HENDERSONVILLE (615) 826-7889 | PORTLAND (615) 323-0130
HENDERSONVILLE (615) 826-7889 | PORTLAND (615) 323-0130
If you’re dealing with persistent muscle pain, tightness, or trigger points that don’t respond to stretching or strengthening alone, dry needling therapy may be the next step. At Abrahamson Chiropractic & Wellness, we often combine dry needling with electrical stimulation (stim) for a more targeted and effective treatment.
Trigger points are tight knots that form in muscle tissue. They’re uncomfortable on their own, but they can also refer pain to other parts of the body through neural pathways — which is why the spot that hurts isn’t always the spot that needs treatment.
During dry needling therapy, thin needles are inserted directly into these trigger points. When the needle reaches the knot, the tense muscle tissue releases, and the pain response shuts down. The needles are extremely small and superficial — most patients feel a tingling sensation, not pain.
This is not acupuncture. While the tools look similar, the approach is different. Acupuncture is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine and addresses the body through meridian pathways. Dry needling is a Western technique that specifically targets myofascial trigger points and neuromuscular complaints.
At Abrahamson Chiropractic & Wellness, we frequently pair dry needling with electrical stimulation by connecting stim directly to the needles while they’re in the trigger points. This allows the electrical impulses to reach the muscle tissue more precisely than surface electrode pads alone.
As the electricity causes the muscle to contract and relax, the body releases endorphins — its natural pain-relieving response. The repeated contraction also increases blood flow to the area and helps strengthen weakened or injured muscles and ligaments.
This combination approach is one of the things that makes our dry needling therapy more effective than needling on its own.
Back pain · Headaches · Neck pain and stiffness · Tendinitis · Pelvic pain · TMJ dysfunction · Repetitive motion injuries (carpal tunnel, etc.) · Sports injuries · Fibromyalgia · Nighttime muscle cramping · Chronic muscle stiffness that doesn’t improve with stretching
Research supports the effectiveness of dry needling for these types of conditions. A review of randomized controlled trials published in The Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy found that dry needling provided rapid pain relief in most cases, with patients continuing to report improvement four weeks into treatment.
The needles used in dry needling are extremely thin — similar to acupuncture needles. Most patients find the treatment comfortable, though you may feel a brief twitch response when the needle reaches a trigger point. That twitch is actually a good sign — it means the muscle is releasing.
All equipment is sterile and single-use. Dry needling is safe for most patients, though we may recommend alternative treatments if you’re pregnant, recovering from recent surgery, or on blood thinners.
“Love going to the chiropractor, he listens and strives to help me feel better. Love that he took the time to learn dry needling. It has helped me so much…”
Dry needling usually adds about 10–15 minutes to your visit. It can be done either before or after your chiropractic adjustment, depending on what feels best for you.
It’s typically added onto a regular chiropractic appointment rather than scheduled as a completely separate visit.
Because we often use electrical stimulation with the needles, the muscles can contract and feel like they’ve had a workout. It’s common to feel some soreness or fatigue the next day, similar to post-workout muscle soreness. This usually improves within a day or two, and most patients find the results well worth it once the temporary soreness fades.
Hendersonville: (615) 826-7889
Portland: (615) 323-0130
Hendersonville: (615) 826-7889
Portland: (615) 323-0130
Email Us: info@achirowellness.com
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165 Indian Lake Blvd, Suite 102, Hendersonville, TN 37075
(615) 826-7889
Mon–Thu: 9am–6pm | Fri: 9am–12pm | Sat: 9am–12pm
826 S Broadway, Portland, TN 37148
(615) 323-0130
Mon–Thu: 9am–6pm | Fri: 9am–12pm