Dry Needling

MYOFASCIAL TRIGGER POINT DRY NEEDLING

Myofascial trigger point dry needling is a treatment to restore proper function to abnormally behaving muscles. Many methods of treatment are applied to painful muscles but none are quite as effective, fast acting or long lasting as the treatment known as myofascial trigger point dry needling.

These muscles become painful with nodules also called knots and tight bands of muscle that can be painful locally or send pain signals to other locations. The muscles, which contain these abnormal areas are ?locked? and cannot function normally, which causes restriction of movement and chronic pain.

These nodules or knots develop from overuse, trauma, poor posture, lack of exercise, sleep disturbances, vitamin deficiencies, joint arthritis or nerves being compressed at the spine and other locations. These painful areas contain biochemicals that cause pain to the local nerves, have decreased oxygen flow (called ischemia) causing further pain resulting in muscle fibers to ?lock?.

The reason this method is so effective is that it short-circuits the vicious cycle in a very direct way that other methods cannot accomplish. This treatment allows the muscle contracture to release to its normal length, the circulation to improve, swelling to recede and the chemicals to disperse, thereby removing their noxious effect on local nerves.

The treatment utilizes sterile, very thin needles to achieve its goal. The relief is often rapid and the patient becomes relaxed and tired.

Dr. Ingram is competent, confident and state certified in Dry Needling. As of July 2008, the Maryland Board of Chiropractic Examiners clarified that dry needling is within the scope of practice for chiropractors in Maryland who have physical therapy privileges.