What is Dry Needling? Story by Amy Passaretti Photos by Kenneth Boone
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ry needling is a relatively new technique utilized by physical therapists to help combat inflammation and pain, and it is now available in Elmore County. Brent Vinson, facility director and physical therapist at Phoenix Rehab in Wetumpka, has practiced dry needling for about a year and a half, which he incorporates as a complement to patients’ routine treatment plans. “It’s not necessarily a new service in the physical therapy world, but it’s becoming more prevalent,” said Vinson. “The needles you use are monofilament needles similar to acupuncture needles. The difference is acupuncture is based off Chinese medicine, and dry needling is rooted in neuroscience.” The purpose of dry needling is to target specific trigger points to treat inflammation and pain through the insertion of a very small needle directly into an isolated affected muscle or nerve. In the areas where a patient has pain, he or she will often find inflammation, edema, muscle guarding, increased electrical activity, decreased blood flow and adhesions to soft tissue. “Anatomically, we know what’s below the skin, and we’re needling into the skin to create a reaction in the body. Blood flow increases in the targeted area, bringing white blood cells and
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proteins to promote the healing process,” said Vinson. As a result, the muscle should relax and pain should decrease. This, in turn, creates a local, segmental and systemic affect on the body. It impacts the nervous system and musculoskeletal system, he explained. “It creates a full-body effect. People with chronic pain are often tense and their nervous systems are over-stimulated. If you decrease that stimulus, it will affect hormones, brain and sleep,” he said. “I’ve had patients tell me they got the best sleep they’ve had in years after dry needling.” Currently, dry needling also is being used as an alternative to opioid use in pain management. “If you can decrease pain, there is less need for medication and treatments, which in turn, is better for our bodies and allows them to function better. It could improve a patient’s quality of life,” said Vinson. Dry needling is a fairly new treatment technique, which some insurance companies don’t cover for patients. As a result, it could be provided as a cash-based service or included as part of treatment plans for existing patients. “It’s not that it’s controversial, but some insurance companies just haven’t caught up,” said Vinson. Alabama is one of the rare states that still
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