Physical Therapy Services

Trigger Point Dry Needling (TDN)

The goal of Trigger Point Dry Needling is to release the tight areas in the muscle, allowing the muscle to lengthen, remove the source of nerve irritation, promote healing by creating a local inflammation which is necessary to produce healing and decrease spontaneous electrical activity in the muscle.

Trigger Point Dry Needling (or TPDN, also referred to as intramuscular stimulation [IMS]) is a treatment for muscular tightness and spasms that can be performed by a physical therapist using acupuncture needles. The needle is inserted into the muscle, targeting a myofascial trigger point. Needling of the trigger point will cause a local "twitch response", which is an involuntary spinal cord reflex where the fibers in the tight band of muscle contract.

Myofascial trigger points are defined as hyperirritable spots in skeletal muscle that are associated with a hypersensitive palpable nodule in a taut band of tissue surrounding the muscle. These localized areas of deep tenderness within the tight muscle band often refer pain, cause muscle shortening and limited range of motion, and compress and irritate nerves. When nerves are irritated, they cause a protective spasm of all the muscles in which they are connected.

Physical therapists around the world are using TPDN to effectively treat acute and chronic orthopedic and musculoskeletal conditions, and peripheral diagnosis such as:

carpel tunnel
tendonitis
osteoarthritis
limited mobility or range of motion
chronic pain
spinal dysfunction (acute and chronic)

Please note that Trigger Point Dry Needling is different from acupuncture. Acupuncture is based on Eastern metaphysical concepts and attempts to control the flow and balance of energy in the body. TPDN, while using acupuncture needles, is based on scientific neurophysiological and biomechanical principles.

Upon evaluation, our physical therapists trained in trigger point dry needling can determine if your particular condition would benefit from this treatment method. [For more information, please visit the Institute for the Study and Treatment of Pain.]

Locations Offered

Bellevue
1260 116th Ave NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
ph: (425) 450-9801
fax: (425) 450-9778
Issaquah
1660 NW Gilman Blvd
Issaquah, WA 98027
ph: (425) 391-9211
fax: (425) 391-9545
Sammamish Plateau
4550 Klahanie Drive SE
Issaquah, WA 98029
ph: (425) 391-2427
fax:
Snoqualmie Ridge
7726 Center Blvd SE
Snoqualmie, WA 98065
ph: (425) 396-7778
fax: (425) 396-7097