Expert Physical Therapy for Lasting Pain Relief
Dry Needling in Gainesville
Release muscle knots, reduce inflammation, and restore mobility with specialized dry needling treatment from one of Gainesville’s most qualified experts, exclusively at IHNSS.
✓ 15+ Years Specializing in
Head, Neck & Muscle Pain
✓ One of 75 Board-Certified Craniofacial PTs in North America
✓ Majority of Patients Achieve 90% Relief in 5-6 Sessions
Dry Needling Explained
IHNSS Proudly Serves Gainesville and Surrounding Areas
Convenient location for patients in:
Gainesville • Alachua • Newberry • High Springs • Hawthorne • Archer • Micanopy • Lake City • Ocala
What is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is a specialized physical therapy technique that releases muscle knots by inserting ultra-thin needles directly into trigger points—the small, hypersensitive spots within your muscles causing persistent pain and stiffness.
Here's what happens: Dr. Blanchard inserts a hair-thin needle—thinner than a strand of thread—directly into your trigger point. That's the knotted area where your muscle has been stuck in contraction, often for weeks or months. The needle stimulates your muscle to finally let go.
As your muscle releases, blood flow returns to the area. Oxygen and nutrients flood the tissue. Your body releases endorphins—its own natural pain relievers, and other healing factors for prolonged healing. The tension that's been limiting your movement and causing your pain finally breaks free.
The term "dry" means no medications are injected. Just precise needle placement that stimulates your stubborn muscles to relax and heal.
Is Dry Needling Legal in Florida?
Yes. Dry needling is completely legal in Florida and performed by licensed physical therapists who have completed specialized training. Florida law allows certified PTs to perform dry needling as part of comprehensive treatment plans. While some states have restrictions, Florida recognizes dry needling as an evidence-based physical therapy technique.
Dry Needling vs. Acupuncture
While both use ultra-thin needles, dry needling and acupuncture are different treatments. Acupuncture is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine, focusing on energy meridians, to treat a broader range of conditions including stress, digestive issues, and overall balance. Dry needling is modern Western medicine—a physical therapy technique that targets specific trigger points based on anatomy and neuroscience to relieve musculoskeletal pain and movement dysfunction.
SUMMARY
Dry needling is a physical therapy technique that uses ultra-thin needles to release muscle knots (trigger points), relieve pain, and restore mobility—without any medication.
What Does Dry Needling Actually Do?
To understand how dry needling works, it helps to understand trigger points—and why they cause chronic pain.
Understanding Trigger Points
You know that spot in your neck that makes you wince when someone touches it? That's a trigger point—an area of muscle tissue locked in painful contraction.
Picture your muscle stuck like a clenched fist, unable to open or let go. These knotted areas develop from:
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Poor posture at your desk or from daily habits
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Injury or trauma that caused your muscles to brace protectively
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Accumulated stress keeping your muscles continuously tense
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Heavy lifting with improper form
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Muscle imbalances from repetitive movements
Here's what makes trigger points so frustrating: that knot in your neck might actually be causing your headaches. The tight spot in your jaw could be causing that persistent ear pressure or ringing. This is called "referred pain"—your body feels pain in one location, but the real problem is somewhere else entirely.
Why Your Body Can't Fix Trigger Points Alone
When your muscle gets stuck in contraction, it squeezes off its own blood supply. Without proper circulation, the tissue can't get the oxygen it needs. Acidic waste products build up. The area becomes inflamed.
This inflamed, oxygen-starved environment irritates nearby nerves, making them hypersensitive. Now even light touch hurts
.
Here's the trap: your muscle needs energy to relax, but it can't get that energy without blood flow. The contraction keeps blocking circulation. Your muscle is literally stuck in its own dysfunction.
This is why that knot has persisted for weeks, months, or even years. Why heat and massage can help temporarily but the pain returns. Your body simply can't break the cycle on its own
How Dry Needling Activates Your Body's Healing Response
Dry needling directly targets and releases the muscle knots causing your pain. When the needle reaches your trigger point, your body responds with a cascade of healing:
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Your muscle releases: The needle stimulates the contracted fibers to let go. You may feel a brief "twitch response"—a quick, involuntary muscle spasm. This is actually a good sign. It means the needle has found the exact spot, and your muscle is already starting to release.
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Blood flow returns: As your muscle relaxes, circulation pathways reopen. Fresh oxygen, nutrients, and healing factors finally reach the starved tissue. It's like removing a kink from a garden hose—everything that's been blocked suddenly flows freely again.
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Inflammation clears: With blood flowing normally again, acidic waste products flush away. Swelling subsides.
