Dry NeedlingGroschan & Associates PT in Greater Baltimore

Dry Needling is also known as intramuscular stimulation (IMS) and trigger point dry needling (TDN).

It is a safe, effective and efficient treatment used to:

Relax myofascial trigger points, and
Restore normal muscle tones, muscle length, coordination, function and strength

Dry needling involves insertion and repetitive manipulation of a “dry”, solid filament needle in a trigger point in order to produce an involuntary spinal cord reflex, also known as a local twitch response (LTR). This results in lasting muscle relaxation due to the release of shortened bands of muscle fibers for overactive (tight) muscles or the activation of under-active (weak) muscles. Deactivation of the trigger points can bring immediate relief of symptoms, so the therapist can immediately train the muscles to work with the newly gained pain free range of motion (ROM).

Dry Needling vs. Acupuncture

Dry needling is similar to acupuncture in the sense that a dry, solid filament needle is inserted and manipulated under the skin to release endorphins and serum cortisol for pain relief. The difference is that dry needling is based on western neuroanatomy and modern scientific study of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. Acupuncture is based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It creates balance in the body by influencing the flow of Qi (energy) in pathways called meridians to achieve pain relief and alleviate inflammation.

Conditions Treated by Dry Needling

Dry needling has successfully been used to treat a variety of conditions including:

Head and Neck Pain – including whiplash and headaches / migraines, degenerative joint disease, degenerative disk disease or osteoarthritis
Otological (Ear) and Opthamological (Eye) Pain – including tinnitus and eye strain
Dental (Teeth) and Orthodontic (Jaw and Occlusal) Pain – including cavities, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, tooth impaction and root problems
Shoulder Pain – including rotator cuff muscle tears, bursitis, adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder), tendonitis and impingement syndrome
Elbow Pain – including lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) and medial epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow)
Hand and Wrist Pain – including gamekeeper’s thumb, DeQuervain’s syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis
Back and Hip Pain – including lumbar degenerative disc disease, arthritic changes and herniated discs
Knee Pain – including degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis
Shin / Ankle / Foot Pain – including shin splints, gout, metatarsalgia and Morton’s neuroma
Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)
Acute and Chronic Tendonitis
Athletic and Sports-related Overuse Injuries
Post-surgical Pain
Post-traumatic Injuries, Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVA), and Work-related Injuries
Other Chronic Pain Conditions – including myofascial pain and myofascial pain syndrome (MPS)

To learn more about our dry needling services or
request an appointment, give us a call at (410) 938-8660

Schedule Now

The Groschan & Associates PT Difference

Direct Access

You can save time and get immediate, appropriate and effective treatment by seeing a physical therapist first.

What Makes Us A Better Choice

Depth of Experience, Principle Based approach to treatment, One on One Care, and Private Treatment Rooms

Serving the Community for over 30 years

Groschan and Associates has been in this location since 1987.

Frequently Asked Questions

A physical therapy visit lasts about 40-60 minutes. The actual contents of the visit vary based on your diagnosis/need, but typically what happens is:
1. You check in with the receptionist, make any appointments necessary, and we discuss your health insurance benefits with you.
2. You will be taken back to a room. You can change into other clothing if necessary.
3. The therapist will guide you in the treatment session as they deem appropriate after having a conversation about your current situation.
4. We can initiate other techniques to include manual work, taping, cupping, and dry needling as needed.
5. The therapist makes recommendations based on your progress. These can include altering the frequency of visits, making additions/alterations to your home exercise plan, or things to do before your next visit.
You will be with your therapist one on one for approximately 30 minutes. The only exception to this will be your first visit, which can take about 20 minutes longer due to the physical therapy evaluation your physical therapist will provide. We also recommend showing up about 20 minutes early to your first visit. This way, you can complete the paperwork before your visit time and streamline the process.
If we are asking you to do something that is hurting too much, let us know! Physical therapy should not be severely painful. It is not common to be so sore that patients are in pain or it affects their daily life. If this ever happens during or after an appointment, let us know and we will adapt your program.
During your initial evaluation, your therapist will take the time to get to know you and what is important to you. They will ask about the limitations you have and talk about your goals.

Have more questions? Contact Us

People in Maryland Trust Groschan & Associates

Hear from patients that reclaimed their lives.

"Wonderful staff, very helpful, competent and professional. They listen to what I say and are working with me to meet my goal."