For patients dealing with stubborn pain, persistent muscular tension, or movement restrictions that haven’t fully resolved with other treatments, Functional Dry Needling is frequently the clinical turning point. At Fultz Physical Therapy & Joint Rehab, dry needling is one of our most utilized and impactful treatment tools — available at our South Shreveport, North Shreveport, and South Bossier clinics and performed exclusively by specially trained physical therapists.
What Is Dry Needling?
Functional Dry Needling is a technique in which thin, sterile filiform needles — identical in structure to acupuncture needles — are inserted directly into trigger points within the muscle tissue. A trigger point is a localized area of muscular dysfunction characterized by a taut band of contracted muscle fibers that are not releasing normally. Trigger points produce local pain, restrict movement, refer pain to other areas of the body, and inhibit normal muscle function.
When the needle contacts the trigger point, it produces a local twitch response — a brief, involuntary contraction of the muscle fibers — that effectively resets the dysfunctional tissue. The result is an immediate reduction in muscular tension, improved blood flow to the area, and restoration of normal neuromuscular signaling.
It is important to understand that dry needling is not acupuncture. While both techniques use similar needles, they are grounded in entirely different frameworks. Dry needling is based on Western anatomical and neurophysiological science — specifically on the understanding of how trigger points develop, how they refer pain, and how needle stimulation resolves them.
What Dry Needling Treats
Dry needling is effective across a remarkably wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, including:
- Chronic neck pain, upper trapezius tension, and cervicogenic headaches
- Lower back pain and lumbar muscle dysfunction
- Shoulder pain, rotator cuff dysfunction, and impingement
- Hip pain, gluteal dysfunction, and piriformis syndrome
- Knee pain including patellofemoral syndrome and IT band dysfunction
- TMJ pain and jaw muscle tension
- Plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinopathy
- Post-surgical and post-injury muscle inhibition
- Sports performance limitations related to chronic muscular tension
What to Expect
Most patients experience a local twitch response during needling — a brief, involuntary muscle contraction that confirms accurate trigger point engagement. Some patients experience mild soreness in the treated area for 24 to 48 hours following treatment, similar to post-exercise muscle soreness. Most report significant reductions in pain and improvements in mobility beginning after the first one to two sessions.
Dry needling is always integrated into your broader treatment plan — it is most effective when combined with manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and neuromuscular retraining to translate the tissue release into lasting functional improvement.
Experience the Difference Dry Needling Makes
If pain and muscular dysfunction have been limiting your recovery, Functional Dry Needling may provide the breakthrough your treatment plan needs. The team at Fultz Physical Therapy & Joint Rehab is ready to help, with locations in South Shreveport, North Shreveport, and South Bossier, LA serving patients throughout the Shreveport-Bossier area.
Contact us today to request your evaluation and find out if dry needling is right for you.
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