Dry Needling Atlanta: Unlock the Art of Healing Through Needles

 

In Atlanta, a city known for embracing both traditional and cutting-edge medical treatments, dry needling has emerged as a revolutionary approach to healing. This technique, which employs very thin needles to stimulate the muscles, is gaining popularity for its effectiveness in providing relief from various ailments without the use of medication or injection. Particularly in areas like Sandy Springs, patients are experiencing the transformative benefits of this innovative therapy, which holds the power to alleviate pain and enhance overall well-being.

Dry Needling is Acupuncture

Dry needling is essentially a form of acupuncture that focuses on pain relief and restoring normal movement to the body. Dry needling is defined by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) as a skilled intervention that uses a thin filiform needle to penetrate the skin and stimulate underlying myofascial trigger points, muscular, and connective tissues for the management of neuromusculoskeletal pain and movement impairments

Many people mistakenly believe that dry needling is entirely different from acupuncture, but this is not the case. It is common practice for physical therapists (PT) to misinform their patients that dry needling is not acupuncture. However, the American Medical Association (AMA) has stated that dry needling is indistinguishable from acupuncture. Furthermore, the Georgia Composite Medical Board who issues licenses to physicians and acupuncturists says, “Dry needling is a technique of the practice of acupuncture”.

There are 3 things that are the same and 1 that is different with regards to acupuncture and dry needling. The filiform thin solid needle used in dry needling is the same as that used by an acupuncturist. Check the box the PT is using, in most cases it says “acupuncture needle”. The locations of the points needled are the same. Studies have found that at least 71% and up to 95% of trigger points anatomically and clinically correspond with acupuncture points. Dry needling is not new; the first century BCE foundational Chinese medical text the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic discussed the palpation and needling of trigger points, known as “ashi points”. The actual technique of dry needling is itself one form of acupuncture – a needle is inserted into the muscle at the site of a tender knotted or cordlike painful area and stimulated manually until the practitioner and patient can feel a jumping quivering involuntary muscle twitch or fasciculation. The one thing that is not the same is the amount of training that a physical therapist and a licensed acupuncturist have to perform this complex and invasive procedure. In Georgia, a PT is only required to complete 2 weekend courses totaling 50 hours of training to receive a “certificate” to practice dry needling. A medical doctor who wishes to practice acupuncture is required to receive a minimum of 300 hours of training. Again, the Georgia Medical Board recognizes that dry needling is a form of acupuncture. It’s unfathomable and defies all logic that a PT can perform dry needling with less training than a medical doctor. Acupuncturists who are licensed to perform dry needling and acupuncture by the Georgia Composite Medical Board (GCMB) are required to complete a master’s degree in acupuncture which is at least 3 years in length, be equivalent to a minimum of 105 semester credits of instruction, including at least:

a) 705 clock (contact) hours of instruction in …medical theory, diagnosis and treatment techniques in acupuncture, and related studies.

b) 660 clock hours of instruction in clinical training, comprised of at least 150 hours in clinical observation and 500 clock hours of instruction in clinical internship.

c) 450 clock hours of instruction in biomedical clinical sciences.

d) 90 clock hours of instruction in counseling, communication, ethics, and practice

That is 1365 hours of training for the acupuncturist, 300 hours for the MD, and only 50 for the physical therapist. Furthermore, before applying for licensure from the GCMB, an acupuncturist must successfully pass 3 national board exams to demonstrate competency and safety. Additionally, if the acupuncturist has not held a license in another state for a minimum of one year or completed another form of medical board approved one year post graduate experience, the applicant is required by Georgia law to complete an additional one year of post graduate clinical supervision prior to being granted their full unrestricted license. The American Medical Association recommends that physical therapist’s training for dry needling be benchmarked to the required training and standards for training, certification and continuing education that already exist for the practice of acupuncture. To assure public safety, additional training in acupuncture is necessary for physical therapists who practice dry needling, a form of acupuncture.

