If you're looking for a safe and effective way to alleviate your discomfort, Primal Physical Therapy offers expert dry needling in Philadelphia, PA. Whether you're dealing with chronic pain or muscle tension, dry needling provides fast and long-lasting relief, allowing you to return to doing what you love without worrying about discomfort holding you back.
So, if you want to learn more about our dry needling service or want to schedule a session, contact us today!
What is Dry Needling in Philadelphia, PA?
Dry needling is a technique that targets muscle tissue to produce a reset in the muscle and nervous system, ultimately reducing pain and improving movement. This treatment involves using thin, solid filament needles to penetrate the skin and stimulate muscle trigger points.
In some cases, Dr. JJ Thomas or Dr. Eric Abramowitz may leave the needles in place and use electrical stimulation to enhance muscle recruitment, recovery, performance, and healing of muscle tissue. Alternatively, the needles can be moved to elicit a Local Twitch Response in the muscle, alleviating pain and restoring function.
Differences Between Dry Needling and Acupuncture
While both a licensed acupuncturist and dry needling expert use needles without injectates, there are essential differences between the two treatments:
- Dry needling focuses solely on treating issues within the Neuromusculoskeletal system, such as movement disruptions or pain associated with limitations in the bones, muscles, nerves, or joints.
- Acupuncture is a broader technique that can treat a wider range of issues and systems in the body.
However, it's important to note that physical therapists who use dry needling are experts in the musculoskeletal system and are specially trained to identify and treat pain related to musculoskeletal causes.
Benefits of Dry Needling for Pain Relief
In addition to being known as an effective way to eliminate scar tissue and other skin conditions, laser treatment provides significant relief to any of these injuries:
Dry needling is a safe and effective treatment option that offers the following benefits:
- Relieves muscle tension and spasms, reducing pain and discomfort.
- Improves flexibility and range of motion, allowing for greater movement and function.
- Enhances blood flow and oxygenation to the muscles, promoting healing and recovery.
- Stimulates the nervous system to allow better muscle activation and pain reduction.
- Can be used for a variety of pain management solution, including back pain, neck pain, leg pain, heel pain, headaches, and sports injuries.
How Does Dry Needling Work?
The Evaluation Process
Before starting the dry needling treatment, our physical therapists follow a comprehensive evaluation process to determine the best course of treatment:
- Step 1: Determine if the pain results from a musculoskeletal issue and screen for non-musculoskeletal causes of pain.
- Step 2: Evaluate the patient's movement and identify a muscle, group of muscles, nerve, or movement pattern contributing to the patient's pain and mobility deficit.
- Step 3: Analyze an active and passive range of motion and perform special tests to pinpoint potential contributors to the patient's pain.
- Step 4: Palpate the patient's muscles to identify trigger points in the muscle tissue, addressing the patient's limitations and providing relief.
Treatment Process
During a dry needling session, Dr. Thomas or Dr. Abramowitz will evaluate your musculoskeletal system to determine which muscles, joints, bones, and nerves might contribute to your pain. Then, treatment points will be chosen based on the entire evaluation, including listening to your story and determining the root cause of your pain.
After identifying the treatment points, we will locate specific areas in your connective tissue to help address your limitations and relieve your pain. Oftentimes, we will treat myofascial trigger point pain in your muscle tissue to release tension and promote relaxation, which can reduce pain and improve function.
In some cases, we may choose to treat based on a nerve pathway, stimulating your muscles along specific nerve paths to provide relief. Research has shown that stimulating the muscles along specific nerve paths can be more effective than relying on the twitch response.
The Role of Exercises
Since dry needling is a reset to the musculoskeletal, it's most effective when used with exercises to reeducate the body on how to utilize and integrate the "new" movement once it's restored.
Why Choose Primal Physical Therapy for Dry Needling
Primal Physical Therapy is the go-to practice for dry needling for the following reasons:
- Highly skilled and experienced physical therapists: Both Dr. Thomas and Dr. Abramowitz are recognized experts in their field, having trained other clinicians such as medical doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists, and athletic trainers.
- Personalized treatments: We use cutting-edge technology and techniques to provide customized treatments tailored to each patient's specific needs.
- Comprehensive treatment plans: Our team works closely with patients to develop a comprehensive treatment plan incorporating dry needling and other techniques and exercises.
- Empowering patients: In addition to handling a dry needling master class program, we provide each of our patients with the knowledge and tools they need to maintain their progress even after leaving our clinic.
Meet Our Experienced Physical Therapists
Dr. JJ Thomas, DPT, CMTPT, FDNS
PHYSICAL THERAPIST
Equipped with over two decades of experience, Dr. JJ Thomas brings a unique blend of passion, experience, and knowledge to Primal Physical Therapy. A graduate of the nationally renowned University of Delaware, Dr. Thomas not only practices but also instructs and inspires others in physical therapy. Her specialties span from dry needling to specialized movement analysis, making her a valuable contributor to our team.
Dr. Eric Abramowitz, DPT, FDNS
PHYSICAL THERAPIST
Dr. Eric Abramowitz discovered his love for physical therapy through personal experiences in athletics and high-quality care. An alumnus of the University of Delaware, Dr. Abramowitz is a force to be reckoned with. His achievements include certifications in Dry Needling, Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA), and other techniques, reflecting his commitment to results-driven care.
Dr. Jessica Calderón, DPT
PHYSICAL THERAPIST
Hailing from Northeastern University, Doctor Jessica Calderón brings her extensive expertise to Primal Physical Therapy. Her experiences at top-ranked U.S. physical therapy institutions, participation in the Boston Marathon Medical Team, and research contributions set her apart. Under the mentorship of Dr. JJ Thomas and Dr. Eric Abramowitz, Dr. Calderón continues to evolve in her practice.
Joe Dawson, MPT
PHYSICAL THERAPIST
Joe Dawson's educational blend of Psychology and Physical Therapy offers a unique approach to treatment. His connection of the mind and body and advanced training in areas like osteopathic manual therapy and dry needling ensure patients achieve their highest potential for movement, performance, and recovery.
Dr. Chelsea Turgeon PT, DPT
PHYSICAL THERAPIST
Dr. Chelsea Turgeon is passionate about helping people stay mobile and functional. A Lynchburg College graduate with a decade of experience, Dr. Chelsea is an expert in treating concussions, vestibular therapy, and functional dry needling. She has a special interest in sports and has recently become a Certified Running Gait Analyst, enhancing our service offerings at Primal Physical Therapy.
Experience Effective Pain Relief with Primal Physical Therapy's Dry Needling Now!
Dry needling is a proven technique that can effectively relieve pain associated with musculoskeletal issues. At Primal Physical Therapy, our expert physical therapists use dry needling as an adjunct to other treatments within a physical therapy session to accelerate healing and reduce recovery time. Dr. Thomas or Dr. Abramowitz always deliver positive results and have trained other clinicians, including medical doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists, and athletic trainers.
Don't let pain hold you back from doing what you love. Contact us today to schedule your dry needling session!
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