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About Dry Needling Pennsylvania Clinics

By Robert Edwards


If you're in pain, you want relief. General practitioners can diagnose the problem and, probably, prescribe a painkiller. Unfortunately, this kind of temporary fix can help immediate suffering but does little to heal or promote long-lasting improvement. What can be long-lasting is an addiction to prescription medicine. For this reason, people with chronic pain or muscle injuries may try alternative methods. Dry needling Pennsylvania is one therapy gaining in popularity.

The therapy itself is simple, although the subject is complex, with its own terminology and philosophy. Think of it as a form of acupuncture, in which needles are inserted through the skin. However, the target is compacted muscles tissue rather than energy-releasing points. Trigger points are stimulated, as well, to affect muscles or tendons that need to relax and stretch to normal positions.

Filiform needles are used in many cases. These are solid and usually slightly larger in diameter than an acupuncture tool. In cases where an injection of corticosteroids or other therapeutic substance is called for, hollow hypodermic needles are used. The needle allows the therapist to pinpoint the target and stimulate a muscle or a trigger point.

Muscles sometimes knot up, as their tissue contracts and fails to release. This can be in response to tension over an extended period of time or to a sudden stress, as in a sports injury. This contraction causes pain at the immediate site and possibly in other areas of the body. The added strain can affect skeletal alignment and other muscles or connective tissue. Massage may help muscles to relax, but if manual manipulation is not enough, further measures may be called for.

If manual manipulation (massage) is not able to release the knots, the use of properly placed needles can offer help. Torn ligaments and tendons can also be targeted to accelerate healing. Needling improves muscle tone and flexibility, too. The restoration of normal movement is a great benefit to those crippled with pain or injured in sports.

The treatment is relatively painless in most cases. Most people don't feel the needle pass through the skin, just as in acupuncture. However, the penetration into deep tissue can cause cramping, although this is not usually severe enough to cause more than temporary discomfort. Bruising can result, and some soreness may persist for a day or two following treatment. Soaking in Epsom salts or applying ice packs can help relieve these minor side effects. Mild physical activity is recommended following a treatment, although strenuous activity is not.

The average course of treatment is two to four sessions. This treatment is used extensively in sports medicine and in pain management. It is considered a very safe and non-invasive way to provide relief and promote healing. Side effects may be similar to those of deep tissue massage, mainly tiredness and soreness.

Many clinics in Pennsylvania offer this therapy. The therapists on staff will be able to explain the purpose of the treatment, as well as particulars of the technique. Needling holds promise for those who struggle with chronic pain, like a sore back, which can affect a person's whole quality of life. It also has applications in sports medicine and healing.




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