Physical therapists routinely say that dry needling is not acupuncture. They’ll say that they are practicing a form of needling entirely based on western medicine. They say it’s not acupuncture because they are not focusing on yin or yang or Qi or anything that they believe comes from Chinese or Oriental medicine. I would define acupuncture as follows:

The practice of acupuncture means the insertion of disposable filiform acupuncture needles into the body at both acupuncture points which have been clearly mapped out over underlying bony landmarks and musculature, as well as trigger points traditionally known as ‘ashi points’. Acupuncture is a modality which may be practiced on the basis of traditional Chinese medical principles and/or modern biomedical principles to stimulate underlying neural, muscular, and connective tissues for preventive and therapeutic purposes. Dry needling is a technique of the practice of acupuncture; dry needling is indistinguishable from acupuncture. Acupuncturists and qualified physicians with acupuncture privileges may perform dry needling.

The claim by physical therapists that what they do is western and scientific and what an acupuncturist does is not based on western medicine or scientific is false. There is only one way to locate an acupuncture point and a trigger point; we all palpate the same bony landmarks, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Chinese medicine has studied anatomy and physiology and human dissection long before physical therapy in the West came into existence. While the origins of Chinese medical therapy and its diagnostic methods may have been in part founded in concepts such as yin, yang, qi etc which are foreign and esoteric sounding to practitioners of western medicine, make no mistake acupuncture works because we are needling muscles, improving blood flow and circulation and at times directly sending stimulation to underlying nerves. Chinese medicine though ancient in origin is certainly not static in its understanding or treatment of the human body. There is nothing magical or mysterious about acupuncture. There is much research that has been done that tries to fully understand and explain its mechanism of action, but I assure you none of that research proves the acupuncture works due to yin, yang, and qi. While a wealth of research on acupuncture exists, in contrast there is relatively little to none on dry needling performed by physical therapists. Therefore, it’s not uncommon for a PT to reference an acupuncture study to demonstrate their dry needling is effective for treating pain. A PT showing acupuncture study to a patient to demonstrate how well dry needling works, come on you can’t have it both ways. Do they believe dry needling is acupuncture or not?! Perhaps they simply wish to avoid having to complete an additional 3-4 years of education.

The attempt by physical therapists to take something that is ancient and Chinese in origin and give it a new name so they can avoid going to school to receive appropriate training in order to assure public safety is arrogant, offensive and a form of cultural appropriation. The term Dry needling was coined in part by the 20th century physician Dr. Janet Travell. She conducted research in the 1940’s in which she attempted to relieve patient pain by injecting medication into the local pain sites. She later realized it was the needle and not the medication which was responsible for relieving pain. So Dry needling referred to the use of a solid needle which contained no liquid medication. Forty years later she went on to publish Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual, considered by physical therapists to be a sort of definitive “bible” of dry needling. Little of the history of dry needling do PTs receive in their two weekend “intensive” training. During the time that she worked on this seminal text on trigger point therapy she was in regular contact with both physicians who performed acupuncture and licensed acupuncturists. There can be no doubt, that she was clear that dry needling had its origins in acupuncture and that the majority of the trigger points detailed in her work were well-known historically documented acupuncture points. Dr. Travell is on record as having written a letter to the New York Medical Board opposing the practice of dry needling by physical therapists. Curiously, not until after her death in later editions of her book would the name of a physical therapist be added to the text as a secondary author.

 

In this November 30, 2013 photo, 17-year-old professional freeskier Torin Yater-Wallace gives the thumbs-down sign from his hospital bed at St. Anthony Summit Medical Center in Frisco, Colorado, while recovering from surgery for a traumatic pneumothorax (an accumulation of air in the pleural cavity resulting from blunt or penetrating chest injury and causing lung collapse) that he suffered after a physical therapist punctured his right lung with an acupuncture needle.

 

How Easy is it for an Inexperienced Poorly-trained Provider to Puncture Someone’s Lung with Dry Needling?

It’s very easy. In under 2 minutes you can watch this video:

 

The practitioner is using a needle that is too long for the area he is needling, a perpendicular insertion, and too vigorous of a needling technique over the lungs.

What is Clean Needle Technique?

“Clean needle technique” (CNT) refers to a set of strict practices used in acupuncture to ensure the cleanliness and sterility of needles and other equipment, preventing the spread of infections by using single-use, sterile needles and following proper hygiene procedures like handwashing between patients, essentially prioritizing patient safety during needle insertion. Physical therapists claim that this content is fully covered in their Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) training. It is not.

All licensed acupuncturists must provide proof of completion of a Clean Needle Technique Course and Practical Examination (CNT) when they apply to the Medical Board for licensing. Physical therapists are not required to study CNT.

