Michelle Layton
Bethesda Physiocare, USA
Title: Trigger point dry needling: An evidence-informed treatment for patients with chronic pain
Biography
Biography: Michelle Layton
Abstract
The use of trigger point dry needling (DN) is one technique that has a growing body of evidence demonstrating its usefulness in many pain conditions, including fibromyalgia, headaches, migraines, shoulder pain, pelvic pain, and plantar fasciitis. TrPs have been established as persistent sources of nociceptive input contributing to local and referred pain, and peripheral and central sensitization. TrPs can also contribute to restrictions in range of motion, loss of muscle strength, and altered movement activation patterns. Participants will learn the neuro-physiological basis for DN in the context of pain sciences and recognize how dry needling can be of benefit for many different patient populations with long-standing pain issues. While the focus will be on pain management and DN of myofascial trigger points (TrPs), DN can also be used to treat fascial adhesions, scar tissue, tendons, enthesopathies, and ligaments, among others.