Dry needling, sometimes referred to as IMS, is a treatment that healthcare providers use for pain and movement issues associated with myofascial trigger points. With this technique, a provider inserts thin needles into or near your trigger points. The needles stimulate your muscles, which causes them to contract or twitch. This helps relieve pain and improve your range of motion.
Trigger points are knotted, tender areas that develop in your muscles. These trigger points are highly sensitive and can be painful when touched. Sometimes, a trigger point may be near the location of your pain. But they’re also often the cause of referred pain. Referred pain is pain that affects another part of your body.
Our practitioners use needles to alleviate your trigger points. When dry needling is applied to your muscles and tissues, it can decrease tightness, increase blood flow and reduce local and referred pain. We use solid needles that don’t contain any kind of medication. This is why the technique is called “dry.”
All of our acupuncture providers (Dr.'s Natalie, Tamara, Teighen and Blake) are certified in Functional Dry Needling, and can be used as part of your greater treatment plan that can include chiropractic, traditional acupuncture, massage and/or physiotherapy!