Tampa's Expert in Dry Needling

A targeted treatment for musculoskeletal pain. Eliminate trigger points and restore range of motion.

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Over 35,000 Treatments Performed

Conditions Dry Needling Is Helpful For:

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Eric S.

This guy is a magician! If I could give 10 stars I would. I’ve had shoulder pain for close to two years now and have literally tried everything to remedy it but have been unsuccessful. (Rest, PT, Massage, Cupping, you name it) After 4 treatments with Dr. Josh, my shoulder is starting to feel like normal again. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!

The fastest way to book a visit is through our online schedule below.

What is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is the use of fine needles to stimulate the repair of highly sensitive muscle or fascia fibers that are causing pain. Whether the result of sitting at a desk for too long, overuse or trauma from a sport or other activity, or from day-to-day stress, injury to muscle and connective tissue is the most common cause and contributor to pain.

The needle gently stimulates the highly reactive fibers, or trigger points, along with surrounding tissue, often eliciting a “light twitch” (reflex) response and provoking the sensitive fibers to respond by protecting and repairing themselves.

What to Expect

Dry Needling sounds like Acupuncture. What’s the difference?

While both acupuncture and dry needling use acupuncture needles to puncture the skin and create changes in the body, there is a difference in technique.The intention of why you are puncturing the skin with these needles is the difference. Dry needling is not Traditional Chinese medicine, which is what most acupuncturists practice in America.

In short, dry needling is focused on restoring healthy anatomy and physiology through stimulation of injured local muscle tissue, while acupuncture seeks to normalize the flow along meridians. Many sites for dry needling overlap with acupuncture points (while many do not), but the needle techniques are very different between the two practices.

During a dry needling treatment, unlike an acupuncture treatment we are not needling points because they relate to an internal organ structure or because of their said effects on any energetic system within the body. During a dry needling treatment Dr. Josh is always focused on releasing trigger points or to stimulating motor points at the neuromuscular bundle, for the purpose of improving musculoskeletal function.

Dry Needling is in-fact the same as Trigger Point Acupuncture or Orthopedic Acupuncture, which has been practiced for 2000 years. With both dry needling & trigger point acupuncture we are performing specific orthopedic assessments, and needling into muscles, tendons, ligaments and targeting trigger points. In fact, there are ancient text books that describe common orthopedic examination techniques and needling techniques that have been adopted by practitioners who think they recently discovered “dry needling”.

What’s the difference between an acupuncturist who does dry needling vs. a physical therapist who does dry needling?

The difference is the amount of training and experience. 

Dr. Hanson has been performing dry needling for close to a decade and performed over 35,000 procedures. He is also certified in injection therapy and has extensive training in ultrasound techniques. In contrast, physical therapists have only been legally able to perform dry needling in Florida performing dry needling in Florida since 2020.

As an Doctorate level acupuncturist, with a speciality in orthopedics my only job is treating patients in pain using tools like dry needling.

  • According to Gattie et al. (2020) in a survey of physical therapists current practices in dry needling, most physical therapists only perform between 0-3 dry needling sessions a day.
  • Physical therapist only need 54 hours of training to perform dry needling in Florida. Something that is often done in a coupe short weekend courses. During these courses, physical therapists learn to needle a small amount of muscles and basic protocols.
Just like anything in life, it’s wise to find a specialist who’s sole focus in on exactly what you are looking for. If you’re looking for expertise in exercise and physical therapy, then you go to a physical therapist. If you’re looking for dry needling, then seeing an acupuncturist who has specialized in orthopedics and who’s main treatment tool is a needle makes sense. 

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813-534-0311

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1202 W. Linebaugh Ave
Tampa, FL 33612

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