Dry Needling in Portland, Maine
Whether referred to as dry needling or sports acupuncture, orthopedic sessions are geared toward individuals looking to treat acute, chronic, or complex musculoskeletal injuries. Dry needling works through the two main functions of enhancing circulation and modulating muscle tone and integrity by needling anatomically specific trigger points. Medical research has shown the benefits of sports acupuncture and dry needling for musculoskeletal injuries are pain relief, increased circulation, improved range of motion, reduced muscle tension, improved muscle function and conditioning, and faster recovery from injuries. Learn More.
Dry Needling For Pain & Injury
When muscle tissues harden, and knots accumulate from injury and overuse, the knotted muscle fibers act like rocks and debris in a river, blocking optimal circulation from moving through an area. Lack of good circulation starves the muscles and tendons downstream from the nourishment they need. This type of pattern can turn into conditions like Carpel Tunnel or even Raynaud's syndrome if left untreated for an extended period of time. The good news is acupuncture is highly effective at addressing muscle knots and tissue changes by softening and lengthening muscle fibers and enhancing blood flow.
What To Expect During Your Dry Needling Session
During a dry needling session, acupuncture and bodywork techniques are used to unwind tight, knotted muscle fibers and increase blood flow through areas of injury. Healthy blood flow allows damaged tissues to eliminate waste and receive nutrients faster to support healing and improve overall physical strength and function. Optimal circulation is vital for healing muscle and joint injuries, as well as preventing injuries and enhancing athletic performance. Dry needling is accompanied by therapeutic massage to evaluate underlying tissue and promote blood flow to enhance the effects of acupuncture further.
Why Dry Needling Is Effective For Sports Injuries
Improve Mobility
Flexibility is essential for athletes looking to perform their best and reduce the risk of injury. Dry needling and sports acupuncture release muscle tension, increase circulation, and enhance mobility. Regular sessions support long-term muscle health, balance, agility, and overall athletic performance, keeping you strong, limber, and ready for peak performance.
Enhance Circulation
Dry needling and sports acupuncture boosts blood flow to targeted muscles. Increased circulation delivers essential oxygen and nutrients for repairing damaged tissue while also flushing out metabolic waste to speed recovery, prevent soreness, and promote faster post-workout recovery. Regular dry needling treatments can keep your muscles in peak condition.
Faster Recovery From Strains
Muscle strains and injuries are common in high-impact sports like running, tennis, and rock climbing. Dry needling and sports acupuncture promote faster healing by relieving muscle tightness, improving range of motion, enhancing circulation to damaged tissues, and reducing inflammation. Dry needling treatments help athletes get back to training sooner.
Injury Prevention
Optimize your athletic performance and prevent injuries with dry needling and sports acupuncture. By addressing muscle imbalances and relieving tension, dry needling helps reduce the risk of overuse injuries, keeping your muscles strong and resilient. Many athletes use dry needling as part of their regular recovery and maintenance routine to stay performing their best.
Effective Pain Relief
Overuse injuries such as tendonitis, heel pain, or runner’s knee are common in athletes and active individuals. Dry needling and sports acupuncture directly target painful areas by releasing muscle knots, increasing blood flow, enhancing mobility, and reducing inflammation. Acupuncture helps regulate pain sensitivity, relieving acute and chronic discomfort.
Tailored To Your Sport
Point Acupuncture specializes in dry needling and sports acupuncture to create personalized treatment plans tailored to your sport and specific injuries. Whether you're recovering from a hamstring strain, managing chronic shoulder pain, or looking to optimize muscle function, we target key muscles and trigger points to enhance your performance and accelerate recovery.
Your First Dry Needling Session
Your first session begins with an in-depth medical consultation outlining treatment goals and a treatment plan before delving into acupuncture and bodywork. After discussion, therapeutic massage and palpation (diagnostic touch) may be used to assess further the root and branch cause(s) of injury. Palpating helps diagnose primary and secondary trigger points or tender spots, usually areas of tightness where muscle fibers are knotted and condensed. Targeting trigger points with acupuncture increases circulation, lengthens tight muscle fibers, and increases mobility. Depending on the injury, dry needling may be performed locally and distally and is generally accompanied by therapeutic massage, cupping therapy, moxibustion, or manual traction to increase circulation, soften muscle tone, and improve mobility.
Follow-Up Dry Needling Session
For existing patients, dry needling treatments begin with a review of symptom changes from your previous session. How your injury shifts after each session is helpful diagnostic information that continues to inform treatment strategy moving forward. Discussion is often brief in order to dedicate as much time as possible to physical treatment on the table. If you are currently taking herbs, your formula may be modified based on the discussed symptom changes.