What is dry needling?
Dry needling is the use of a thin, solid filament needle placed directly into a taut band of muscle or a trigger point. The needle is dry, meaning nothing is injected. What treats you is the mechanical effect of the needle in the tissue. A trigger point is a small contracted section of muscle that will not let go on its own. It refers pain to somewhere else, restricts the range of the joint it crosses, and sits far too deep for fingers or a foam roller to reach with any precision. The needle reaches it directly. As it enters the band, the muscle often produces a brief involuntary twitch, and that twitch is associated with the contracted fibers releasing, local blood flow changing, and the pain coming from that point settling down. Despite the shared tool, this is not acupuncture. The reasoning is anatomical and built on your physical examination, not on meridians. Dry needling requires specific certification to perform, and Dr. Tochi Egbuzie, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT holds it, alongside an AAOMPT fellowship in orthopedic manual physical therapy.
Needling is a way in, not a plan. Releasing a trigger point creates range and comfort that only lasts if the movement pattern that built the trigger point gets corrected in the same visit. Every appointment runs 45 to 60 minutes, one on one with your DPT, and the same person who examined you is the person holding the needle. Most patients feel a change after the first session, and typical plans run two to three visits a week for four to six weeks. Fittees is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna and Medicare, and for other insurance we provide a detailed superbill so you can file for out-of-network reimbursement. No referral is needed, because Texas is a direct access state.
