Have YOU been suffering from muscle tightness and/or muscular pain? If so dry needling may be the appropriate solution.
Dry Needling, otherwise known as Intramuscular stimulation (IMS) or trigger point dry needling (TDN), is a skilled intervention that helps decrease pain and increase function. Dry Needling should not be confused with acupuncture, which is based on the traditional theories of ancient Chinese medicine, as it is part of Western Medicine.
In order to perform dry needling, the therapist will use a very thin needle to penetrate the skin and stimulate myofascial trigger points, otherwise known as muscle knots, or the motor point (the most excitable area) of a muscle. When the needle is inserted into the trigger point/muscle it aids in the release of the shortened muscle through a local twitch response (reflexive spasm).
As the individual on the receiving end, you can expect to feel a dull – aching sensation, which is often referred to as “deqi”. Effective dry needling, requires the obtaining of “deqi” and a local twitch response. Physiotherapists use dry needling to release trigger points to restore efficient muscle contraction (decrease muscle tension), increase range of motion, and decrease pain (by releasing opiods – the body’s natural pain killers).
Dry needling has been proven to be effective and tolerable in a great majority of clients, especially for conditions such as low back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, tennis/golfers’ elbow, Achilles tendinitis, chronic pain as well as headaches and whiplash.
Stephanie Bourbeau is a Registered Physiotherapist and performs both Dry Needling and Acupuncture after completing courses with the Advanced Physical Therapy Education Institute. If you have any questions or want to give Dry Needling a try, Stephanie can be reached at 705-380-3312.
For more information or to book an appointment call 705-380-3312 or visit the website . Elevate Physiotherapyis located at 33 King William Street, Suite 204, in Huntsville. Office hours are flexible with evening appointments available (3x/week).
Stephanie is a bilingual, Registered Physiotherapist with the College of Physiotherapist of Ontario and the Canadian Physiotherapy Association who is committed to providing a hands on, personalized approach to physiotherapy.
Stephanie, a native to the Huntsville community, developed a passion for health and wellness during her youth while competing in cross-country running, nordic skiing, and track and field. Stephanie has always had a strong caring nature and fell in love with the physiotherapy profession while volunteering at a physiotherapy clinic during high school and university.
Stephanie continued to build on her passion for health care by attending McGill University and completing her Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology. During her Masters in Health Science of Physiotherapy, completed at the University of Ottawa, she completed internships in orthopaedic clinics, hospitals, home care, and neurology centres.
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