Neck pain is common among adults of all ages. Whether due to an injury, underlying condition, or even a sedentary lifestyle, neck pain can be debilitating and get in the way of your daily routine, but there are many available treatment options that can help you manage neck pain without surgery or medications.
Dry needling is a treatment available at the Rubin Chiropractic Health Center for neck pain. Many patients find that it’s effective in relieving pain, inflammation, and tension in the neck.
What Is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is a treatment method in which fine filament needles are applied to the body’s targeted areas. The needles reach the deeper tissues in spots that are known as trigger points for pain. By creating a micro-lesion in the pathological tissue, dry needling regulates the inflammatory response, breaks up shortened tissues, and resolves feelings of pain.
While dry needling does use needles, it’s not acupuncture. Unlike acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medicine method, dry needling is rooted in the latest scientific studies of the musculoskeletal and neuromuscular systems. This makes it a reliable treatment option for many conditions relating to the musculoskeletal and neuromuscular systems, including neck pain.
Dry Needling for Neck Pain
Dry needling for neck pain is a virtually painless treatment. While the local twitch response sensation is normal in this treatment, it’s only experienced briefly during treatment.
Many patients who receive dry needling for neck pain feel an immediate improvement to their neck’s pain and stiffness. Some feel soreness the day after dry needling, which typically only lasts for one to two days. Bruising can also occur after dry needling, but it will fade in the days following treatment.
If you’re struggling with neck pain, dry needling is an excellent option to consider as part of your personalized treatment plan. It may also be used in combination with adjustments, therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, and other treatment options available at the Rubin Chiropractic Health Center. Contact us today to learn more about our therapeutic offerings for neck pain.