Jonny Dilworth, DPT, recently attended a class for certification in dry needling. Dry needling is a skilled intervention that uses a thin filiform needle to penetrate the skin and stimulate underlying myofascial trigger points, muscles, and connective tissues for the management of neuromusculoskeletal pain and movement impairments. The points chosen to be needled are done so from the diagnosis, patient symptoms, palpation of trigger points, and/or functional testing. These acupuncture like needles are very small, solid, and sterile. They can be used to help release trigger points, increase tissue healing, restore normal muscle resting tone, and break up adhesions or scar tissue. It may sound intimidating, but the needles are often not even felt in healthy tissue. It can cause a muscle twitch and ache in unhealthy tissue, which is important to help the muscle relax to normal resting tone. When muscles are relaxed, the patient will often have improved range of motion and flexibility without pain. Pain can last a few days and is similar to the pain experienced after a hard work out, however most people don’t have much lasting pain. It can be used to treat chronic inflammation, trigger points, stiffness, as well as, fibromyalgia. Please ask for more information regarding these services as part of PT or our cash based program. We are running a special for the month of May at $30 up to three muscle and $40 for three or more cash pay if other PT services are not wished. Please call 748-3600 x132 for more information.