Dry needling in Toronto
Targeted needling of sensitive, overactive muscle to help ease pain and make movement easier.
Overview
Needling aimed directly at tight, tender and overactive areas of muscle. It may reduce pain and muscle tension in the short term, which can make the exercise that follows easier.
I am authorised by the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario to perform acupuncture, including dry needling.
What is dry needling?
Dry needling uses a fine, sterile, single-use needle to treat a myofascial trigger point: a tight, tender band within a muscle that can refer pain elsewhere. It is called dry because nothing is injected.
How does dry needling work?
Needling a trigger point can produce a brief local twitch in the muscle, and it may reduce pain and tension in the short term, although the research shows modest, short-lived effects. Like acupuncture, it also works through the nervous system, reducing how sensitive the area is so that it moves more freely.
How I use dry needling in treatment
Trigger points are a common contributor to pain, not usually the whole story. I use dry needling where the assessment shows a sensitive muscle is limiting you, and follow it straight away with movement or exercise to use the window it opens.
What happens in a session?
I find the trigger point by touch, place the needle, and may move it gently to produce a twitch response. It takes a few minutes per muscle. You may feel a deep ache or a brief cramp-like twitch.
Who can dry needling help?
Neck and upper back tension, shoulder pain, back pain, hip and gluteal pain, calf tightness and muscle pain in runners and lifters.
Is dry needling safe, and what should I expect afterwards?
Soreness in the treated muscle for a day or two is common and bruising is possible. Serious problems are rare. The most important is a punctured lung when needling near the chest wall, so tell me straight away if you feel short of breath or have chest pain afterwards. Fainting and infection are also rare. As with acupuncture, tell me about pregnancy, blood thinners, bleeding disorders or a fear of needles. It is always optional, and there are other ways to treat the same muscle.
Every plan starts with a full assessment, so the treatment fits what is actually driving your problem. Dry needling is one tool within that plan, not the whole plan.
Related programs of care
Where I practise
- Athlete's Care Yonge & Eglinton: Mon/Wed/Fri, 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Push Pounds Downtown Toronto: Tue/Thu, 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM
- Runner's Academy St. Clair West: Mon/Wed/Fri, 3:00 PM – 6:30 PM
- Country Lane Home office & virtual: Sat, By appointment only
Booking for a specific treatment? Mention it when you book so we can confirm which location suits it.
Before you book
Do I need a doctor’s referral to see a physiotherapist in Ontario?
No. In Ontario you can book directly with a registered physiotherapist, no referral needed. Some extended health plans, and motor vehicle or workplace injury claims, have their own requirements, so it is worth checking your plan before your first visit.
Is physiotherapy covered by OHIP?
OHIP only covers physiotherapy for certain eligible groups at OHIP-funded clinics. Appointments with me are private, not billed to OHIP. Most extended health benefit plans cover registered physiotherapy, and you receive a receipt after every visit to submit to your plan.
Can my appointment be billed directly to my insurance?
Direct billing depends on the clinic and on your insurer. Ask when you book and the clinic will confirm whether they can bill your plan directly.
Other physiotherapy services
- Exercise therapy and strength rehabilitation
- Contemporary medical acupuncture and electroacupuncture
- Joint mobilisation and spinal manipulation
- Trigger point and soft tissue release
- IASTM soft tissue release
- Static and dynamic silicone cupping
- Shockwave therapy
- Functional Movement Screen (FMS)
- Movement and running gait assessment
- Virtual and in-home physiotherapy
Book an appointment
Start with a proper assessment
A full history, a physical examination and a written plan you leave with. Book online at the clinic nearest you, send me a message, or call me directly.