Dry Needling at Aquacare

February 15, 2023

Could You Benefit from Trigger Point Dry Needling (TPDN)?

Do you have tension headaches? Do you have back pain or neck pain? Do you have ringing in your ears? These issues are just a few of the symptoms one may have that could be alleviated with TPDN.

Dry needling is defined as, a skilled intervention performed by a physical therapist that uses a thin filiform needle to penetrate the skin and stimulate underlying myofascial trigger points, muscular and connective tissues for the management of neuromusculoskeletal pain and movement impairment (APTA,2012). The AAOMPT stated that physical therapists are well trained to utilize dry needling in conjunction with manual physical therapy interventions. Research supports that dry needling improves pain control, reduces muscle tension, normalizes biochemical and electrical dysfunction of motor endplates, and facilitates an accelerated return to active rehabilitation.

Frequently asked questions:

The first question a patient may ask is, “Is dry needling the same thing as acupuncture?”
The only aspect acupuncture and dry needling have in common is that they both use similar tools. However, the overall goal of acupuncture is to restore normal flow of the life force. The over goal of dry needling is to restore function to that area and affected areas. The differences of acupuncture and dry needling are evident in the assessment, the application, and the overall intended goal. An extensive physical therapy evaluation will guide the PT to insert needles into the muscle tissue that is implicated during the testing. The PT will also provide extensive education and knowledge of the muscular system and nervous system.

Another commonly asked question is, “Will my insurance cover dry needling?”
The short answer is yes; TPDN is billed to insurances companies just as any other skill a therapist would provide during a treatment; typically it is coded under terminology such as Manual Therapy or Neuromuscular Education.

Everyone wants to know, “Is dry needling painful?”
This is a complicated question to answer; everyone’s reaction will be different; most people would say it is uncomfortable initially, however that only lasts for a small period of time; one may also be sore as if they exercises their muscles; but ultimately, the positive effects of DN, such as relief of symptoms, outweighs the small period of discomfort.

Aquacare offers dry needling at several locations. Call us today to schedule a free consultation.