Functional Dry Needling (FDN) in Helena, MT

Are you in pain? Have you tried other options without feeling results?

Maybe it’s time to try Functional Dry Needling!

Functional Dry Needling (FDN), also commonly referred to as trigger point dry needling, is a treatment technique using a small needle to directly penetrate skin, muscles and connective tissues to relieve trigger points, spasm, and pain that limits physiological function. 

Dry needling changes the neurological input at the level of the muscle, often in places you would consider a “knot”,  to change acute or habitual muscle contraction and pain to improve movement, and in some cases alter muscle recruitment.

What injuries can Functional Dry Needling help with?

• Acute or chronic musculoskeletal pain
• Muscle strain
• Muscle tension
• Sports injuries including muscle tears
• Overuse injuries including tendinopathies or patellofemoral pain
• Low back pain and sciatica
• Headaches
• Radiating limb pain or pain that refers to another region.

What are the benefits of getting Functional Dry Needling?

Through FDN, we hope to achieve significant structural change within the tissue being treated with much less time and money than traditional physical therapy. It should achieve drastic muscular adaptation without long massage treatments and similar.  The actual changes that occur are complex but the biggest benefits aimed for in treatment are:  Decreased painful input to brain and resting tension in muscles, increased endorphins, and better brain to muscle connection..

Is Functional Dry Needling a safe treatment?

There are risks in pursuing any Physical Therapy treatment, including FDN.

It is important that any patient interested in pursuing this treatment complete our consent form in its entirety and complete a thorough medical history assessment with their Physical Therapist prior to FDN treatment. There are some medical history and medical illnesses which may make needling an unsafe choice for you.

FDN treatment will only be provided by Physical Therapists with additional training in this specific treatment technique through quality training companies requiring extensive anatomical knowledge and practice hours.

Does FDN treatment hurt?

Please reach out to your provider at Optimal Sports Physical Therapy for more information.

Many people think that dry needling hurts. It doesn’t have to hurt in order to work. We will do our best to make you comfortable and knowledgeable during the treatment session. We use the smallest needle possible with the best combination of treatment points to help minimize your discomfort. 

Will I get sore after needling?

This is an individual answer. And it’s hard to know for sure, but you may. Your therapist will be able to discuss this with you during and after treatment.We ensure a clean process to decrease any risk of infection. The most common side effect is possible bruising and muscle soreness at the site of treatment. However, if you get sore, there are many things you can do like light exercise, heat or ice, and/or your physical therapy exercises. But rest assured, the physical therapist that dry needles you will discuss this with you prior to and during therapy. 

How often can I get dry needling treatment? 

This will also be discussed thoroughly with your Optimal Sports Physical Therapy provider. One goal of FDN is to decrease the number of times you need manual therapy to manage your injuries. We typically don’t allow FDN more than once in a weekly period to allow sufficient healing and adaptation after treatment. We will perform FDN only when we feel it is the best treatment option and only when results are seen. 

Can I be active immediately after dry needling? 

Yes, in fact, light activity is perfect! It’s encouraged to complete a normal level workout for you the day of treatment and the days following.  This should not be suddenly twice the intensity of your normal days just because you feel good. Stretching the area as prescribed by your physical therapist is also beneficial. 

Can runners get FDN treatment? 

Absolutely! Many runners suffer from an injury, and continue to run while experiencing symptoms. They decide to “suck it up”, to “run through the pain”, or they think that they can treat/manage the symptoms just enough to keep running. Some runners take time off from running or take a rest period, but end up returning to running only to develop the same injury a few weeks or months later. 

If this has happened to you, you are not alone.  However, dry needling may help you recover so you can return to running without pain.  Statistics vary widely but approximately 30% to 75% of all runners experience some type of an orthopedic injury annually and the good news is that dry needling may help some of those injuries heal! 

What about other athletes? 

Many athletes suffer from irritating, chronic injuries that they “play through”. We know no one wants to lose time in the gym, on the court, or on the field.  That’s where dry needling can play a roll in decreasing the timeline of the rehab process. Especially as an addition to physical therapy stretches, exercises, and other treatments. 

Ask your provider at Optimal Sports Physical Therapy for more information on dry needling!