result of TMJ. These sessions are short and offer minimal discomfort. In addition, your pain reduction and functioning should improve rather rapidly, and you should feel results almost immediately after each session you attend.
For Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
If you work on a computer or do repetitive tasks with your arms, you may experience pain and limited mobility in your wrists, hands and forearms. Some of this discomfort and limitation could be the result of carpal tunnel syndrome. This is often the result of tense muscles and ligaments that squeeze your median nerve.
When you search for “physical therapy near me,” you may find that your physical therapist suggests dry needling as a treatment. The process can help relieve the pressure in your nerve by reducing the pressure on the soft tissues that cause the compression. When the tension gets released from the muscles and tendons, the nerve gets decompressed, relieving pain and giving you better control over your finger movements.
For Migraine or Tension Headaches
Migraines are the result of irritated nerves, vascular challenges and muscle tension or spasms. Tense muscles and stress also cause headaches. Dry needling can stop muscle spasms and release this tension. It also increases blood flow to your neck, shoulders and head.
However, your therapist may also give you posture exercises to help correct these issues and stabilize your neck and head and relax your shoulders and neck. Dry needling works well when combined with addition treatments, including soft tissue massage, to reduce or eliminate migraines and tension headaches.
Any Musculoskeletal Conditions
Much chronic pain is the result of tight muscles or knots in your muscles. This tightness can decrease blood flow to the area, preventing healing. During a dry needling treatment, the needles get inserted into your trigger points within the muscle. As the needles penetrate and move around, they break up these knots. This increases blood flow to the area and relaxes the muscle, reducing pain.
Although dry needling helps, most therapists also suggest physical therapy exercises to strengthen the muscles the right way and prevent the reoccurrence of injuries or knots that cause pain. Challenges like musculoskeletal problems, tendinitis, low back pain, whiplash, muscle strains and hip pain all benefit from dry needling.
As you investigate different clinics that offer physical therapy Glendale AZ, ask about their dry needling options and if your physical conditions can benefit from this therapy.