Functional Dry Needling
In most cases, non-surgical treatment options are the solution to ending your pain and bringing you back to a full and healthy life. Dr. Herman will guide you through your best options for treatment, and if surgery or another form of care may be needed, he will refer you to the appropriate provider.
Functional Dry Needling
Functional dry needling (FDN) is a technique that involves multiple advancements of a solid, thin filament needle designed to be inserted into muscle to target trigger points. Trigger points are typcially tight bands in skeletal muscle, more commonly referred to as "knots", that cause pain and impede function. By releasing these knots, we help to decrease pain, improve muscle activation, and improve movement impairments. Functional "dry" needling denotes no injectable solution.
How is functional dry needling different from acupuncture?
FDN and acupuncture are not the same. The only similarity they share is the solid, round tipped needle. The evaluation, assessment, application, and intended purpose are all different. Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that aims to restore the flow of energy, or chi, through the body. FDN is based on the treatment of musculoskeletal and neuromuscular deficits identified during a physical exam to improve pain, movement, and strength. In FDN, the needles are inserted into muscle tissue rather than the superficial insertion to redirect the body's energy flow as used in acupuncture.
