Dry needle therapy

Mille Lacs Health System is proud to offer a new therapy in our Rehabilitation Department, “dry needling”. Jenny Greer, DPT, and Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist has been a licensed physical therapist since 2017, and became certified in January 2023 in dry needling.

Dry needling is a general term that describes the use of a needle to stimulate the soft tissues of the body for a positive health outcome.  Dry needling is a form of therapy in which fine needles are inserted into trigger points (painful knots in muscles), tendons, ligaments, or near nerves in order to stimulate a healing response. The desired response is to relieve pain and increase motion.

Dry needling is not acupuncture. It does not have the purpose of altering the flow of energy along traditional Chinese practices. Dry needling is a modern, science-based intervention for the treatment of pain and dysfunction in musculoskeletal conditions such as neck pain, shoulder impingement, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches, knee pain, shin splints, plantar fasciitis, or low back pain.

Previously, syringe needles were used to treat the “trigger point”. The move to use solid fine filament needles for dry needling was made in order to make the procedure more comfortable for the patient and to reduce the possibility of the needle causing damage to the tissue. A syringe needle has a beveled edge necessary to “cut” through the tissues, while the solid fine filament needle is a very sharp cone shape that separates the tissue rather than cutting through it. This needle is often only 20% the diameter of the typical 18 or 20-gauge needle.

Dry needling can be an option for many people and conditions. It can be used for patients with chronic pain who have tried many other treatments without or with limited benefits. Athletes are good candidates who have good overall health, but have a specific reoccurring injury. On the flip side, the elderly population can benefit as well. With fewer resources for pain management due to the conditions of their body, and/or safe home exercise programs dry needling can be a great alternative treatment. Lastly, anyone with pain and dysfunction is an excellent candidate for dry needling.

In dry needling, no major side effects or long-term damage is caused to the body. Of course, with any treatment, there are risks, with small percentages of people experiencing drowsiness, dizziness, minor bleeding, or bruising, after treatment. The provider will ask specific health-related questions and talk about risks before treatment.

If you’re interested in learning more or exploring dry needling as a treatment for your chronic pain reach out to the Mille Lacs Health System Rehab Department at 320-532-2520.