If you've had Physiotherapy treatment in the past 15 years, you’ve probably heard the terms dry needling or Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS). These treatments have become increasingly popular as part of rehab programs, but many people still aren't sure exactly what they are or how they work. The more you understand the treatment, the better your results tend to be, so let’s dive into it!

What Is Muscle Tone and How Does It Affect Your Recovery?

Before we talk about dry needling, let's take a moment to understand muscle tone. Muscle tone refers to the natural tension in a muscle when it’s at rest. When muscle tone is too high — a condition known as hypertonicity — the muscle feels tight, stiff, and sometimes painful. You’ve probably felt this in areas like your shoulders, neck, or calves — those tight “knots” that make everything feel stiff and sore.

Hypertonic muscles can slow down your recovery. They reduce blood flow and nerve function, making it harder for your muscles and joints to move freely. For example, tight glutes can cause pressure on your hip joint, while tight quads can affect your knee. If deep muscles in your back are too tight, they can compress spinal discs and irritate nerve roots, leading to pain and even affecting other parts of your body.

All of this means that tight, tense muscles create barriers to your rehabilitation and can prolong your recovery.

So, What Is Dry Needling?

Dry needling (or IMS) is a treatment designed to help relieve muscle tightness and improve recovery. Here’s how it works:

• The Needles: We use very fine needles — similar to those used in acupuncture — to target the tight spots in your muscles.

• Why “Dry” Needling?: The term “dry” refers to the fact that nothing is injected into the muscle. The needle itself is the tool we use to affect the muscle.

• What Happens?: The needle is inserted into a tight muscle, often where you feel pain or those “knots.” The goal is to trigger a reflex called a twitch response, which helps reset the muscle’s resting tone, making it feel looser and more relaxed.

What Are the Benefits of Dry Needling?

By affecting the tone of the muscle, dry needling offers several benefits:

• Muscle Relaxation: The needle helps the muscle relax, reducing tension and tightness.

• Less Pressure on Tendons and Joints: When muscles relax, there’s less strain on the tendons and joints, improving your overall movement.

• Improved Range of Motion: With reduced muscle tension, you may notice an improvement in how easily you can move, whether it’s bending, stretching, or lifting.

• Reduced Pain: As the muscle releases tension, pain and sensitivity typically decrease, making it easier for you to engage in exercises and activities.

• Better Rehab Results: Relaxed muscles make strengthening and mobility exercises more effective, which means you’ll recover faster and get back to the activities you love sooner.

When Should You Consider Dry Needling?

Dry needling is often used as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation program. It’s most beneficial for conditions that involve muscle tightness, pain, or limited range of motion, such as:

• Chronic muscle tightness

• Tension headaches

• Back, neck, or shoulder pain

• Sports injuries

• Joint pain due to tight muscles

Your physiotherapist will assess your condition and determine if dry needling is right for you.

Have Questions?

If you’re curious about dry needling and whether it could help with your recovery, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’ll be happy to answer any questions and explain how it might benefit your specific situation.

Stay tuned for next month’s blog, where I’ll answer some of the most frequently asked questions I’ve received as an IMS/Dry Needling practitioner over the past 14 years!

Matthew McKinnell PT GunnIMS

matthewmckinnellphysiotherapy@gmail.com