Body Mechanix Physiotherapy and Fitness is now offering Dry Needling! Learn about it below.
What is it?
Many of you may not have heard that Physical Therapists in Florida are qualified to do Dry Needling...but what is it? Dry needling is a form of therapy that I've found to be very helpful in treating pain where a fine needle is inserted into a Trigger Point or a painful knot in the muscle to get it to release. One misconception is that Dry Needling is Acupuncture. While they use the same tools, Dry needling is not acupuncture in that it is not targeted at changing energy flow or to treat disease. It is a science based intervention for the treatment of pain and stiffness for conditions such as low back pain, headaches, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel, shoulder impingement, runner's knee and patellofemoral pain syndrome, IT band pain, shin splints, achilles tendinitis, and plantar fasciitis.
What kind of training do you have to be able to do Dry Needling
In Florida, to start, you have to have been a Physiotherapist for at least 2 years. Many Physiotherapists are Doctors of Physical Therapy(or Physiotherapy). So, in addition to being a Doctor, Florida requires another 50+ hours of continuing education specifically in Dry Needling safety, technique, and best practices. On top of that, Florida requires that the Physiotherapist be supervised for an additional 25 patient visits by somebody who is certified in Dry Needling. Dr. Brandon at Body Mechanix has been certified by the Dry Needling Institute of the American Academy of Manipulative Therapy and has been helping patients using Dry Needling since 2017
Is it Safe?
Dry needling is one of the safer interventions out there. The most common side effect is a temporary drowsiness or lightheadedness which happens in about 1-3% of all treatments and
usually resolves within about 20 minutes. Fainting happens in about 0.3% of all dry needling treatments. Hydrating and eating a light meal before usually prevents this. Minor bleeding(think shaving cut) happens in about 15-20% as does some bruising if you are prone to bruising. Serious side effects happen in about 1 in 10000 treatments with the most common side effect being a punctured lung. Your Physiotherapist will tell you what to look for in the very unlikely event.
Do I need a Prescription
You do not need a prescription for Physiotherapy or Dry Needling in Florida and you may be treated for up to 28 days prior to requiring a referral from your Physician. Physiotherapists are qualified to evaluate your injury and create a plan of care specific to your needs. Often many patients at Body Mechanix Physiotherapy complete their full plan of care before ever needing a prescription.
What do I do next?
All patients at Body Mechanix start with their no-cost consultation, the Total Body Diagnostic Test. In this test, we not only begin to figure out where you hurt but also WHY. It is a head to toe assessment that begins to determine what may be causing your pain and whether or not Physiotherapy is the right option for you-and we do that for free. You can request yours below, I only do 4 per week and times are limited.
Click here or sign up below,