Functional Dry Needling

Functional Dry Needling

Functional Dry Needling is a skilled intervention performed by a physical therapist that uses a thin filament needle to penetrate the skin and stimulate underlying myofascial trigger points and muscular and connective tissues to manage neuromuscular pain and movement impairments.

Is Dry Needling the Same as Acupuncture?

No. Functional Dry Needling uses an anatomical approach to evaluate the bones, joints, connective tissue and muscle to guide where the needle is placed.

At San Antonio Center for Physical Therapy, we focus on Functional Dry Needling (FDN), where our goal is to restore function.

On the other hand, Acupuncture uses Traditional Chinese Medicine evaluations of the pulse and tongue to guide where they will insert the needles along the body's meridians. Acupuncture's goal is to restore the normal flow of the life force called "Qi."

How does it work?

Your therapist will identify the source of the pain or trigger point with manual techniques. They will advance a small monofilament needle into this area to elicit a small, involuntary twitch response, which then relaxes the muscle. This can eliminate your pain and muscular tightness and reduce referred pain.

What is referred pain?

Referred pain is like "secondary pain" from the source. (Example: Pain in your gluteal muscles can refer pain down the entire posterior leg!) Eliminating these active trigger points can help "reboot" the muscle to alleviate the original problem area and the secondary, referred pain area.

Does it last?

Most patients have dramatic pain relief and improved function after just a few treatments. The nature of your condition, acute injury vs. chronic injury, will determine the frequency of dry needling treatments your physical therapist decides to use.

Eliminate Muscle Pain and Tightness

Functional Dry Needling can reduce or eliminate referred pain.

What conditions can be treated with Functional Dry Needling?

Dry needling can be used for various musculoskeletal problems. Muscles are thought to be a primary contributing factor to the symptoms. Conditions that respond to dry needling include, but are not limited to:

  • Headaches
  • Frozen Shoulder
  • Tennis Elbow
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Golfer's Elbow
  • Buttock Pain
  • Leg Pain
  • Hamstring Strains
  • Shin Splints
  • Muscle Spasms
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Sciatic Pain
  • Hip Pain
  • Knee Pain
  • Repetitive Strain Injuries
  • And Many More!