Elbow pain has a way of sneaking into everyday life. At first, it might just feel like a nagging pain after a workout or a long day on the computer. Then suddenly, grabbing your morning coffee hurts, or picking up your toddler is uncomfortable.
We see patients in Springfield, Missouri, who have been dealing with elbow pain for months or even years. The answer for these elbow pain patients is not just another provider telling them to get an ice pack and ‘rest’, but to uncover the deeper issues involving muscle tension, overuse, and inflammation that lead to elbow pain.
One treatment that is very effective for conditions like elbow pain is dry needling. If you’ve been searching for relief from chronic elbow pain, here’s what you should know about how dry needling works and why it can be so effective.
What Is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is a pain-relief technique that our Springfield, Missouri chiropractic care office uses to help release muscle tension and improve movement. Dry needling involves inserting a very thin, sterile needle directly into tight or dysfunctional muscle tissue to help relax the muscle and function normally again.
Dry needling is different from acupuncture. Acupuncture is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine and energy pathways, while dry needling is based on muscle function and musculoskeletal science.
Repetitive movement, stress, poor posture, overtraining, compensation patterns, or previous injuries can cause muscles to stay in a constant state of tension. When that happens long enough, the body adapts around it. Other muscles compensate, your movement changes, tendons become irritated, and your inflammation is persistent.
Many people feel temporary relief from stretching, massage guns, braces, or anti-inflammatories, but the pain returns again and again. After a dry needling appointment, our patients often experience:
- Reduced muscle tension
- Improved blood flow
- Decreased pain
How Dry Needling Helps Relieve Pain
You might not know that the painful area is not always the true source of the problem. With elbow pain specifically, another area of tension is typically the root cause. When muscles are overused or strained, they can develop tight, hyperirritable bands (aka trigger points) within the muscle. These trigger points can cause restricted movement, muscle weakness, inflammation, and irritation (this is where your elbow pain comes in). Basically, the muscle becomes stuck in a dysfunctional state.
Dry needling stimulates a neurological and physiological response within the dysfunctional tissue. When the needle enters a trigger point, it often causes a small involuntary muscle contraction called a “local twitch response.” This helps the muscle release tension and reset abnormal firing patterns.
Research suggests dry needling may:
- Increase circulation to injured tissues
- Reduce inflammation in the painful area
- Help get more oxygen get to the muscles
- Regulate pain signaling through the nervous system
Common Causes of Elbow Pain
Elbow pain is often caused by repetitive strain and overuse. The elbow is involved in so many daily movements that irritation can build gradually over time without you noticing anything is wrong at first.
We see patients with elbow pain in Springfield, MO, for many reasons. Here are some of the most common causes of elbow pain we see:
Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)
Despite the name, tennis elbow is not just a tennis injury. We see this condition constantly in moms carrying kids, hairstylists, healthcare workers, and anyone gripping, lifting, typing, or using tools repetitively.
Tennis elbow truly just means that the tendons on the outside of the elbow are irritated. This usually happens when overworked forearm muscles start pulling excessively on those tendons. That’s why “stretching it out” never works for tennis elbow — the muscles are already irritated and overloaded.
Golfer’s Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis)
Golfer’s elbow affects the inside portion of the elbow and is also connected to repetitive stress and tendon irritation.
This can develop from weightlifting, manual labor, throwing sports, pulling movements, and repeat wrist flexion.
Similar to tennis elbow, people who have never touched a golf club can develop golfer’s elbow from repetitive movement.
Muscle Tightness and Over-Compensation in Elbow Pain
Elbow pain doesn’t usually start at the elbow. Tightness in the forearms, shoulders, upper back, neck, and wrists can all change the way the muscles work together. Over time, this places strain on the elbow joint, leading to pain, discomfort, and limited range of motion.
How Dry Needling Can Help Elbow Pain
Dry needling is especially effective for elbow pain because so many elbow conditions involve tight muscles and irritated tendons, which respond well to the muscle-relaxing effects of dry needling therapy. Instead of providing temporary relief, dry needling helps address the root cause, aka muscular dysfunction, contributing to the pain.
For elbow pain, dry needling can help by releasing tension in the forearm muscles, reducing strain on irritated tendons, improving circulation, and grip strength and mobility. One thing patients are often surprised by is that treatment may include areas beyond just the elbow itself.
That’s because elbow pain is typically connected to tension patterns throughout the arm, shoulder, neck, and upper back. If those areas are contributing to the problem, they need to be addressed, too.
At Bloom Well Family Wellness, we always look at the whole person. We don’t want you to have temporary relief from symptoms, but to help your body move and function better long term.
What Does Dry Needling Feel Like?
You may experience some mild discomfort during your dry needling session, but it shouldn’t be painful. There is typically a small pinch when the needle is inserted, muscle twitching, and a dull ache or pressure sensation.
After dry needling treatment, you might feel soreness, similar to a workout, reduced tension and relaxed muscles, and the ability to move your elbow unrestricted.
Some of our patients experience relief immediately, while others notice gradual improvement over several sessions, depending on the severity and duration of the issue.
Dry Needling in Springfield, MO
If you’ve been struggling with persistent elbow pain, dry needling may help address the muscular tension contributing to the problem.
At Bloom Well Family Wellness, we provide dry needling in Springfield, MO, as part of a comprehensive approach to pain relief and recovery. Whether your elbow pain comes from sports, workouts, repetitive work, or everyday strain, our goal is to help you move more comfortably and support long-term healing. We have dry needling packages that might be the answer to your elbow pain.
You don’t have to wait until pain becomes severe to seek treatment. Addressing tension and dysfunction earlier often leads to faster recovery and better outcomes. If you’re looking for dry needling in Springfield, MO for elbow pain, we are here to help.
