Dry Needling in Colorado Springs
Relieve Pain, Improve Function, Recover Faster
Dry needling is more than just needle therapy—it’s a powerful, evidence-informed approach to restoring muscular function, relieving chronic or acute pain, and accelerating recovery. At Summit Physio & Performance, our clinicians use dry needling to reset neuromuscular patterns, relieve trigger point pain, and support your overall movement goals.
Whether you’re dealing with stubborn shoulder tightness, nerve-related issues, or sports performance limits—this treatment can help.
Targeted Relief That Works
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Every dry needling session at Summit Physio & Performance is a full hour of individualized care. We don’t double-book or rush treatments—your therapist works with you one-on-one to assess, treat, and support your recovery goals in real time.
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Our team is highly trained in modern dry needling techniques backed by Western medical principles, as well as movement-based rehab strategies. This dual approach allows us to target pain at the source and restore function more effectively.
This includes the following:
Advanced nerve needling
Tendon needling
Scar needling
Advanced E-stim circuits and settings
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We don’t charge extra for dry needling. We often pair it with e-stim to enhance the treatment and improve recovery outcomes.
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We proudly serve the Colorado Springs community from our convenient location at 6150 Stadia Court. Whether you’re an athlete, recovering from injury, or dealing with chronic tension, we’re here to help you feel and move better.
For Best Results After Dry Needling
We always recommend following dry needling with movement.
Personalized plan: Our team will prescribe the right exercises and loading strategies tailored specifically to your needs.
Perform your prescribed physical therapy exercises post dry needling. Including strength and conditioning.
We do not recommend the use of ice or inflammatory medication post-dry needling treatment.
This helps reinforce the benefits of dry needling, improve mobility, and maximize long-term results.
3 Main Types of Dry Needling with E-Stim
Dry needling paired with electrical stimulation (e-stim) can be applied in different ways depending on your needs. Here are the three main approaches we use in the clinic:
1. Pain Relief: Dry needling helps release tight muscles, ease chronic pain, and improve mobility. When paired with alternating current for 10–15 minutes, it reduces tension and stimulates endorphins, making follow-up movement and mobility work more effective.
2. Strength & Muscle Activation: Neuromuscular dry needling primes muscles to fire more efficiently, restore proper movement patterns, and improve strength output. Using bursts of alternating high–low frequency, we can recruit type II muscle fibers (responsible for power and speed) and combat atrophy. This makes it especially effective for athletes or those rebuilding strength after injury.
3. Recovery & Swelling Reduction: Low-frequency e-stim applied for 15+ minutes promotes circulation, reduces inflammation, and speeds up recovery. It helps flush out metabolic waste after workouts, supports healing from strains or sprains, and reduces swelling around injured joints and tissues.
What Is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is a targeted therapy that uses fine, sterile needles to release tension in muscles, fascia, or irritated nerves. It helps reset overactive tissues, improve circulation, and restore normal movement and function.
While it may look similar to acupuncture, dry needling is based on modern Western anatomy and neuroscience—not traditional Chinese medicine. It's used by physical therapists worldwide to treat:
Trigger points and muscle knots
Postural dysfunction
Tendon and joint pain
Chronic muscle tension or an acute muscle spasm
Restricted scar tissue & fascia
What to Expect During Your Dry Needling Session
Here’s what you can expect during treatment:
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We begin by evaluating your pain points, movement patterns, and muscle tension. This helps us identify overactive or inhibited muscle groups to target during your session.
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Thin, sterile needles are inserted into specific trigger points or tight areas of fascia to help release tension and restore normal muscle function.
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You may feel a brief, involuntary twitch or ache when the needle hits a trigger point (interaction with a musclespindle) . This natural reaction helps release knots (change to reset the muscle), reduce tightness, and help with reducing pain.
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Dry needling works on a neurological level to disrupt pain signals and “reset” how your brain interprets discomfort from the targeted area.
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Needling stimulates local blood flow, improving oxygen delivery and supporting tissue repair. This helps reduce inflammation and speeds up recovery.
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After needling, your therapist may use manual therapy, corrective movement, or neuromuscular retraining to reinforce improvements and ensure lasting results.
Tailored to Your Needs
No two bodies are the same. Your session is fully personalized and may include complementary techniques to help you reach your recovery goals more effectively.
We Treat You Like a Person, Not a Protocol
At Summit Physio & Performance, we believe effective care starts with clarity and personalization. Our dry needling sessions are fully customized to your body, your goals, and your recovery journey—never a one-size-fits-all approach. We’re committed to transparency, which means you’ll always know what to expect from your treatment and your investment—no hidden fees, no surprise add-ons. Just focused, evidence-based care that works.
Neuromuscular dry needling to enhance strength and muscle performance.
That’s Why Patients Trust Us
“My shoulder and traps have been locked up and super tight because of different injuries over the years. Dr. Cat did a great job assessing the root problem and providing immediate feedback and excercise program to help with stabilization and mobility. I did the dry needling and noticed instant improvement in tightness and range of motion. Looking forward to how I feel after a few more visits.”
