Dry needling refers to the insertion of thin, sterile monofilament needles into muscles to address neuromusculoskeletal pain. The ultimate goal of dry needling is to provide pain relief through various different physiological mechanisms.

There are many proposed mechanisms by which Dry Needling may affect neuromusculoskeletal pain. These effects include biomechanical, chemical, neurophysiological, hormonal, and central effects that can help increase pain threshold and improve loading capacity of tissues. Pain is multifactorial. At Trifecta, our skilled doctors will help you to better understand your pain experience and show you how interventions (such as Dry Needling) fit into your rehab experience.

When performed by a certified and skilled practitioner, dry needling is a low risk intervention that can help in the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal disorders. Some of the benefits from dry needling include:

Decreased pain

Improved muscle tone

Neuromuscular facilitation

Improved blood flow

In the US, dry needling can be performed by physical therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, and physicians, however the exact rules vary from State to State. In New Jersey, Dry Needling is within the scope of practice of physical therapists that have completed requirements set forth by the board of PT examiners. The law requires that NJ PTs have at least 2 years of clinical experience and complete 80 hours of dry needling education, including at least 40 hours of lecture and 40 hours of hands-on learning. Therapists that wish to continue dry needling must complete > 10 hours of continuing education in dry needling during every 2 year licensure period.

Dry Needling is a manual therapy intervention that is best used as part of a multimodal approach in rehabilitation. Dry needling can help address impairments and complement the manual therapy, exercise, and education already included in your rehabilitation program. Your physical therapist will help you determine how dry needling fits into your plan of care.

At Trifecta, we put your safety first! Your PT will review potential side effects with you prior to initiating treatment. We take every measure to maximize your outcomes and to minimize these risks. Mild transient side effects may include bleeding, bruising, sweating, dizziness, fatigue, drowsiness, temporary increase in symptoms, soreness, and needle site pain. Some lesser common side effects may include hematoma, nerve injury, and skin irritation. Serious, but very rare side effects include pneumothorax and fainting.

Yes. This is variable based on the opinion of your surgical team. Your PT may choose to wait 6-12 weeks after surgery to begin dry needling, depending on where your PT plans to insert needles.

That is okay! Dry needling is not for everyone, and there are other alternative treatments for dry needling. If you have some reservations and still choose to try dry needling, a low dosage may be used at first (small number of needles, shorter time, etc.) to gauge your reaction and response to treatment.

Dry needling and acupuncture both involve inserting thin needles into the skin for therapeutic purposes, but they differ in their theoretical foundations and clinical applications. Dry needling primarily targets muscle tissue to relieve pain and improve function by directly affecting the neuromuscular system. On the other hand, acupuncture is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine and focuses on restoring the flow of qi (vital energy) along meridians to treat a wide range of ailments beyond musculoskeletal issues. Acupuncture can only be performed by licensed acupuncturists. Both techniques can be helpful for pain management.

Dry needling involves inserting thin filiform needles into tissue. These needles are rounded at the tip and minimize tissue damage. The needle is not used to administer medications into the tissue. “Wet” needling, on the other hand, uses hollow bore needles that are a larger gauge. The purpose of wet needling is to inject a substance (such as medication) into tissues.

Everyone responds differently, some people feel energized, some feel tired, some feel mild soreness, some feel great. This depends on multiple factors and how your body processes the stimulus provided through the needle.

This depends on the case. At Trifecta we use a combination of measures to determine what will be the best course of care for you. We use your response to treatment and improvements in symptoms to inform your plan and dosage.