Watch this video of a physical therapist using the same needle dozens of times as she needles from the gluts and lumbar to the thoracic region, scapula, and trapezius shoulder muscle. If you don’t understand what is wrong here ask your primary care provider or any medical doctor you know; it is guaranteed to make them shudder and cringe.

Is Dry Needling Safe When Performed by a Physical Therapist?

Dry needling is dangerous when performed by unqualified individuals such as physical therapists who only take 1-2 weekends of class to learn dry needling, a complex and invasive therapy. When we compare risks cited in the original research conducted by a team of physical therapists “Adverse Events Associated with Therapeutic Dry Needling (TDN)” published in the International journal of sports physical therapy published in 2020 to the consent form that all licensed acupuncturists are required by the Georgia Composite Medical Board to have patients read and sign, we can conclude that you are ten times more likely to have serious adverse outcome when dry needling is performed by a Physical Therapist (PT) vs a Licensed Acupuncturist (LAc) and about 9 times more likely to suffer a minor adverse event.

“Four hundred and twenty physical therapists participated in this study. Information related to minor and major adverse events that occurred during 20,464 TDN treatment sessions was collected.” A total of 7,531 minor adverse events (AE) were reported, indicating that 36.7% of the reported TDN treatments resulted in a minor AE. The top three minor AE’s were bleeding (16%), bruising (7.7%), and pain during dry needling (5.9 %). The average ratio of minor AE’s for all respondents across all weeks was 0.53 or approximately one event for every two patients. Twenty major AE’s were reported out of the 20,494 treatments for a rate of <0.1%. Meaning there was 1 major adverse event per 1,024 TDN treatments.

The same journal study mentions one of the largest acupuncture studies, with nearly 300,000 subjects, evaluated the adverse events associated with acupuncture. The authors found the most common minor adverse events to be bleeding, pain, sympathetic symptoms (i.e. nausea, vertigo, sweating) and two of the subjects sustained a pneumothorax, a major adverse event. That is 1 major adverse event per 150,000. Suggesting that you are approximately 150 times less likely to suffer a serious AE when dry needling or acupuncture (remember the American Medical Association and the Georgia Composite Medical Board and countless other medical position statements state that acupuncture=dry needling, A=B) is performed by a licensed acupuncturist.

Georgia Composite Medical Board’s acupuncture consent form cautions the public:

Serious side effects are rare – less than one per 10,000 treatments.

Minor bleeding or bruising occurs after acupuncture in about 3% of treatments.

Pain during treatment occurs in about 1% of treatments.

A serious side effect or adverse event occurs less than1 per 10,000 treatments from an acupuncturist. Recall above, for dry needling (a form of acupuncture) when performed by a PT, it was 1 per 1024. Therefore, you can see a nearly 10-fold risk of serious injury from PT dry needling vs LAc dry needling/acupuncture. Bruising from PT dry needling 7.7% compared to bruising from LAc dry needling/acupuncture ~3%, more than double. Pain during dry needling from a PT occurred approximately 6% of the time compared with 1% from a LAc.

36.7% of the treatments from a PT resulted in minor AE, compared to 4% from a LAc., translating to about 9 times more likely to occur from a PT performing dry needling.

We may conclude that dry needling is dangerous when performed by unqualified individuals such as physical therapists.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7015026/#:~:text=In%20this%20study%2C%207%2C531%20or,pain%20(5.9%25)%20during%20treatment.

https://medicalboard.georgia.gov/document/acp-patient-consent-form-rev-1209pdf/download

It is difficult to estimate how common dry needling injuries are but the above is one such attempt. Consider that if a person is seriously injured from dry needling, they will first seek out medical attention. Secondly, they frequently will seek out legal counsel to recover financial compensation for their injuries. According to most sources, around 95% of medical malpractice suits are settled out of court, meaning the vast majority of cases do not go to trial and are resolved through negotiation between parties involved. According to research on medical malpractice settlements, a significant majority, around 88-90%, of cases that settle out of court require the signing of a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), meaning the vast majority of medical malpractice settlements involve confidentiality clauses preventing disclosure of settlement terms and details of the case. So, while we are unable to give a fixed number of how many serious injuries there have been we can point to the following known self-reported injuries below:

Connecticut

On June 5, 2021 physical therapist John O’Driscoll during a physical therapy treatment which included dry needling punctured a lung of Steven Konopka. Mr. Konopka suffered left pneumothorax requiring surgical repair, left lung puncture wound, left lung pain, chest pain, difficulty breathing and physical and mental pain and suffering according to the lawsuit which was filed on June 2, 2023 in Hartford’s superior court. At time of writing, the case of Konopka, Steven v. O’Driscoll, John HHD-CV23-6171087-S is ongoing with scheduled court dates in November and December of 2025.

