Dry Needling Edmonton South, Ellerslie & Century Park

Dry Needling and How It Works

Functional dry needling (sometimes referred to as intramuscular stimulation or IMS) is a modern, science-based treatment that deals with musculoskeletal conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in your body. When your tissue is damaged, inflamed, or irritated, the nearby muscles tend to contract (this causes restriction of blood flow to the area).

The treatment works through inserting sterile needles into the painful knots in your muscles, tendons, ligaments, or near nerves. This, in turn, stimulates a healing response in painful musculoskeletal conditions. When the treatment is applied to a trigger point or dysfunctional muscles, it can reduce banding and tightness in your body. Dry needling increases blood flow and facilitates local and referred pain, while also treating and restoring function in your muscle tissue and helping to achieve a pain-free range of motion.

What Should I Expect From This Powerful Treatment Technique?

During your first session, your practitioner will review your medical history intensively and do a physical examination to determine if you will benefit from the individualized treatment. Your practitioner will then explain the process in detail and ensure that you will be receptive to the treatment.

A typical dry needling session takes around 10 to 15 minutes, but your appointment can last up to 45 minutes since dry needling is often incorporated as part of an overall physiotherapy treatment.