Dry Needling
Targeted Treatment for Trigger Points, Muscle Pain & Tightness
Dry needling is one of the tools we use at Trademark Chiropractic to treat painful or irritable areas of muscle that may be contributing to pain, tightness or limited movement.
Our approach is simple: we don’t dry needle every sore muscle. We use it when our examination identifies a myofascial trigger point that reproduces your symptoms or creates a recognizable referred pain pattern.
Dry needling is commonly used alongside chiropractic adjustments and other treatment techniques, but for certain patients it may also be the primary procedure used during a visit.
Serving athletes, active adults and weekend warriors in Edmond and North Oklahoma City.
What is Dry needling
Dry needling is a treatment technique that uses a thin, solid filiform needle inserted into targeted muscle tissue. Unlike an injection, nothing is delivered through the needle.
At Trademark Chiropractic, we primarily use trigger-point dry needling. The goal is to identify an irritable area within a muscle that reproduces familiar pain or referred symptoms and precisely treat that area.
During treatment, the needle may produce a brief involuntary contraction called a local twitch response. Patients will sometimes describe this as the muscle “jumping.”
Dry needling may help reduce pain and muscle tension and create an opportunity for more comfortable movement afterward.
What is a Trigger point
A myofascial trigger point is a sensitive area within muscle tissue that may be painful locally or refer pain somewhere else.
That referral pattern matters.
For example, the place you feel pain isn't always the only area contributing to the problem. During your examination, we palpate the involved muscles and look for areas that reproduce the symptoms you recognize.
We don't choose where to needle based solely on where something feels tight. The treatment is based on your history, examination and how your symptoms respond during assessment.
How We use dry needling at Trademark chiropractic
Dry needling is rarely an isolated decision.
Before treatment, we first want to understand why that area is bothering you and how it is affecting movement.
Depending on your presentation, your visit may include:
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Movement and orthopedic assessment
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Trigger-point dry needling
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Stretching or mobility work
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Taping
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Exercise or movement recommendations
We commonly pair dry needling with a chiropractic adjustment when appropriate.
The purpose isn't simply to make a muscle feel different for a few minutes. We want to use that change as an opportunity to improve movement, decrease symptoms and help you get back to the activities that matter to you.
Common Areas We Dry Needle
Some of the areas we most commonly treat with dry needling include:
Upper Trapezius & Neck
Trigger points around the upper trapezius and cervical region may contribute to local neck discomfort, shoulder tension and referred symptoms.
Shoulder & Deltoid
Dry needling may be incorporated into treatment for active adults experiencing shoulder pain, tightness or limitations with lifting and overhead movement.
Rotator Cuff
The muscles surrounding the shoulder can develop painful trigger points, particularly in lifters, throwing athletes and people performing repetitive upper-body activities.
Low Back
Dry needling may be used as part of an individualized treatment plan when muscular trigger points are contributing to low-back discomfort or restricted movement.
Calves
Calf trigger points are common in runners, athletes and active adults. Treatment may be used when localized muscular pain or tightness is interfering with training or movement.
The area that hurts is not automatically the area we needle. Treatment is determined by your examination and the muscles reproducing your symptoms.
Dry Needling For Athletes and Weekend Warriors
A large percentage of the patients we dry needle are athletes, lifters, runners or weekend warriors who want to continue training.
Hard training places repeated demands on muscles and joints. Sometimes an irritated muscle or trigger point becomes one piece of a larger movement problem.
Dry needling can be useful when we need a targeted treatment option for a stubborn muscular area while continuing to address joint motion, movement capacity and the demands of your sport or activity.
The goal isn't simply to make you feel loose.
The goal is to help you get back to moving, training and performing.
What Does Dry Needling Feel like
The needle itself is very thin, and many people barely notice its initial insertion.
When a trigger point is contacted, you may experience a brief twitch, cramp-like sensation or reproduction of familiar discomfort.
Because we use a traditional pistoning technique, the needle is moved within the targeted area rather than simply being inserted and left in place.
Afterward, some patients feel an immediate reduction in muscle tension or discomfort. Others experience temporary soreness similar to what you might feel after a difficult workout.
Responses vary from person to person.
