Dry Needling vs. Acupuncture for Myofacial Trigger Point Pain Therapy

Dry Needling Joint Therapy Lower Back Pain Treatment

Dry Needling Myofacial Trigger Points Pain Therapy:

Dry Needling is a treatment used in physical therapy that involves using needles, often the same needles used by acupuncturists, to target specific points in the body that are associated with acute and chronic pain.

Acupuncture is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine, with a focus on restoring the distribution of “Qi” (the vital life force) in the body. Acupuncturists place needles along meridians in the body that are believed to influence chronic pain and disease. Dry Needling is based on Western science and knowledge of anatomy, with a focus on releasing palpable myofascial trigger points in the body.

Physical therapists who practice dry needling place needles in trigger points that often times reproduce the patient’s pain when pressure is applied to them. Dry Needling is systematic and requires certification to be performed by your physical therapist. Needle insertion increases blood flow locally in the tissue, creating a natural healing process to restore function.

Benefits of Dry Needling include but are not limited to:

Trigger points causes relaxation through disruption of the motor endplate.
Assists in pain control by blocking the neural pain pathways, per the Gate Control Theory.
Causes a local chemically mediated response through the release of proteins and neurotransmitters, which block the transmission of pain messages.

The importance of seeking a physical therapist to perform dry needling:

Releasing a trigger point is just one step on the pathway to recovery from pain.
After dry needling, they will instruct you in therapeutic exercise
Perform additional manual therapy techniques to restore functional movement and prevent the pain from coming back.
By choosing physical therapy to treat your pain and dysfunction, you will receive a multi-faceted approach that is paramount for long-term recovery.

Let us help you reduce and eliminate pain with our physical therapy programs, dry needling, and programs for long term health care success

Back Pain? Dry Needling Might Be the Answer!

Lower Back Pain Treatment Lower Back Therapy

Lowcountry Physical Therapy Associates

8-B Farmfield Avenue Charleston SC 29407

(843) 266-9200

Back Pain? Dry Needling Can
Eliminate Trigger Point Pain

Back pain is a result muscle injury or repetitive strain. Dry Needling therapy is one of the many types of treatment options used by Lowcountry Physical Therapist to treat and relieve pain.

Make an Appointment

or CALL : (843) 266-9200

About Dry Needling Success

Back Pain Dry Needling Therapy uses acupuncture needles and is called dry because no medication is injected. A small filament (needle) is inserted into the problem areas of muscle or myofascial tissue that is not responding to other treatment. The procedure of the needle create a lesion resulting in stimulation of blood flow and therefore healing of the affected area.

Acupuncture needles are used by trained physical therapists in the treatment of trigger points, myofascial pain, tendinopathies, and other musculoskeletal dysfunctions to help patients in the rehabilitation process. Click here for more info.

The Best Physical Therapy Care You Can Get

Best Patient
Comfort

Trust and safety form the basis of our approach - we greet each patient with the utmost esteem

High Profile
Physical Therapist

Our Certified Physical Therapy staff works with each patient for a personalized program.

Detailed
Therapy Programs

Our Therapy clinic customizes home therapy programs based upon our patient needs

First Rate
Treatments

We offer fair professional medical advice and the newest treatments at the highest standards

Our Physical Therapy Specialties

Back Pain Therapy
Shoulder Pain Therapy
Neck Pain Therapy

Rehabilitation Therapy
Home Therapy Exercise Program
Step Down Facility

Dry Needling
Proper Body Mechanics Education
No Physican Referral Required

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or CALL :(843) 266-9200

What Our Patients Have to Say

Shane Melaugh

I've been going to LPT for the last few weeks to help improve my shoulder after surgery. It has been an excellent experience. The physical therapists and PTAs are fun, caring, and knowledgable. I came in with a MEGA knot between my shoulder and back, with limited ability to move my neck or arm, and serious pain. By the time I left they had blasted away most of the knot and pain with ultrasound, accupuncture, and massage therapies. I was shocked how much they could improve my life in 60 mins. Best of all my shoulder is healing rapidly since the surgery. Thanks Shane, Ansley, and Amanda!

Craig L. - Charleston SC

Shane Melaugh

Excellent care by licensed physical therapists in a warm friendly atmosphere.

Christine M. - Hollywood SC

Our Physical Therapy Team

You can be good in many specialties but it’s hard to be exceptional in all. Our team members are trained in Physical Therapy techniques to deliver the best possible results for our patients.

Amanda grew up in Ohio and has spent her summers in Charleston, SC since she was a child. She graduated from Ohio State University then moved to Florida to receive her masters in physical therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.

Amanda Heyboer

Master of Physical Therapy

Christine is a graduate with honors in physical therapy of Ohio State University School of Allied Medicine. She owned her own physical therapy practice in Ohio for fifteen years.

Christine Murphy

Physical Therapist

Do I Need a Doctor Referral to See a Physical Therapist

Lower Back Pain Treatment

Do I need a Doctor Referral to see a Physical Therapist?

Doctor Referral for Physical Therapy not necessary in South Carolina - Open Access State

Do I need to get a doctor referral to see a Physical Therapist for back pain treatment?

No actually mark you don't, we are lucky enough to live in the beautiful state of South Carolina where we have open access. So a prespective patient can go into a Physical Therapy Clinic without a physicians referral. We are usually able to see a patient for about 30 days before we refer them back to their family care physican, or doctor if they have one. And no, you do not need a referral

Direct access to physical therapy allows patients to be evaluated and treated by a physical therapist without a Medical Doctor referral or other healthcare practitioner referral.

If you have an injury or pain which can be resolved with the aide of a physical therapist call today and let our licensed physical therapist help you get started on a rehabilitation program.

In South Carolina, you are allowwed to be treated by a licensed Lowcountry Physical Therapy Associates without a Medical Doctor referral for 30 days.

For more informaton on Doctor Referral to see a Physical Therapist in South Carolina can be found at the following website: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t40c045.php

Is a Doctor Referral needed to see a Physical Therapist in SC answered by Amanda Heyboer, MPT and Director of Physical Therapy.

Physical Therapy For Lower Back Pain

Lower Back Pain Treatment

When and why should someone go to a physical therapist for physical therapy for lower back pain?

Physical Therapy for Lower Back Pain

Well, typically we all have low back pain at some point, but low back pain that lasts for more than a couple of days could be a sign of a bigger problem.

Whether it be weakness, instability, a facet joint dysfunction, or herniated disk, and a physical therapist can be incredibly helpful for a patient in developing a home exercise program, that would include stretching, and strengthening activities, so that they might be able to manage their symptoms in the acute phase of pain.

Physical Therapists do things like heat, electrical stim, massage, manual joint mobes, Dry needling we do here, a lot of the modalities are helpful for decreasing low back pain, especially in the acute phase.

Electrical stim is a type of physical therapy modality used to accomplish various tasks in physical therapy. If you have an injury or illness that causes pain or limited functional mobility, your Physical Therapist may use electrical stem as one part of your rehabilitation program.

Get physical therapy for lower back pain from Amanda Heyboer, MPT and Director of Physical Therapy. If you are in the Atalanta area then I highly recommend seeing someone from Inspire Atlanta. They have a great group of staff working there to help you with any physical therapy you need.