Dry needling is a procedure performed by your Doctor of Physical Therapy that can help significantly with pain, tightness, nerve entrapment, and circulation. Dry needling is also called trigger point dry needling or myofascial trigger point dry needling.

Muscles sometimes develop knotted areas called trigger points that cause pain and inflammation. These trigger points are highly sensitive and can be painful when touched. They are also often the cause of referred pain (or pain that affects another part of the body).

Pain and dysfunction can also be caused by nerve entrapment. Solid needles are pushed through the skin into trigger points and nerve distribution areas to stimulate the tissue, break up the trigger point, and improve nerve/blood flow. No medications are used during the procedure – hence: dry needling.

A patient may experience different sensations when being needled. Muscle soreness, aching and a muscle twitch when a needle is inserted is considered to be a good sign. The needles may be placed deeply or superficially, for shorter or longer periods of time, depending on what type of pain is being treated and how long it has lasted.

Jillian Whited, PT, DPT, CDN

Licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy

Jillian is a board-certified and licensed Physical Therapist and serves as Orthocollier's Head of Rehabilitation. She completed her bachelor’s degree in exercise science at The University of Akron and Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at the Univeristy of Colorado. She is certified in dry needling and has expertise in manual therapy and performance enhancement. 

She is passionate about getting people back to pain-free living to enjoy the activities they love through evidence-based techniques.