Promotes Blood Flow
Trigger points cause tightness in muscles which can restrict blood flow and therefore oxygen delivery. This lack of oxygen can contribute to pain in the affected area. By using dry needling to deactivate trigger points in the muscle, we can reduce the barrier to blood flow and improve oxygenation.
Promotes Healing
By creating tiny injuries in a dysfunctional muscle with the use of a needle, the body responds with an inflammatory response in the area. This is a natural healing process that stimulates healing through collagen and protein formation and can help to restore a muscle’s normal function.
Reduces Pain
This can take many forms. In many cases, the deactivation of trigger points alone can reduce pain locally; however, by improving muscle extensibility can, in some cases, take the pressure off joints to reduce joint pain, or nerves to reduce radicular pain. Additionally, chemical changes within the muscle and associated nerves can block or influence the transmission of pain messages to the brain.
Improves Muscle Extensibility and Contractibility
Once again, the deactivation of trigger points is mostly to thank here! By releasing taut bands found within muscle, muscle spasms can be decreased, and an increased range of motion can be achieved. Improved joint mechanics and using the “twitch response” to our advantage can allow for improved recruitment and activation of appropriate muscles.