Woodstown Physical Therapy in Woodstown, NJ has many drug-free techniques to relieve tight, sore muscles, including dry needling. It’s called “dry needling” because the needles are made of a thin, solid, sterile filament that does not inject liquid into the muscle. Dry needling is also not acupuncture; it works by an entirely different method to relieve achy muscles. Here are three major ways dry needling relieves sore muscles:

1. Loosens Trigger Points

Trigger points are areas of hard, knotted, sore spots on muscles or fascia that build up from injury or overuse—like scar tissue on the muscle and other connective tissues. These trigger points can hinder muscle movements and make it hurt to move. Your physical therapist in Woodstown can insert thin, sterile needles into these trigger points and adjust them to “set off” the trigger in such a way that relaxes and loosens that tight, sore knot of tissue.

2. Allows Muscles to Relax

As those trigger points are loosened, the brain releases endorphins into your system naturally, easing pain and enabling the surrounding muscle tissue to relax. The muscle may spasm a little at first, but this usually happens as the trigger point lets go of its tightness. Once the muscle relaxes, it can start to heal.

3. Increases Circulation

Part of that healing is due to increased circulation stimulated by dry needling. Before the trigger point is released, that tight ball of tissue doesn’t get the blood flow it needs to heal or continue functioning normally. Once the dry needle relaxes that tight knot, fresh blood circulation can move through the area, providing healing resources to starved tissues.

Try Dry Needling at Woodstown Physical Therapy in Woodstown, NJ

Dry needling is a drug-free pain relief option that Woodstown Physical Therapy offers alongside many other therapies to heal injuries, restore full range of motion, improve flexibility, and regain strength. Schedule an appointment to get back on the road to pain-free living today.