Does Dry Needling release trigger points
Patients often hear us describe dry needling as attempting to release a trigger point.
Clinically, that means we are targeting an irritable muscular area with the goal of decreasing its sensitivity, pain and muscle tension.
A local twitch response may occur during treatment, and research suggests this may be associated with immediate pain reduction in some patients. However, a twitch response is not a guarantee of success and is not the only proposed mechanism behind dry needling.
We judge whether the treatment was useful by something more important:
How do you feel and move afterward?
Whenever possible, we reassess the painful movement, range of motion or activity that brought you in after treatment.
Is dry needling the same as acupuncture
No. While dry needling and acupuncture may use similar thin filiform needles, the clinical approach and reasoning behind the treatments are different.
At Trademark Chiropractic, dry needling is performed from a musculoskeletal perspective. Treatment locations are selected based on your history, examination, muscle function, trigger points and symptom patterns.
Our doctors do not practice acupuncture.
What does the research say about dry needling
Research on dry needling continues to evolve.
Systematic reviews have found that trigger-point needling may improve pain and function for some patients with myofascial pain, particularly in the short term. Research also suggests dry needling may have a role as an adjunct to exercise or other musculoskeletal care in selected patients.
Results vary depending on the condition, treatment technique and individual patient.
That is why we don't view dry needling as a cure-all.
At Trademark Chiropractic, it is one treatment option used when your examination suggests it may help move your care forward.
Is Dry Needling Safe
Dry needling is an invasive procedure and should be performed by a properly trained healthcare professional.
The most common reactions are minor and temporary, including:
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Post-treatment soreness
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Minor bleeding
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Bruising
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Temporary tenderness around the treated muscle
Rare but more serious complications are possible, which is why anatomy, proper technique, patient screening and informed consent are important.
Both Dr. Taylor Baird and Dr. Melanie Baird have completed Dry Needling Pro training and certification. Dry needling treatments at Trademark Chiropractic are currently performed by Dr. Taylor Baird, D.C.
How Much does Dry needling cost
When dry needling is clinically appropriate during a regular chiropractic treatment visit, there is no additional dry needling fee.
Our standard chiropractic treatment visit is $50, and dry needling may be incorporated into that appointment along with other appropriate treatment.
For patients who want dry needling without a chiropractic adjustment, standalone dry needling is available for:
$25 per area treated
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be a chiropractic patient to get dry needling?
No. Dry needling may be used as a standalone treatment when appropriate. We still need to evaluate the area and determine whether dry needling is a reasonable option for your presentation.
How many dry needling treatments will I need?
There isn't a universal number. Some people respond quickly, while others may need multiple treatments or benefit more from another approach. We reassess your response rather than automatically prescribing a predetermined number of sessions.
Can I work out after dry needling?
Many patients can continue normal activity after treatment, although temporary muscle soreness can occur. Your doctor may recommend modifying training depending on the area treated and the reason you're receiving care.
Does dry needling hurt?
It can be uncomfortable briefly, particularly when the needle contacts a sensitive trigger point. The sensation is usually short-lived and may feel like a twitch, cramp or deep ache.
Is soreness normal afterward?
Yes. Temporary soreness around the treated muscle is relatively common and often feels similar to post-workout soreness.
Can dry needling help shoulder or neck pain?
Dry needling may be considered when the examination identifies muscular trigger points contributing to the patient's symptoms. We commonly treat the upper trapezius, neck, deltoid and rotator-cuff muscles when clinically appropriate.
Can dry needling help athletes?
It can be one useful treatment option for athletes when a painful or irritable muscular trigger point is affecting training or movement. It is typically used alongside a broader plan addressing the joints, movement patterns and demands of the athlete's activity.
Dry Needling in Edmond, Oklahoma
If muscle pain, tightness or a stubborn trigger point is keeping you from training or doing the things you enjoy, dry needling may be one treatment option worth considering.
Trademark Chiropractic provides individualized dry needling and chiropractic care for athletes, active adults and weekend warriors throughout Edmond and North Oklahoma City.
We'll assess the problem first, determine whether dry needling makes sense for you, treat when appropriate, and reassess how your body responds.
No cookie-cutter treatment plans. No needling muscles just because they're tight.
Treatment should have a reason.