Dry Needling in Chattanooga: Muscle Pain and Tension Relief From a Physical Therapist
Dry needling in Chattanooga from MOTiV is for runners, lifters and active adults with tight, painful muscles that keep coming back who want needling done by a physical therapist as part of a plan, so the needling sits next to exercise work aimed at the cause, not as a one-off fix. It costs $50 per area, and Storm Wilson, PT, DPT, OCS uses thin, solid needles with nothing injected.
- Price
- $50 per areaAdded to the PT visit price
- Session
- About 20 minutes on average
- Who it is for
- Active people with tight, painful muscles
- How to book
- Call (423) 668-0406 or send a note from the contact page.
What is dry needling and how does it work?
Dry needling uses thin needles inserted into targeted muscles to help relieve pain, reduce muscle tension, and improve movement. "Dry" means nothing is injected.
Cleveland Clinic describes it as a technique that "physical therapists and other trained healthcare providers use to treat musculoskeletal pain and movement issues," and notes that "it can be painful and cause a twitch response" when the needle reaches the target muscle. That twitch is expected.
At MOTiV, Storm Wilson, PT, DPT, OCS, a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist who is certified in dry needling, does the needling. On Google the service reads: Dry needling uses thin needles inserted into targeted muscles to help relieve pain, reduce muscle tension, and improve movement. It is one of MOTiV's sports medicine options.
What happens before treatment?
Storm uses an intake form to screen for a range of precautions before treatment. You must also sign the MOTiV dry needling consent and acknowledgment form.
Source: Cleveland Clinic, Dry Needling.
If the relief lasts only a few hours, is dry needling working?
Storm tests a movement, treats it and retests it in the same session to see what changed. That comparison informs the next step in your plan; relief alone does not tell the whole story.
Storm selects muscles based on your assessment. He may apply electrical stimulation through the needle with the aim of improving muscle activation and function or reducing pain.
Dry needling treats a tight or painful muscle. If the muscle is reacting to something else, the needling is not where the plan should end, which is why it sits alongside a physical therapy evaluation rather than replacing one.
What should I do after dry needling?
Your return to lifting, running or competition depends on the needling technique, your response and your upcoming activity. Storm gives guidance for your session rather than a fixed waiting period.
The first day or two
- Expect soreness where the needles went in; Cleveland Clinic calls it the most common side effect.
- Light movement over sitting still, per the same source.
- Discuss upcoming training and competition with Storm before treatment.
When to call for help
Shortness of breath after needling near the chest needs attention right away. Cleveland Clinic advises contacting your provider or calling 911, since in extremely rare cases needling can cause a collapsed lung.
Numbness or pain that keeps growing after the visit is also worth a call to MOTiV at (423) 668-0406.
How is dry needling different from acupuncture?
Both use thin needles, but they come from different systems. Cleveland Clinic explains that acupuncture is based in Eastern medicine, while dry needling is based in Western medicine and the evaluation of pain patterns, posture, movement and orthopedic testing.
In practice that means dry needling at MOTiV starts from where it hurts and how you move, and targets the muscle involved. Licensed acupuncturists perform acupuncture; MOTiV does not offer it.
What affects the cost of dry needling?
$50per area, added to the PT visit price
Dry needling adds $50 per area to your PT visit price. The total depends on the visit type and the number of areas you and Storm decide to treat.
A physical therapy evaluation is $150 and a follow-up is $125, before the additional dry needling charge. All MOTiV prices are on the pricing page.
You will find MOTiV inside Be Strong at 2101 Chestnut St unit 113, Chattanooga, TN 37408. Free parking lot and street parking.
"A deep ache is most commonly described. First time you have something done, it can be a little scary, but once you've had it done several times it's way less threatening and it doesn't seem to be too bad."
Before you book
What do people ask before dry needling?
How much does dry needling cost?
Dry needling at MOTiV costs $50 per area treated, added on top of the PT visit price. The total depends on how many areas you and Storm decide to treat.
Does dry needling actually work?
For some people, yes. Cleveland Clinic says research shows dry needling may help relieve muscle pain and stiffness. Judge it by what you can do afterward, not only by how it feels that evening.
Source: Cleveland Clinic, Dry Needling
Will insurance pay for dry needling?
Not through MOTiV. MOTiV is self-pay and does not bill insurance, so you pay the PT visit price plus the per-area dry needling charge. Whether your own plan pays anything back is a question for your insurer.
What are the downsides of dry needling?
Soreness is the most common one. Cleveland Clinic says soreness or tightness near the needle site can last 24 to 36 hours and bruising may last up to a week. A collapsed lung after needling near the chest is extremely rare; shortness of breath after treatment means calling your provider or 911.
What works alongside dry needling?
Now booking founding clients
Loosen it up, then train.
Call, or send a short note and tell Storm what is holding you back. You will hear back about the right first visit.
(423) 668-04062101 Chestnut St unit 113, Chattanooga, TN 37408Inside Be Strong