Dry needling

Dry Needling Services in Northern Kentucky

Dr. Stephan is certified in dry needling by the Dry Needling Institute. He can recommend dry needling along with chiropractic, to create a custom plan for treating your pain. Dry needling is emerging as a new way of treating pain without the use of opioids, NSAID medications or surgeries.

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Hebron: (859) 586-9777
Covington: (859) 291-0333

What is dry needling?

Dry needling is a treatment used to stimulate painful muscles and trigger points, especially ones that are not manually palpable. We insert very small, thin needles into the skin to stimulate the tissue. The needles are similar to acupuncture needles, except with dry needling, the needle goes into the muscle experiencing pain, rather than the body’s meridian or energy points.

The purpose of using the needles is to find the tight muscle point where the pain is coming from and relax that muscle to relieve the pain. This helps to increase your range of motion.

Dry needling is typically just one technique that’s part of a larger treatment plan—it’s a great complementary tool to chiropractic or laser therapy.

What is dry needling used for?

  • Muscle pain
  • Sports injuries
  • Neck and shoulder pain
  • Headaches
  • Sciatica

What are the benefits?

  • Reduces muscle tension
  • Increases movement
  • Improves flexibility
  • Minimal to no side effects

Does dry needling hurt?

The short answer is, you may experience some mild discomfort. Dry needling typically is not more painful than the pain you are already experiencing! However, most patients feel a cramp, prick or twitch when the needles are inserted. They are extremely thin needles, but because they are going into a sore muscle and the doctor is trying to locate the exact point where the pain is coming from, you may experience some mild discomfort.

When can I expect results?

You most likely will feel pain relief immediately following the first treatment. Sometimes, several treatments are needed to achieve optimal relief.