Dry Needling (Trigger Point Acupuncture)
Williston Park, NY

What Is Dry Needling?

Dry needling uses fine, sterile, single-use acupuncture needles to reach trigger points: tight bands in a muscle that are tender to the touch and can send pain to other areas. A trigger point in the upper back, for example, can cause pain that is felt in the neck or head.

When the needle reaches a trigger point, the muscle often responds with a brief twitch, followed by release. The goal is to reduce muscle tension, ease pain and help the area move more freely.

Trained in Trigger Point Acupuncture From the Start

Dry needling is a form of acupuncture. Rumiko began her training at Tri-State College of Acupuncture in New York in 2005, where trigger point needling was taught throughout all three years of the program. At the time, few acupuncture schools taught it as a core style. Today many practitioners offer dry needling, often learned later as an add-on technique. For Rumiko, trigger point acupuncture has been the foundation of her practice since she began treating patients in 2008.

Because dry needling is part of a full acupuncture practice, your treatment can also address what keeps the pain going, such as tension patterns, stress and how the whole body compensates.

Conditions Dry Needling May Help With

• Low back pain and muscle spasm
• Neck pain and stiffness
• Shoulder pain and tightness, including the upper back and shoulder blade
• Tension-related pain that keeps returning after massage or stretching

Results vary from person to person. Recent tightness or muscle spasm often responds quickly, while pain that has been present for a long time usually takes more treatment.

What to Expect During Your Session

1. Assessment. Your first visit begins with a review of your pain history and a hands-on exam. Using the EXSTORE method, Rumiko tests muscle function to find which muscles are driving your pain.
2. Treatment. Fine acupuncture needles are placed into the trigger points found. You may feel a brief twitch or a deep ache as the muscle releases. This is normal and passes quickly.
3. Electro-stimulation, when helpful. Gentle electrical stimulation may be added through the needles to help the muscle relax further.
4. Afterward. Some patients feel mild soreness, similar to after a workout, for 1–2 days. Light movement, water and rest help.

Your treatment plan is discussed at your first visit, based on your condition and goals.

Why Choose Kimura Acupuncture for Dry Needling

• Trained in trigger point acupuncture at Tri-State College of Acupuncture before it was widely taught; in practice since 2008
• Precise assessment with the EXSTORE method before any needle is placed
• Care for both recent muscle tightness and pain that keeps coming back
• Bilingual care in English and Japanese
• Located in Williston Park, convenient to Mineola, Roslyn Heights and New Hyde Park

Ready to Get Relief from Back, Neck or Shoulder Pain?

If muscle pain keeps returning, dry needling may help address where it starts. Request an appointment or call (516) 882-1292 to find out whether it is right for you.