Dry Needling Treatments in Saskatoon

What is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a technique used by physiotherapists to treat musculoskeletal pain and improve function. It involves inserting thin, solid needles into specific trigger points or tight bands of muscle to decrease tension, reduce pain, and enhance blood flow. Unlike acupuncture, which is based on traditional Chinese medicine, dry needling targets specific muscle areas and aims to alleviate pain and restore movement by addressing neuromuscular and myofascial dysfunctions.

What kind of conditions are treated with Dry Needling?

Dry Needling can be a helpful addition to a treatment plan for many conditions that involve increased muscle tone or tension. Dry Needling may be a helpful addition to your treatment if you deal with any of the following:

  • Cervicogenic headaches

  • Neck Pain + Stiffness

  • Whiplash

  • Shoulder or Rotator Cuff Tendinitis

  • Tennis Elbow/Golfer’s Elbow

  • Chronic Back Pain + Stiffness

  • Chronic Hip Pain + Stiffness

  • Certain types of sciatic pain

  • Knee tendinitis

  • Achilles tendinitis

  • Calf Pain/Stiffness

Is Dry Needling a stand alone treatment?

No, while dry needling can be helpful in reducing muscle pain and stiffness in the short-medium term, it is important to address the root causes of your pain and dysfunction. At Vigour Physiotherapy you will always be provided with education and a home exercise program to improve the underlying issues causing your increased muscle tension over the long-term. 

Is Dry Needling Painful?

Now this is very subjective. Some patients do find Dry Needling to be quite uncomfortable while others are perfectly fine with it. Factors such as fear of needles, high stress and anxiety, and sensitivity of the area to be treated can all influence how pain is perceived during treatment. The provider is able to be more or less aggressive with technique and how many areas are treated depending on the comfort and pain levels of the patient. While the majority of patients tolerate this treatment well, if someone is not tolerating it well we will stop and provide other treatment options.