Physical therapists are movement experts who improve quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education. Physical therapists diagnose and treat individuals of all ages, from newborns to people at the end of life. Many patients have injuries, disabilities, or other health conditions that need treatment. Physical therapists also care for people who simply want to become healthier and prevent future problems. Physical therapists examine each person and then develop a treatment plan to improve their ability to move, reduce or manage pain, restore function, and prevent disability. Physical therapists can have a profound effect on people's lives. They help people achieve fitness goals, regain or maintain their independence, and lead active lives. -apta.org

During an evaluation I examine your Range of Motion, strength, flexibility, joint mobility, posture, alignment, and movement patterns. The evaluation focuses on pinpointing the underlying cause of your pain/concern. From there, a treatment plan is created to address the root of your problem and help you achieve your goals.

Dry needling is a technique physical therapists use for the treatment of pain and movement impairments. The technique uses a "dry" needle, one without medication or injection, inserted through the skin into areas of the muscle. Other terms commonly used to describe dry needling include trigger point dry needling, and intramuscular manual therapy. Dry needling is not acupuncture, a practice based on traditional Chinese medicine and performed by acupuncturists. Dry needling is a part of modern Western medicine principles and supported by research. 

​

A trigger point is a taut band of skeletal muscle located wtihin a larger muscle group. Trigger points can be tender to the touch, and touching a trigger point may cause pain to other parts of the body.

​

Dry needling involves a thin filiform needle that penetrates the skin and stimulates underlying myofascial trigger points and muscular connective tissues. The needle allows a physical therapist to target tissues that are not manually palpable.

​

Physical therapists use dry needling to release or inactivate trigger points to relieve pain or improve range of motion. Preliminary research supports that dry needling improves pain control, reduces muscle tension, and normalizes dysfunction of the motor end plates, the sites at which nerve impulses are transmitted to muslces. This can help speed up the patient's return to active rehabilitation.  -choosept.com