Call (708) 645-4340 | Fax (708) 789-9282 | admin@paragon-pt.com
Call (708) 645-4340 | Fax (708) 789-9282 | admin@paragon-pt.com
Dry needling uses a thin, sterile, single-use filament needle to treat tight bands of muscle called myofascial trigger points that can cause pain and limit movement. It is called dry needling because no medication is injected. It is different from acupuncture: it is based on Western anatomy and a musculoskeletal exam, and at Paragon it is always one part of a broader plan that includes hands-on care and exercise.
A 2020 systematic review and meta-analysis of 28 trials (Navarro-Santana et al., Journal of Clinical Medicine) found low-to-moderate quality evidence that dry needling reduces pain and pain-related disability in the short term for neck pain linked to trigger points, compared with sham or no treatment. A 2021 review (Fernandez-de-las-Penas et al., Pain Research and Management) found that combining dry needling with other therapies improved pain at short- and mid-term follow-up, which is why we pair it with exercise and manual therapy.
Several of our Doctors of Physical Therapy have advanced dry needling training, including Dr. Michael Gentile, a Certified Myofascial Trigger Point Therapist (CMTPT), and Dr. Jessica Burchett, who holds Level 1 and Level 2 dry needling certifications. Because every visit is 45 minutes one-on-one, dry needling never replaces the rest of your care: we combine it with manual therapy and a personalized exercise program so the results last.
Have another question about dry needling? Call (708) 645-4340 or email admin@paragon-pt.com.
Most people feel little or nothing as the needle goes in. When a trigger point is treated you may feel a brief muscle twitch or deep ache, and some soreness for 24 to 48 hours afterward is common, similar to after a hard workout.
No. Both use thin needles, but acupuncture is based on traditional Chinese medicine, while dry needling targets specific muscles and trigger points identified during a physical therapy examination.
When performed by a trained clinician using sterile, single-use needles, serious side effects are rare. Mild soreness and minor bruising are the most common. Tell us if you are pregnant, take blood thinners, have a bleeding disorder or are nervous about needles so we can decide together whether it is right for you.
We commonly use it for neck and back pain, tension-type headaches, shoulder pain, tennis and golfer's elbow, hip and knee pain, and sports-related muscle pain, always as part of a full physical therapy plan. Call (708) 645-4340 and we can verify your insurance benefits for free.
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