First of all, let’s talk about what a trigger point is. In the most basic sense, a trigger point is a tender spot in a muscle where inflamed tissue produces pain. The longer the muscle tissue remains under stress the more persisting the pain can be. Trigger points can be caused by one incidence of trauma or repetitive micro-trauma that occurs over time. Trigger points can produce local pain as well as referred pain. In my experience, some of the most common areas I see trigger points in are the upper back and neck muscles.
There are many different treatment techniques used to address trigger points. Treatments such as massage, manipulation, injections, and dry needling can be effective in reducing the muscle tension and inflammation.
So what is trigger point dry needling? It’s a treatment involving small, thin needles that are inserted into a trigger point or area of dysfunctional tissue. The inserted needles can lead to a contraction in the muscle that can stimulate a release in the muscle. It is not acupuncture. Trigger point dry needling is based on Western neuroanatomy.
Why is trigger point dry needling effective? There is a great deal of evidence supporting this treatment and a lot of it can be explained at the molecular level. We could talk about acetylcholine build up in the neuromuscular junction creating hypertonicity and increased inflammatory markers. Or we could talk about keratinocytes and fibroblasts and how they can decrease pain, but unless you have a background in cellular biology that probably doesn’t make sense. All you need to understand is that there is a road block at the cellular level in the muscle and trigger point dry needling can help clear that blockage. It can be a catalyst for healing to take place.
In my experience, trigger point dry needling can be the turning point in a patient’s recovery. When pain and muscle tension are limiting recovery, adding trigger point dry needling can propel a patient into a better place to meet their physical therapy goals.
Some common areas that I dry needle:
- Upper back/neck- can help with headaches
- Low back- general low back tightness, buttock pain, sciatica
- Shoulders- rotator cuff pain
- Calf- calf tightness, plantar fasciitis
Doug is a past patient that benefited from adding trigger point dry needling to his treatment plan. Hear what Doug had to say:
“In Spring 2021 I had a pinched nerve in my neck which shot pain down my left arm and, as a result, flared up my trapezius and rotator cuff muscles trying to protect the nerve. This pain made it very difficult for me to do normal lifting, perform yardwork or (most importantly) golf without a lot of discomfort. Manual treatments 2-3 times per week at The Center for Physical Rehabilitation slowly relaxed the nerve and provided some temporary relief to the muscles, but we could never really get them to “let go” and relax. By August I was ready to try something new, so I started Dry Needling with Jessica twice a week. The needling and stimulation, combined with some manual treatment, was able to target specific areas, finally tiring out the muscles and getting them to relax. In September I was already down to needling once a week and by November I was pretty much back to normal and able to do regular activities (including golf) without pain and without any new flare ups of the nerve or muscles.”
Trigger point dry needling can be an important piece of the puzzle in someone’s rehab journey. If you have pain and muscle tension that won’t let up, consider giving this treatment a try!
Learn more about Trigger Point Dry Needling here!
I received my trigger point dry needling certification from the Dry Needling Institute under the American Academy of Manipulative Therapy. Information provided in this blog was taken from this coursework material.