Trigger Point Dry Needling

Trigger point dry needling (TDN) is a technique used to treat myofascial trigger points. Trigger points are tender spots located in a tight band of muscle (referred to as “knots”) and typically result from a history of poor posture and injury and are exacerbated by stress. Dry needling involves inserting a thin filament needle into the trigger point causing a reflex contraction (called a twitch response) resulting in relaxation of the muscle. Soreness lasting for ~12-36 hours is normal after the treatment. Dry needling is generally part of a larger physical therapy approach where we address the root causes of trigger points to ensure they do not return.