Dry Needling

Have you ever been told your muscle doesn’t “activate”? or you need to “fire” that muscle?

So you try this exercise. Then that exercise. But still nothing. The frustration sets in, the doubt, then more frustration. The same question runs through your mind, “How do I activate a damn muscle I cant feel!??”.

Have no fear! Neurofunctional acupuncture is here!

Neurofunctional acupuncture, also called medical acupuncture is a technique used to reconnect the mind muscle connection in a way you can feel.

A painless needle insertion technique is used to target the specific muscles that need to be activated. Once the desired muscle is reached electrostimulation is used on the needle. The twitch you feel is your muscles being “activated”.

Neurofunctional Acupuncture corrects the poorly “activating” muscles that are causing your compensation patterns. This technique is used with everyone from pre-teens to NHL veterans.

Do you want to know what it feels like to have fully activated muscles? Book now to feel the difference.

Here are two examples of Dr. Werner using neurofunctional acupuncture to activate muscles and restore the mind muscle connection.

Dry Needling FAQ

• What is Dry Needling?

  Neurofunctional acupuncture is also called Contemporary Medical Acupuncture. This is a technique taught by Dr. Alejandro Elorriaga Claraco MD, Sports Medicine Specialist through McMaster University.

  Contemporary Medical Acupuncture is mechanism-based, not disease-based system. Each treatment is designed around treating the cause of dysfunctions that result in the tightness, discomfort, pain with movement, and decreased performance.

• What if I don't like needles?

  Don’t worry you are not alone. I personally pass out any time someone tries to draw my blood, yet oddly enough I’m fine with acupuncture needles. This is coincidently the case with many patients. They come in fearing needles on their first visit and end up asking for more their next appointment. There’s also patients who tolerate the needles because of how good they feel following treatment. No matter if you are for or against needles we have treatment options to get you performing your best.

• Does Dry Needling hurt?

  Neurofunctional acupuncture feels more weird than it does anything else. More often than not people don’t even realize the when the needle is put in. Once the needle hits the target muscle there may be a twitch or slight ache that typically goes away. If it doesn’t then you let Doctor know and they can alter the depth or take it out all together. The key point to remember is that you are in control and communication is key if you get uncomfortable.

  You’ll experience the “weird” when the stim is added to the needle. Your muscles will twitch and jump, you’ll either laugh or let out a little scream in surprise and everything will be ok. If you have ever used a Dr. Ho’s or muscle stim you know the feeling.

  Occasionally there is spider web or sharp sensation, this is normal similar hitting your funny bone. When this happens the Doctor moves the needle slightly and the spider web or sharp sensation goes away. Again you are always in control.

  Typically there is a bit of soreness, much like DOM’s after a good workout in the following 48hrs. This is because muscles that haven’t “fired” had to work harder than they have in a while. The good news is you now know what those muscles feel like.

• What does Dry Needling do?

  Neurofunctional acupuncture will make you feel less pain, more stable, stronger and move smoother. Often time there’s a lighter than air. Feels brand new. Heck even feels better than my good side sensation.

  All because behind the scenes more muscle fibers are being recruited in unison. The nerves are sending better sensory signals back to the brain saying everything is safe, turn off the pain. And blood vessels to the area are suppling fresh nutrients and taking away all the stagnant waste.

• What does Dry Needling treat?

  Neurofunctional acupuncture treats anything that causes pain with movement, muscle tightness, weakness, and poor performance due to weak links in the kinetic chain.

  What about shoulder or hip impingement? patellar tendinitis? carpal tunnel syndrome? plantar fasciitis? rotator cuff tears? sprained ankles? etc.

  The answer is yes. But the resolution of these issues is a by product of treating the weak links or not “activated” muscles in the kinetic chain. A named condition only tells you where the pain or injury is. A name doesn’t indicate the underlying reason for your tennis elbow, only that you have pain on the outside of your elbow. So treatment in addition to working on the elbow, would include work on the wrist, shoulder, neck and upper back (given the appropriate exam findings) to ensure the forces acting on the elbow are better dispersed through out the chain.