Shoulder pain is a common condition that can be caused by a variety of factors, such as overuse, injury, or degenerative conditions. One of the treatment options for shoulder pain is dry needling, a technique that involves inserting thin needles into specific points in the body to stimulate the healing process. In this blog, we'll explore the benefits of dry needling for shoulder pain.
Reduces Muscle Tension and Pain
Dry needling can be used to reduce muscle tension and pain in the shoulder. The needles are inserted into trigger points, which are areas of tightness in the muscles. When the needle is inserted, it causes a reflexive reaction at the level of spinal cord which facilitates a twitch response in the muscle, this can help to release the tension and reduce pain. Essentially, it's like hitting the "reset button" for you muscle.
Increases Range of Motion
Shoulder pain can limit the range of motion in the joint, making it difficult to perform everyday tasks. Dry needling can help to increase the range of motion by releasing tension in the muscles and improving joint mobility. This can lead to improved function and a reduction in pain. It should be noted, however, that this increase in range of motion can be temporary AND SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY EXERCISE to get the results to stick.
Promotes Healing
Dry needling can promote healing by stimulating the body's natural healing response. The needles create microtrauma in the muscle tissue, which triggers the body's healing process. This can lead to increased blood flow, improved tissue oxygenation, and the release of growth factors that promote healing.
Non-Invasive Treatment
Dry needling is a non-invasive treatment option for shoulder pain. Unlike surgery or other invasive procedures, dry needling does not require incisions or anesthesia. This can make it a more attractive option for patients who want to avoid surgery or who are not good candidates for surgery.
Cost-Effective
Dry needling is a cost-effective treatment option for shoulder pain. Compared to other treatments such as surgery or physical therapy, dry needling is often less expensive. It can also be done in a shorter amount of time, which can save patients time and money. Additionally, at Thrive-HQ you will always know what you are going to
pay before you walk in the doors so there are no surprise bills down the road!
Minimal Side Effects
Dry needling is a safe and minimally invasive procedure that has few side effects. Some patients may experience mild soreness or bruising at the needle insertion site, but these side effects typically resolve quickly (within 24 hours).
To wrap it up, dry needling is a safe, cost-effective, and minimally invasive treatment option for shoulder pain (it is pretty kick-ass). It can reduce muscle tension and
pain, increase range of motion, promote healing, and has few side effects. Again, it should be noted that this can be a very effective treatment but the way that it is BEST used in in conjunction with exercise and optimizing movement patterns which is why we use it (dry needling) as only a PART of our evidence-based TMR (Touch, Move, Renew) treatment model.
If you would like to learn more about dry needling and other treatment options for shoulder pain please reach out to use at info@thrive-hq.com.
Thanks for reading!
Dr. Greg
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