Dry Needling Therapy & Pain Relief in Lee’s Summit, MO

Dry needling is an advanced, evidence-based treatment physical therapists use to treat myofascial pain and muscle dysfunction. The technique involves inserting a very thin, “dry” (meaning no medication is injected) solid filiform needle through the skin directly into a myofascial trigger point—often called a “knot.” When muscles are overused or injured, they can form these tight, painful bands that restrict blood flow and limit your range of motion. Dry needling is a highly effective form of soft tissue mobilization that reaches deep into the muscle tissue to release these trigger points, reduce inflammation, and promote rapid healing.

When the needle is inserted into the tight muscle band, it produces a localized neurophysiological effect. It often triggers what is known as a “local twitch response”—a brief, spontaneous contraction of the muscle fibers.

This twitch is essentially the muscle “resetting.” It results in:

• Immediate Muscle Relaxation: Releasing the tight bands of overactive muscle fibers.

• Increased Blood Flow: Bringing fresh oxygen and nutrients to the injured tissue.

• Pain Reduction: Interrupting pain signals sent to the brain and releasing natural pain-relieving endorphins.

This allows our patients to experience an immediate decrease in pain and a significant increase in their pain-free range of motion, allowing them to perform therapeutic exercises more effectively.

While both treatments use similar thin needles, their methodologies are completely different.

• Acupuncture: It is based on traditional Chinese medicine. It focuses on restoring the flow of energy (Qi) along the body’s meridians to balance internal systems.

• Dry Needling: It is based on Western neuroanatomy and modern scientific studies of the musculoskeletal system. Needles are placed specifically into muscular trigger points to directly relieve physical pain and restore physical function.

Dry needling is incredibly versatile and can successfully treat a wide variety of musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions. At Prime Physical Therapy, we frequently use this technique to address:

Head, Neck, and Jaw Pain:

• Chronic tension headaches and migraines
• Whiplash and neck stiffness
• TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) dysfunction and jaw pain

Upper Extremity Pain:

• Shoulder impingement and rotator cuff pain
• Frozen shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)
• Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis) and Golfer’s Elbow
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Back, Hip, and Lower Extremity Pain:

• Low back pain and sciatica
• Sacroiliac (SI) joint pain
• Hip bursitis and knee pain
• Plantar Fasciitis (Heel pain)
• Shin splints and ankle sprains

General Muscle and Joint Conditions:

• Athletic and sports-related overuse injuries
• Myofascial Pain Syndrome
• Osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease
• Post-surgical pain and scar tissue buildup

It is completely normal to feel a little apprehensive if you have never experienced dry needling before, but the process is highly controlled and highly effective.

 • Evaluation: Dr. Hwang will first perform a thorough assessment to identify the exact muscular trigger points contributing to your pain.

 • The Treatment: You may feel a slight prick as the needle enters the skin, followed by a dull ache or a “cramping” sensation when the muscle twitches. This local twitch response is exactly what we want—it means the muscle is releasing.

 • Aftercare: Most patients notice an immediate improvement in their mobility and a decrease in sharp pain. You may experience some mild muscle soreness (similar to after a hard workout) for 24-48 hours.
Depending on the chronicity of your condition, maximum relief is usually achieved within a few sessions, combined with customized strengthening and flexibility exercises.

“Kyo & Mary Jane are amazing! Was referred to them after wrist surgery & then after I developed severe frozen shoulder. They are the best! They are very knowledgeable & I was treated with compassion at every visit.”
– Angella B.

“Prime physical therapy is an awesome place to do your physical. Therapy,
my therapist was so so nice. Very pleasant and fun.
The front desk lady it was pleasant and very very nice
The atmosphere is just a very pleasant atmosphere.
I would go back to them again 😊”
– Mickie L.

Don’t let chronic muscle tension and pain keep you from doing the things you love. Dr. Kyo Hwang and the team at Prime Physical Therapy are ready to help you recover faster and move better.

We proudly serve patients in Lee’s Summit, Greenwood, Blue Springs, Lake Lotawana, Raytown, and the surrounding areas.