You stretch. You rub. You use heat, ice, even that massage gun everyone swears by, but the ache keeps coming back. If you’ve got a knot that never quite lets go, you might be dealing with a trigger point. And no, it’s not just a tight muscle; it’s a trigger point that keeps sending pain signals until it’s properly addressed.
Trigger points are hypersensitive spots in muscle tissue caused by either chronic overuse or sudden strain. Imagine turning too quickly to grab something or spending hours a day with your shoulders hunched at a desk. Tension builds, blood supply drops (which causes pain), the muscle fibres tightens, the brain tells the muscle to tighten more (to try protect it), but this causes more tightness and reduced blood supply which causes more pain, called the myofascial pain cycle. The result? A nagging discomfort that can even extend into your neck, head, back, or legs.
How Dry Needling Helps Break the Cycle
Dry needling offers a direct approach to easing trigger point pain. It uses a thin, acupuncture-style needle to stimulate blood flow right where your muscles need it. Once the needle hits the trigger point, you might feel a twitch; that’s actually a good thing. It means we’ve found the source of the problem, and your body’s starting to reset the pain cycle.
The procedure is short (just two to five minutes), and many people find it less intense than a deep tissue massage. You might feel a little sore afterwards, but relief often follows within 24-48 hours.
Who It Helps—and When to Book In
Dry needling works well for a range of problems: neck tension, headaches, shoulder pain, tennis elbow, hip discomfort, and more. Whether your pain is recent or something you’ve been managing for months, it could help reduce discomfort and support recovery.
And no, you don’t have to be an athlete. Anyone dealing with muscle tension or referral pain may benefit.
Your Relief Starts Here
Why put up with pain when we offer a natural way to address your discomfort. Give our practice a call today to schedule an assessment; we’ll help you figure out what’s going on and how we might help.