Dry Needling was originally developed in the 1940’s by Janet Travell, MD, former medical adviser to the White House (JFK’s physician). Dry needling is founded on modern understanding of human anatomy and pathophysiology and on modern scientific research, drawing heavily on leading edge neurological research using modern imaging techniques such as functional MRIs of the brain and real-time ultrasound.
Total Sports Therapy Cave Creek, North Phoenix, Glendale, and Moon Valley offices offers both Integrative Dry Needling and Functional Dry Needling (FDN). It is a skilled technique performed by a physical therapist using filiform needles to penetrate the skin and/or underlying tissues to affect change in body structures and functions for the evaluation and management of neuromusculoskeletal conditions, pain, movements impairments and disability (FOSBPT 2015). Dry needling is classified as an evidence based modern Western medical modality that is not based on Traditional Chinese Medical acupuncture. It has it’s own unique theoretical concepts, terminology, techniques and clinical applications, completely separate from Chinese acupuncture. In result, most insurances cover this service as a physical therapy modality.
