What is Dry Needling?

29 Sep 2022

Dry needling is a form of acupuncture that chiropractors with additional training can perform where a thin needle is inserted into muscles or tendons. The needle is gently moved up and down once inside the tissue which relaxes the muscles, promotes blood flow, and causes a mild inflammatory response. Dry needling can be particularly helpful for tendon injuries which are frequently slow to recover as it may jump start the healing process. This technique can be slightly uncomfortable at times, however, the treatment itself is very quick and often completed in a matter of seconds!

What is dry needling good for?

• Tennis elbow¹
  
• Rotator cuff tendinopathy¹
  
• Achilles tendinopathy¹
  
• Jumper’s knee (patellar tendinopathy)¹
  
• Greater trochanteric pain syndrome¹ 
  
  

Dry needling is an effective option that should be considered as a first line treatment for various tendon injuries of the elbow, shoulder, hip, and lower extremity. It is a minimally invasive, low risk technique that can lead to significant improvements in pain and overall function.¹

Dr. Nigel Ridge, DC., is accepting new patients at Natural Choice Medical Clinic in Guelph, Ontario! Book an assessment with him to learn more about treatments for stubborn tendon injuries!