Dry Needling is used to help restore normalcy to the body.

How Does Dry Needling Work?
There have been numerous studies showing the efficacy of pain reduction and improved function through the use of Dry Needling. Research shows that areas with trigger points are dysfunctional in a variety of ways, such as:

  • Increased inflammatory chemical mediators
  • Increase local pH
  • Increase in spontaneous electrical activity
  • The electrical activity of the muscle measured before and after Dry Needling has shown to be reduced, which effectively is reducing the tension in the muscle.
  • The process of inserting a metal object into the tissue disturbs the muscles electrical activity, sort of like sticking a metal screw driver into a circuit board, which short circuits the system and causes the nervous system to essentially reboot itself.
  • The reboot helps to restore normal neural input, versus excessive neural input causing trigger points.

How is Dry Needling Performed?
Dry needling utilizes very small diameter metal filament form needles. Dr. Artichoker will thoroughly examine you to determine if trigger points may be a source of your pain or dysfunction. Usually 2 or 3 muscles will contain trigger points in a region. The technique is aimed at achieving what is called a “latent twitch response”. This is seen as a twitch of the muscle, that deactivates the trigger point. The latent twitch response in the trigger point will then feel achy and crampy. The area will usually feel sore for an hour, or maybe 1 to 2 days. When Dry Needling is used on you, there is usually not much pain involved, but you may feel a very small ache or slight sting with the procedure. The needles used for the trigger points are very small and most people do not even feel the needle inter the skin. You can watch Dr. Artichoker getting the Dry Needling technique practiced on him with electrotherapy being applied to the needles.

How is Dry Needling Different than Acupuncture?
This is a common question as the two techniques have separate histories, yet utilize a common tool, the metal filament needle. Similar to all tools, they can be used quite different, and for different purposes. A person that receives an acupuncture treatment and a Dry Needling treatment will both experience the feeling of the needle, but as to how the needle was inserted, where the needle is inserted, and as to how the practitioner came to the conclusion of why to needle are are different.

What is a Trigger Point?
A trigger point can develop in a muscle that is overused or traumatically injured, such as car accidents or sports injuries. The actual trigger point is essentially a knot in a muscle. This is a taut muscular band that is painful when external pressure is applied. The muscle is in a shortened phase and is stuck in that position. There is a local biochemical imbalance and a bioelectrical local dysfunction which Dry Needling helps restore to normal. Schedule an appointment or consultation.


  • Back Pain
  • Neck Pain
  • Headaches
  • Car Accident Injuries – Whiplash
  • Sports Injuries
  • Trigger Points – Muscle Knots
  • Tennis Elbow
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • And several other conditions

Dry Needling is used to help restore normalcy to the body.

  • First Appointment 40 min.
  • All Other Appointments 20 min.
  • First Visit Includes Consult/Examination/1st Treatment
  • Discussion of Procedure, pre and post
  • Bleeding Disorders
  • Age
  • High Dose Ant-Coagulants
  • Immune-suppressed
  • local infection
  • Specific areas of body
  • Implants in body
  • Over pacemakers/Nerve Stimulators

Dry needling use achieves a variety of effects, including:

  • Decrease Pain
  • Improve Range of Motion
  • Decrease Accumulated Tension in Muscles
  • Restore Normal pH to an Area
  • Decrease Local Inflammatory Chemicals
  • Helps Reset Normal Resting Muscle Tone
  • Inhibit or Facilitate Muscles