Georgia

Case 1. In August 2015, 70-year-old Eva Campbell suffered a penetrating left lung injury caused by a physical therapist performing dry needling (18). The penetrating left lung injury resulted in a traumatic pneumothorax (18). She was treated for the traumatic pneumothorax at the emergency department of the Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville in Gainesville, Georgia, and was admitted to that hospital on the same day (18). The traumatic pneumothorax required medical and surgical intervention (18). She was hospitalized for four days (18). However, she now has difficulty breathing (18).

North Carolina

Case 1. In December 2014, a female patient suffered a penetrating lung injury caused by a physical therapist performing dry needling (20). The penetrating lung injury resulted in a traumatic pneumothorax (20). The traumatic pneumothorax required medical and surgical intervention (20).

Case 2. In February 2016, a female patient suffered a penetrating cervical spinal cord injury caused by a physical therapist performing dry needling (20). The penetrating cervical spinal cord injury resulted in severe pain, numbness, and paraparesis (partial paralysis of the lower limbs) (20). She was treated for the severe pain, numbness, and paraparesis at the emergency department of the WakeMed Cary Hospital in Cary, North Carolina, and was admitted to that hospital on the same day (20). The severe pain, numbness, and paraparesis required medical intervention (20). She was hospitalized for three days (20).

South Carolina

Case 1. In September 2014, a patient suffered a penetrating lung injury caused by a physical therapist performing dry needling (23). The penetrating lung injury resulted in a traumatic pneumothorax (23). The traumatic pneumothorax required medical and surgical intervention (23).

Virginia

Case 1. In December 2013, a 50-year-old female patient suffered a penetrating right lung injury caused by a physical therapist performing dry needling (24). The penetrating right lung injury resulted in a traumatic pneumothorax (24). The traumatic pneumothorax required medical intervention (24). She was hospitalized for two days (24).

Case 2. In May 2015, a 30-year-old female patient suffered a penetrating right lung injury caused by a chiropractor performing dry needling (25). The penetrating right lung injury resulted in a traumatic pneumothorax (25). The traumatic pneumothorax required medical intervention (25).

Case 3. In Fall 2016, 23-year-old physical therapy student Wes Jenkins suffered a penetrating lung injury caused by a physical therapist performing dry needling (26). The penetrating lung injury resulted in a traumatic pneumothorax (26). The traumatic pneumothorax required medical and surgical intervention (26). He was hospitalized for four days (26).

Alabama

Case 1. In 2017, a 16-year-old boy suffered a deep infection in the posterolateral distal aspect of the right thigh related to dry needling performed by a physical therapist.1 He was treated for the deep infection in the posterolateral distal aspect of the right thigh at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of South Alabama, in Mobile, Alabama.1 The deep infection in the posterolateral distal aspect of the right thigh required surgical drainage and intravenous antibiotics.1 He was hospitalized for five days.1 After discharge, he was continued on intravenous antibiotics for three weeks.1

District of Columbia

Case 1. In 2017, a 62-year-old woman suffered a penetrating cervical spinal cord injury related to dry needling performed by a physical therapist.1 The penetrating cervical spinal cord injury resulted in a traumatic spinal epidural hematoma (an accumulation of blood in the spinal epidural space resulting from blunt or penetrating spinal injury), which resulted in “a searing and burning pain down her entire spinal column.”1 She was treated for the searing and burning pain down her entire spinal column at the emergency department of the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC, and was admitted to that hospital’s intensive care unit on the same day.1 The searing and burning pain down her entire spinal column required tramadol (an opioid [narcotic] analgesic) and other medications.1 “No neurologic deficit developed during her course in the intensive care unit and throughout her hospital stay.”

