Dry Needling

dry needling services in greensboro, nc

Dry needling is one of the more common treatments we provide for our patients for pain and mobility issues.

We combine dry needling with other manual therapy and strengthening/stretching techniques for symptoms including: 

  • Back pain 

  • Headaches

  • Dyspareunia (painful intercourse) 

  • Endometriosis

  • Constipation

  • Tailbone pain

  • Shoulder and neck pain

  • Hip pain, and more. 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • In short, a thin, sterile needle is inserted into a tight and painful muscle. The needle triggers the muscle to release its tension, decreasing pain and improving mobility. We often compliment this treatment with TENS estim and target your home program with the stretching and strengthening needed for lasting relief. 

    If you’re someone who likes more detail, here is the full description:  Your therapist will identify the tight and hyperirritable part of a muscle. Some folks call these areas "trigger points," muscle fibers stuck in a sustained contraction or overuse pattern. These areas are painful because of a lack of blood flow and oxygen in the tight muscle, causing a build-up of metabolic waste and creating pain. Some of the most common areas for trigger points are the top top of the shoulders, low back, head/neck, and hips. 

    On a cellular level, dry needling:

    • Decreases inflammation and enhances blood flow to the muscle, improving oxygen and clearing out metabolic waste products (like lactic acid). 

    • Alters the body’s pain signaling pathways, reducing the heightened sensitivity of the muscle. 

    • Releases endorphins (and other neuropeptides), promoting relaxation and pain relief. 

    Together, these processes restore the muscle's normal length, tension, and function, providing relief from pain and improving mobility. Whew! 

  • While it isn’t a pleasant sensation, dry needling is usually no more painful than a muscle cramp or deep ache. While pain varies greatly from person to person, it is certainly less painful than a bee sting or a flu shot. 

  • Our therapists often use TENS E-stim with the needles to help increase the twitch response and improve circulation even more. The procedure usually lasts 10-30 minutes, depending on how many areas we are working on. In fact, we have 30-minute dry needling appointments, for current and past patients. We even see non-pelvic health patients who simply want dry needling.

    If you are curious and would like to learn more, give us a call to set up an appointment to see if dry needling is the missing piece for your pain relief.