Does Dry Needling Help Piriformis Syndrome?

Are you struggling with piriformis syndrome and wondering if dry needling can help? A study revealed that patients who received 3 sessions of ultrasound-guided dry needling experienced significant relief from their pain symptoms.

Dry needling is a technique in which a trained provider inserts very fine, sterile needles into a trigger point on your body. The needles cause your muscle to contract and then relax.

What is Trigger Point Therapy?

Trigger points, also referred to as muscle knots, are tense areas or tightness within muscles that can cause pain. These can be caused by injury, overuse or underuse of your muscles, and poor posture.

Tight muscles can limit your range of motion, making it harder to perform everyday tasks. Furthermore, it depletes energy as your body has to work harder to compensate for the tightness.

Trigger points are tender lumps under your skin that have spasmed or tightened in certain muscles. While they may feel like tender lumps under the skin, their size makes them difficult to locate since they are so small and snug.

Trigger points can be treated with massage, dry needling and other techniques. During a session, the therapist will locate and release trigger points before applying pressure for 20-30 seconds on the affected area. They may repeat this procedure several times until pain subsides.

Trigger Point Therapy for Piriformis Syndrome

Dry needling is a therapeutic technique used to break up patterns of tightness in muscles and soft tissue that could be placing pressure on nerve tissues. It often works in combination with other therapies like physical therapy, stretching exercises, and massage for maximum benefit.

Trigger points are painful areas in your muscles caused by tightness that restricts blood flow and oxygen to certain parts of the body. They occur when muscles do not get enough blood flow or oxygen needed for proper function.

Piriformis syndrome can lead to trigger points in the piriformis muscle, causing pain or numbness in the buttock area and down the back of their leg. These trigger points have also been known to cause pelvic pain, hip mobility issues, and sexual dysfunction in some individuals.

Ultrasound-guided dry needling is a type of trigger point therapy that uses ultrasound to pinpoint the precise location of a trigger point. The procedure involves administering medication into this trigger point with a thin needle, relieving tension and pain at its source.

Trigger Point Therapy for Sciatica

Sciatica can be a life-altering experience for many individuals. It is typically caused by herniated discs and spinal stenosis, but may also be caused by pressure on the spine due to age, obesity or jobs requiring heavy lifting.

Trigger point therapy can be very useful in relieving muscle knots or trigger points that cause intense pain and inflammation. By relieving tension in these tight places, trigger point therapy helps to release tension and reduce the associated discomfort.

Our physical therapists possess advanced training in trigger point therapy and will help you determine which treatment method is most beneficial for your condition. Generally, the most successful treatments involve a combination of dry needling and other therapies.

At our office, we use dry needling to treat myofascial trigger points that are causing you pain and discomfort associated with sciatica. Once the needles are inserted, blood flow increases to these areas and releases or relaxes the trigger points causing pain; allowing you to return to a more normal life again.

Trigger Point Therapy for Back Pain

There are various trigger point therapies used to relieve back pain and sciatica. These include massage, physical therapy and dry needling.

Trigger points are tight muscles that can cause pain and restricted movement. They may develop as a result of repetitive strain, injury or trauma to the affected region.

Pressing a trigger point causes that area to become tender, making it difficult to move or perform activities which would usually come naturally for you.

Trigger point therapy can help relieve pain and increase mobility. It’s a safe, effective technique that you can do from home with minimal equipment.

At a trigger point session, your therapist will conduct physical examinations and tests to pinpoint the source of your discomfort. These may include structural evaluation or muscle strength assessment.

If you’re interested in learning more about how trigger point therapy can help you, contact us today to schedule an appointment with our team of specialists.