Maryland

Case 1. In October 2012, 24-year-old science teacher Emily Kuykendall suffered a penetrating nerve injury in her left leg caused by a physical therapist performing dry needling (19). The penetrating nerve injury in her left leg resulted in severe pain, numbness, and paresthesias (abnormal sensations, typically tingling or pricking [“pins- and-needles”]) (19). The severe pain, numbness, and paresthesias required medical intervention (19).

“[The severe pain, numbness, and paresthesias are] really taking a physical and emotional toll on me,” Ms. Kuykendall wrote approximately three weeks after she was injured. “There is almost not a minute in the day that goes by that I wish that I had not gone to see [the physical therapist]” (19).

California

Case 1. In January 2014, 31-year-old general manager Jamie Del Fierro suffered a penetrating left lung injury caused by a chiropractor performing dry needling (13). The penetrating left lung injury resulted in a traumatic pneumothorax (an accumulation of air in the pleural cavity resulting from blunt or penetrating chest injury and causing lung collapse) (13). She was treated for the traumatic pneumothorax at the emergency department of the Kaiser Permanente Zion Medical Center in San Diego, California (13). The traumatic pneumothorax required medical and surgical intervention (13).

Colorado

Case 1. In November 2013, 17-year-old professional freeskier Torin Yater-Wallace suffered a penetrating right lung injury caused by a physical therapist performing dry needling (14–16). The penetrating right lung injury resulted in a traumatic pneumothorax (14–16). He was

treated for the traumatic pneumothorax at the emergency department of the St. Anthony Summit Medical Center in Frisco, Colorado, and was admitted to that hospital on the same day. The traumatic pneumothorax required medical and surgical intervention (14). He was hospitalized for five days (14).

Case 2. In April 2015, 36-year-old Amanda Hilton suffered a penetrating left lung injury related to dry needling performed by a physical therapist.⁵ The penetrating left lung injury resulted in a traumatic pneumothorax.⁵ She was treated for the traumatic pneumothorax at the emergency department of the Good Samaritan Medical Center in Lafayette, Colorado, and was admitted to that hospital on the same day.⁵ The traumatic pneumothorax required medical and surgical intervention.⁵ She was hospitalized for three days.⁵

Case 3. In June 2015, 41-year-old clinical social worker Lisa Kerscher suffered a penetrating lung injury caused by a physical therapist performing dry needling (17). The penetrating lung injury resulted in a traumatic pneumothorax (17). She was treated for the traumatic pneumothorax at the emergency department of the Rose Medical Center in Denver, Colorado (17). The traumatic pneumothorax required medical intervention (17).

Ohio

Case 1. In January 2016, 51-year-old Brenda Bierman suffered a penetrating right lung injury caused by a physical therapist performing dry needling (21). The penetrating right lung injury resulted in a traumatic pneumothorax (21). She was treated for the traumatic pneumothorax at the emergency department of the ProMedica Toledo Hospital in Toledo, Ohio, and was admitted to that hospital on the same day (21). The traumatic pneumothorax required medical and surgical intervention (21).

Case 2. In February 2016, 47-year-old Anong Pipatjarasgit suffered a penetrating thoracic spinal cord injury caused by a physical therapist performing dry needling (22). The penetrating thoracic spinal cord injury resulted in a traumatic spinal epidural hematoma (an accumulation of blood in the spinal epidural space resulting from blunt or penetrating spinal injury) (22). She was treated for the traumatic spinal epidural hematoma at the emergency department of the ProMedica Toledo Hospital in Toledo, Ohio, and was admitted to that hospital on the same day (22). The traumatic spinal epidural hematoma required medical and surgical intervention (22). After recovering from emergency surgical decompression and evacuation of the traumatic spinal epidural hematoma, she underwent extensive inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation (22). However, she now has permanent severe neurologic deficits, including paraparesis, sensory deficits, and bowel dysfunction, and has persistent severe back pain (22).

