We are excited to bring you Miami’s Mike Fitch with Global Bodyweight Training for a 2 day Instructor Training Course in Animal Flow. This system of exercise is fun, challenging and effective for your higher level clients who want to take fitness to the next level. Open to PT’s, ATC’s Personal Trainers, CSCS, Yoga and Pilates Instructors, CrossFit Instructors, Group Exercise Instructors and Advanced Fitness Enthusiasts. Click here for detail and registration.
Some exciting things are happening in my new neighborhood, so I thought I would share!
Last night was the Opening Party for Athleta DC in Georgetown. http://athleta.gap.com/ Athleta sells fabulous women’s active wear, workout clothing and accessories. The products have only been available via catalog until November 2nd, when they opened the first store in L.A. The second store opened in Philadelphia on Nov.9th and then last night was the Private Shopping Event in Georgetown. (Thanks to Gina from Athleta DC who sent me an invite!) The store is beautiful and right in the middle of everything on M Street. The event was packed, with ladies changing in the aisles to try stuff on instead of standing in line for the waiting room! Tuxedo clad servers carried drinks and appetizers and credit cards were being pulled out left and right – these ladies were there to SHOP! I decided to shop from my computer at home later, but really went there to soak up the vibe and meet Gina. She has done a fantastic job of getting the store opened and getting the word out to everyone involved in health and fitness in the DC area. I plan to get involved at the M Street location teaching some workshops, so I will keep everyone posted!
I am also really excited to announce that Prana Physical Therapy is co-sponsoring a workshop at Gold’s Gym, Alexandria on December 3-4. My friend Mike Fitch of Global Bodyweight Training is bringing his Animal Flow Workout to the D.C. area. http://www.globalbodyweighttraining.com/animalflow-workshop/ This workshop is geared toward health and fitness professionals as well as advanced bodyweight training enthusiasts. The workshop is the first step in getting certified to teach Animal Flow classes. Mike developed this system of exercises and has been teaching classes at his gym in Miami. The workout was recently released on DVD and he just started taking the show on the road. I am thrilled that he decided to come to the D.C. area and hope you will join us if you are looking to take your workouts to a new level.
And if all of that wasn’t enough, our friends Megan and Sara from Mind the Mat were featured on the Fox DC Morning Show this week! http://bit.ly/tIZRcV These ladies run a beautiful Pilates and Yoga studio right here in Del Ray, where their combined talents bring healing and wellness together from their physical therapy, massage, Pilates and Yoga backgrounds.
Exciting things happening all over my new ‘hood, especially at 2201 Mount Vernon Ave. in the Vital Building, where you can find Prana Physical Therapy at Core Wellness and Physical Therapy. Come by and say hi! http://corewellness.net/about/
When I tell people that I can address their myofascial pain with many different modalities, including Trigger Point Dry Needling, they often get a funny look on their face. The first question is usually, “What is dry needling?” Once I explain it, they usually have one of two responses: 1) Let’s do it, I’m game to try anything that will make this pain go away! or 2) Uh, I don’t think so, I hate needles.
My hope is that the following information will answer some questions for the folks in group #2 and explain why the short term discomfort of needling goes a long way to eliminating the root causes of pain.
As always, feel free to call or email with questions.
Trigger Point Dry Needling
Trigger Point Dry Needling is an effective physical therapy modality used in conjunction with other interventions in the treatment of orthopedic injuries with a component of myofascial pain and dysfunction.
- What is dry needling? A physical therapist with specialized post-graduate training uses Trigger Point Dry Needling as part of their treatment protocol with appropriate patients. In the State of Virginia, a physical therapist utilizes Trigger Point Dry Needling when specified by the patient’s physician in their physical therapy order. A solid filament needle is inserted into the skin and muscle directly at a myofascial trigger point. A trigger point consists of multiple contraction knots, which are related to the production and maintenance of the pain cycle. When inserting the needle into the muscle, it is essential to elicit twitch responses, which are spinal cord reflexes. The twitch response is both diagnostic and therapeutic, as it is the first step in breaking the pain cycle.
- Is dry needling acupuncture? No, Trigger Point Dry Needling is based on Western medical research and principles, whereas acupuncture is based on Eastern Chinese Medicine. The main similarity is that the same sterile, disposable solid filament needles are used. Licensed physical therapists in a number of states can use Trigger Point Dry Needling under the scope of their practice. Ann is one of a handful of physical therapists who has met Virginia’s stringent regulations to practice dry needling as part of their physical therapy treatment of patients. Ann is not a licensed acupuncturist and does not practice acupuncture.
- What kind of education/training have you participated in to learn dry needling? Ann is a Certified Athletic Trainer (A.T.,C.) and licensed physical therapist (P.T.) She is a Certified Myofascial Trigger Point Therapist (C.M.T.P.T.) through Myopain Seminars, the leading international certification program in dry needling available to physical therapists. Ann completed 107 hours of continuing education in Myofascial Trigger Point Dry Needling and successfully passed both a practical and written theory examination to become certified to perform this modality. The State of Virginia only requires 54 hours of training to perform this modality, so Ann has almost double the required hours of training, along with a certification.
- What types of problems can be treated with dry needling? Many different musculoskeletal problems can be treated with dry needling. These include, but are not limited to neck, back and shoulder pain, arm pain (tennis elbow, carpal tunnel, golfer’s elbow), headache to include migraine and tension type headache, jaw pain, and buttock and leg pain (sciatica, hamstring strains, groin strains, Achilles tendonitis, and plantar fasciitis).
- Does needling hurt? Most patients do not feel the insertion of the needle. The local twitch response elicits a very brief (less than a second) painful response. Some patients describe this as an electric shock or as a cramping sensation. Again, the therapeutic response occurs with the elicitation of the local twitch response, and that is a good and desirable reaction.
- What can I expect after treatment? Many patients report being sore after the treatment in both the area treated and the area of referred symptoms. Typically this soreness lasts between a few hours and two days. Soreness may be alleviated by applying ice or heat to the area, and performing specific stretches for the treated muscle.