At Shaw Spine & Sport, we offer Trigger Point Dry Needling (TDN) as part of our comprehensive approach to pain relief and performance enhancement.
Whether you're dealing with chronic muscle tension, athletic injuries, or unexplained aches, dry needling can be a powerful tool to help you move and feel better—faster.
What is Dry Needling?
Dry needling or intra-muscular stimulation aims to reduce local and referred pain by means of eliminating neuromuscular trigger points. The procedure involves locating trigger points that may contribute to a patient’s condition and then manipulating them in a very specific way to alleviate them. Dry Needling is mechanical in nature, with a specific goal of changing muscular response.
When a trigger point is targeted, the needle stimulates the muscle, improves blood flow, reduces tension, and helps restore proper movement. Unlike acupuncture, which is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, dry needling is based on modern Western medicine and the understanding of musculoskeletal anatomy.
What Can Dry Needling Help With?
Dry needling is often effective for treating:
- Muscle pain and tightness
- Sports and overuse injuries
- Headaches and neck pain
- Shoulder, back, and hip pain
- Tendonitis
- Movement restrictions
What to Expect During Your Appointment
We will evaluate your soft tissue function through palpation to identify areas of dysfunction. The procedure is typically quick and minimally uncomfortable. You might feel a small twitch or cramping sensation—that’s a sign we’ve hit the right spot. In many cased electircal stimulation is used to enhance the neurological effect.
Most patients feel relief quickly, though some soreness is common for a day or two afterward—similar to what you might feel after a workout.
Why Do We Perform Trigger Point Dry Needling?
We use dry needling to accelerate healing, reduce pain, and help you move better without relying on medication or invasive procedures. It’s just one of the many tools we use to get you back to doing what you love.