Irish Medical Journal February 2022:

A 24-year-old newly graduated junior doctor presented to the emergency department with acute onset chest pain, haemoptysis and exertional dyspnoea following a dry needling session from a physiotherapist (PT). Chest x-ray showed bilateral pneumothoraces. Suffering from shoulder and neck pain following her final year medical exams she received dry needling from a PT who performed trigger point deep dry needling, targeting trigger points in the both sides of the trapezius muscles (the muscles which in part cover the upper shoulder)

Scientific studies have highlighted the effectiveness of using solid filament needles, known as filament needles, to target specific areas of discomfort. While there is a tremendous amount of research demonstrating effectiveness and safety of acupuncture when performed by a licensed acupuncturist, there is very little research which demonstrates effectiveness or safety when dry needling is performed by a physical therapist. Acupuncturists undergo years of rigorous training to master this technique, ensuring they understand the intricate relationship between the body’s systems. In contrast, physical therapists may receive only minimal training, posing potential risks to patients. For the safest and most effective treatment, seeking an acupuncturist skilled in dry needling is crucial.

Introduction to Dry Needling in Atlanta

Atlanta’s healthcare scene is rapidly integrating dry needling into its repertoire, offering a promising option for those seeking alternatives to traditional medication or injection-based treatments. This approach is particularly appealing for its directness and efficiency in addressing musculoskeletal issues.

Understanding the Basics of Dry Needling

At its core, dry needling involves the precise insertion of needles into specific muscle areas, targeting the root causes of pain and discomfort without the need for medication.

Deciphering Trigger Points and Their Impact on Your Body

Understanding the role of trigger points—tight knots within muscles that cause pain—is crucial in appreciating how dry needling can offer relief and restore function.

What Exactly Is a Trigger Point?

Trigger points are defined as taut bands of skeletal muscle located within larger muscle groups. These points are particularly tender to the touch and can cause significant discomfort. Identifying and treating these trigger points can be tender but is essential for alleviating pain and enhancing muscle function.

The Types of Needles Utilized in Dry Needling

The effectiveness of dry needling hinges on the use of specifically designed needles that target muscles and connective tissues with precision, addressing areas often unreachable through manual therapy alone. Dry needling uses single-use, sterilized, disposable acupuncture needles.

Ensuring Safety and Sterility in Needle Usage

Dry needling emphasizes the importance of using sterile, single-use needles to prevent infection and ensure patient safety. This meticulous approach to needle selection and handling is vital for targeting tissues that are not manually palpable, safeguarding against potential complications.

The Process of Dry Needling

Dry needling treatments follow a meticulous process, beginning with an assessment of the patient’s condition and culminating in the strategic insertion of needles to alleviate muscle soreness and promote healing.

What to Expect During Your First Dry Needling Session

Patients new to dry needling can anticipate a thorough evaluation followed by a tailored treatment plan designed to address their specific sources of muscle soreness and discomfort.

Does the Process Hurt?

While some may experience mild discomfort during dry needling treatments, the procedure is generally well tolerated, with muscle soreness typically subsiding shortly after the session. Dry needling received from a licensed acupuncturist will likely be less painful than dry needling received from a physical therapist on account of the large difference in the amount of training with needle insertion and manipulation the two professions have.

The Role of an Acupuncturist in Dry Needling

Acupuncturists play a pivotal role in the practice of dry needling, bringing years of specialized training to the table. Unlike physical therapists, who may receive minimal training over 1 to 2 weekends, acupuncturists undergo extensive training in a master’s program which is at minimum 3 years in length covering needling insertion and technique, ensuring treatments are both effective and safe. Their deep understanding of the body’s meridian points allows them to address pain relief and muscle soreness with precision, making them the preferred choice for those seeking expert care in dry needling. Dry needling is type of local acupuncture needling that physical therapists and acupuncturists perform. Local needling into an area that is already inflamed and painful is a rather crude or primative treatment method. A skilled acupuncturist often will prefer to needle distally (a great distance away from your pain) and at times in combination with local points. Someone who knows what they’re doing doesn’t always need to stick the needle where it hurts. For instance, an acupuncturist may utilize points on the hand to treat headache or back pain or a point on the wrist to treat your ankle or neck pain. A well-trained acupuncturist may also prescribe Chinese medicinal herbs to reduce your pain and help speed the healing process.

Finding the Right Acupuncturist in Atlanta for Dry Needling

When searching for an acupuncturist in Atlanta for dry needling, it’s essential to prioritize expertise and safety. Look for practitioners who not only have a solid reputation but also possess a comprehensive understanding of acupuncture as a foundation for dry needling. A qualified acupuncturist should offer transparency about their training and experience, ensuring you receive the highest standard of care for your needs. Ask a physical therapist how many hours of training they received in dry needling. Ask a licensed acupuncturist how many years of training they received. You will be shocked to learn the difference. Remember, there’s no getting around it… dry needling is acupuncture by another name.

