What is Dry Needling?

Dry Needling is based on targeting muscles, tendons and ligaments in order to physiologically restore the injured, strained, sprained or tight muscle(s) by targeting “trigger points”. Essentially, it’s like hitting a giant RESET button on the muscle by using needles to break up the specific areas in the muscle belly that are ischemic and hypoxic (areas lacking blood flow and oxygen aka trigger points) to then allow the muscle to to return to it’s original state with increased motor neuron activation now that adequate blood flow and oxygenation is restored. When these trigger points are broken up, lactic acid is released and reproduction of symptoms is caused through either localized or referred pain before diminishing. If trigger points are left untreated, they cause decreased activation of the main muscle needed for a certain task, increased compensation of other muscles less appropriate to activate for a certain task, which then leads to hypomobility of the nearby joints as well as pain and often decreased strength, and sometimes pins and needles feeling (radiculopathy).

Is Dry Needling the same thing as Acupuncture?

No!!! Absolutely not! The ONE and ONLY similarity they share is the needle type that is inserted aka a “dry needle” because nothing is being injected with either of them. Otherwise they are extremely different forms of therapy.

Where is the research supporting the benefits of dry needling? and what type of injury or condition can dry needling treat? Dry needling has been shown to benefit

Can I get myself or my horse dry needled on the same day as a show? Even .. before I compete that day?

Yes!!! In fact studies have showed exercising soon after receiving needling has been shown to flush the lactic acid faster through increased HR and circulation which leads to decreased soreness post needling. It has also shown IMMEDIATE increase in ROM (range of motion) within the joints surrounding the needled muscle as well as increased motor neuron activation within the muscle. (IE objectively stronger muscle recruitment was noted per EMG (muscle testing) immediately after the procedure.