Benefits of Dry Needling in Atlanta

Dry needling offers numerous benefits for residents of Atlanta, from providing relief from chronic pain to aiding in the recovery of sports injuries. By targeting specific areas of discomfort, it improves pain control and reduces muscle tension. Its effectiveness in enhancing mobility and performance makes it a sought-after treatment for athletes and individuals experiencing muscle soreness or chronic pain.

Relief from Chronic Pain and Sports Injuries

For those suffering from chronic pain or recovering from sports injuries, dry needling serves as a powerful tool in their rehabilitation. By directly targeting the sources of pain through precise needle insertion, it helps in alleviating discomfort and expediting the healing process, offering a promising solution for long-term pain management and recovery.

Improving Mobility and Enhancing Performance

Dry needling plays a significant role in improving mobility and enhancing athletic performance. By releasing tight muscles and reducing muscle tension, it not only aids in pain relief but also contributes to greater flexibility and range of motion. This makes it an invaluable resource for athletes looking to optimize their physical capabilities and for individuals striving to maintain an active lifestyle.

Where to Get Dry Needling in Atlanta

Atlanta is home to several leading facilities offering dry needling by skilled acupuncturists. These clinics are known for their expertise in both acupuncture and dry needling, ensuring patients receive the highest level of care. Choosing the right facility involves researching practitioners’ backgrounds and selecting those with extensive experience in dry needling and a deep understanding of its application in pain management and muscle recovery.

Leading Facilities in Atlanta Offering Dry Needling

When seeking dry needling in Atlanta, it’s important to consider facilities that are well-regarded within the community. Look for clinics that prioritize safety, sterility, and the use of solid filament needles by licensed acupuncturists. Leading facilities often boast a team of practitioners with a comprehensive background in both acupuncture and dry needling, ensuring a holistic approach to treatment.

Request an Appointment for Dry Needling

Requesting an appointment for dry needling in Atlanta is a straightforward process. Most reputable clinics offer online booking or phone consultations to discuss your specific needs. When scheduling, ensure to inquire about the practitioner’s training in dry needling and acupuncture, to guarantee you are receiving care from a qualified professional.

Aftercare and What to Expect Post-Treatment

Following a dry needling session, patients can expect to receive guidance on aftercare to manage any soreness and to enhance the treatment’s benefits. Practitioners often recommend simple techniques to maintain balance and prevent future injuries, ensuring a smooth recovery and ongoing improvement in muscle function and pain relief.

Managing Soreness After Dry Needling

It’s common to experience some soreness after dry needling, as the body responds to the release of muscle tension. Practitioners will advise on the best practices for aftercare, which may include gentle stretching, hydration, and the application of heat or ice to the treated areas. These steps help in minimizing discomfort and facilitating a quicker recovery.

Techniques for Maintaining Balance and Preventing Future Injuries

Post-treatment, acupuncturists performing dry needling can offer advice on maintaining balance and preventing future injuries. This may involve incorporating regular physical activity, practicing proper posture, and continuing with stretches or exercises recommended by the practitioner. Such proactive measures play a crucial role in sustaining the benefits of dry needling and keeping the body in optimal condition.

Why Choose Atlanta for Your Dry Needling Needs

Atlanta stands out as a hub for expert dry needling services, primarily because of its emphasis on safety and effectiveness. The city is home to a number of highly trained acupuncturists who bring years of specialized training to their practice, unlike physical therapists who may only have brief training. This expertise ensures that residents receive care that is not only effective but also minimizes the risk of complications, making Atlanta a preferred destination for those seeking high-quality dry needling treatments.

Crafting Your Path to Recovery with Dry Needling

Dry needling offers a unique path to recovery for individuals struggling with pain and mobility issues. When performed by a skilled acupuncturist, it can unlock the body’s natural healing capabilities, providing relief where other therapies may have fallen short. Choosing dry needling is a step toward a personalized recovery journey, one that is built on the foundation of expertise and a deep understanding of the body’s needs.

Taking the First Step: How to Begin

Beginning your journey with dry needling involves selecting the right practitioner for your needs. It’s crucial to choose an acupuncturist who is not only licensed but also has a wealth of experience in treating conditions similar to yours. Researching and reaching out to reputable clinics in Atlanta can provide you with a starting point, helping to ensure that your experience with dry needling is both safe and beneficial.

Request an Appointment with an Acupuncturist in Atlanta

Securing an appointment with an experienced acupuncturist in Atlanta is your first step towards a pain-free life. Many clinics offer online booking, making it easy to schedule a consultation and discuss your specific needs. By choosing a qualified acupuncturist, you’re ensuring that your dry needling treatment is conducted with the highest standards of safety and expertise, paving the way for effective relief and recovery.

Final Thoughts: Embracing the Healing Journey with Dry Needling in Atlanta

As we conclude our exploration of dry needling in Atlanta, it’s important to underscore that dry needling is a technique deeply rooted in acupuncture. Physical therapists did not create something new in the 1980’s. They just discovered the work of Dr. Janet Travell, who clearly acknowledged some similarities between acupuncture and dry needling. Dr. Travell was in regular contact with both physicians who practiced acupuncture as well as licensed acupuncturists, and opposed physical therapist’s claim that they should have the right to practice dry needling.

The claim that a physical therapist is practicing a technique that is from western medicine while acupuncturists are doing something else is false. Dry needling uses the same needles, the same points, and one technique/style/type of acupuncture needle manipulation. The only difference is that a licensed acupuncturists has years of training and a physical therapist has taken a shortcut and taken 1-2 weekends of dry needling classes. Receiving dry needling from a licensed acupuncturist compared to a physical therapist is far safer.

Dry needling is designed to treat a variety of conditions such as myofascial pain, acute and chronic tendonitis, athletic and sports-related overuse injuries, post-surgical pain, post-traumatic injuries, motor vehicle accidents, neck pain, tennis elbow, hip pain, and more. Unlike the brief training physical therapists receive, acupuncturists undergo extensive education and hands-on training, ensuring that dry needling is a safe and effective treatment method for enhancing blood flow, relieving pain, and facilitating the healing of muscle fibers.

Choosing an experienced Chinese medicine doctor for your treatment plan is crucial for safety and effectiveness. Cases when dry needling can provide relief include conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, and plantar fasciitis, emphasizing its versatility as a treatment option. It’s essential to seek out a qualified acupuncturist in Atlanta who specializes in intramuscular stimulation, as their expertise can significantly enhance your recovery journey. In doing so, patients can confidently embrace the healing journey, knowing they are receiving care that perfectly aligns with the sophisticated principles of western medicine and the ancient wisdom of acupuncture.

The Essence and Benefits of Dry Needling

Dry needling stands out among physical therapy treatments for its targeted approach to chronic pain and muscle soreness. By directly addressing the source of discomfort, it offers a pathway to lasting relief and recovery, marking a significant advancement in the field of physical therapy.

How Dry Needling Fits Into Modern Physical Therapy

As an integral part of modern physical therapy, dry needling complements conventional methods by offering a focused solution to pain management and muscle rehabilitation, enriching the spectrum of available treatments.

Integrating Dry Needling with Massage Therapy for Enhanced Healing

Combining dry needling with massage therapy can significantly enhance the healing process. While dry needling works to release trigger points and reduce muscle tension, massage therapy complements this by promoting relaxation, improving circulation, and further easing muscle soreness. This integrative approach supports a more holistic recovery, addressing both the physical and relaxation needs of the body.

Comparing Dry Needling and Acupuncture

It’s crucial to understand that dry needling is not acupuncture. While both utilize filament needles, dry needling is a practice rooted in modern medicine, targeting muscular trigger points to alleviate pain and improve function. In contrast, acupuncture is a practice based on traditional Chinese medicine, aimed at balancing the body’s energy flow. This fundamental difference highlights the need for specialized training in each method to ensure safe and effective treatment.

Dry Needling vs. Other Therapies

Dry needling stands distinct from other therapies due to its focus on trigger points for pain relief. While similar to acupuncture in needle use, it diverges in its scientific basis and application. Unlike massage therapy or traditional acupuncture, which are broader in approach, dry needling targets specific muscular knots, offering a focused method for enhancing pain control and reducing muscle tension, underlining the importance of choosing practitioners well-versed in needle technique.