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Nerves calm down: As the environment returns to normal, your hypersensitive nerves settle. Normal touch no longer hurts. Those shooting pains and referred pain signals stop.
Natural healing takes over: Your muscle now has everything it needs to stay relaxed and continue healing on its own. The cycle is broken. Your body's natural recovery process can finally do its job.
Dry Needling Patient Testimonial:
""It's now been a whole year since I have had neck pain or a headache. I used to have to be constantly aware about how I moved my head and how I slept. A wrong move or sleeping wrong could cause me 12 hours of misery. Now I don't even think about my neck as a problem. I just go about my life, free from head and neck pain anymore."
— Murray
SUMMARY
It targets stubborn trigger points to release muscle tension, improve blood flow, calm irritated nerves, and reactivate your body’s natural healing process—breaking the chronic pain cycle.
Anxiety Around Dry Needling
If you're anxious about needles, you're not alone. Many of our Gainesville patients felt the same way before their first session.
You're in control
You can start with just one or two needles to see how it feels. You can pause, ask questions, or stop at any point.
The environment matters
The IHNSS treatment room is calm and private— no loud gym setting, no audience. Just one-on-one care where you can finally relax.
Ultra-thin needles
The treatment uses thread-thin needles—0.16mm-0.30mm in diameter, guided by a plastic tube for precision.
IHNSS Patient Testimonial:
"Erienne is the only physical therapist I trust fully to manipulate my head in such a deep way. I leave each appointment feeling so supported physically, mentally, and emotionally. She goes above and beyond your average therapist."
— Charlotte Nowak
How Small are Filiform Needles?
SUMMARY
Many patients are nervous at first, but treatment uses hair-thin needles and is fully patient-controlled in a calm, private setting—designed for comfort, trust, and relaxation.
What Conditions Can Be Treated with Dry Needling at IHNSS?
As one of only 75 board-certified craniofacial and cervical therapists in North America, Dr. Blanchard specializes in complex head, neck, and jaw conditions:
Head & Neck:
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Chronic neck pain and stiffness
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Tension headaches and migraines
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Whiplash and post-accident pain
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Cervicogenic headaches (headaches originating from the neck)
Jaw & Face:
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TMJ dysfunction and jaw pain
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Teeth grinding and clenching
Vestibular & Related:
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Dizziness and balance issues
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Post-concussion symptoms
Shoulder & Upper Back:
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Shoulder blade pain and tension
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Upper cervical spine issues
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Referred pain from neck trigger points
Not sure if dry needling can help your specific condition?
SUMMARY
Dr. Blanchard treats complex head, neck, jaw, and vestibular issues including TMJ, tension headaches, chronic neck pain, dizziness, and referred pain from trigger points.
The IHNSS Difference: Dry Needling Done Right
90% of IHNSS patients achieve meaningful, lasting relief in just 5-6 sessions—compared to 12-18 visits at traditional PT clinics.
Why the difference? Dr. Blanchard's specialized training in craniofacial and trigger point therapy means she pinpoints exactly where your pain originates—and treats it effectively from day one. You're not working with someone who does dry needling occasionally. You're working with one of only 75 board-certified craniofacial PTs in North America.
Time That Matters:
Your sessions are 30-90 minutes with Dr. Blanchard directly. No assistants. No rushing through a treatment so she can see the next patient. No rotating between providers who don't know your case.
You get her full attention, every single visit.
A Space Designed for Healing:
IHNSS isn't a loud, overwhelming gym setting. It's a calm, private room where your nervous system can finally relax—especially important if you've experienced medical trauma, feel overstimulated in traditional clinics, or simply need a space where you can let your guard down.
IHNSS Patient Testimonial:
"I felt results from her treatment plan within 2 visits. I look forward to my visits with Dr. Blanchard and am thankful for what she does. Her expertise in head/neck/jaw is like none other."
— Lauren Phillips
SUMMARY
Unlike traditional clinics, IHNSS offers focused, one-on-one sessions with a board-certified craniofacial specialist—helping most patients achieve lasting relief in just 5–6 visits.
Dry Needling: What You Need to Know
What is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is a physical therapy technique that uses ultra-thin needles to release muscle knots (trigger points), relieve pain, and restore mobility—without any medication.
What Does Dry Needling Actually Do?
It targets stubborn trigger points to release muscle tension, improve blood flow, calm irritated nerves, and reactivate your body’s natural healing process—breaking the chronic pain cycle.
Anxiety Around Dry Needling
Many patients are nervous at first, but treatment uses hair-thin needles and is fully patient-controlled in a calm, private setting—designed for comfort, trust, and relaxation.
What Conditions Can Be Treated with Dry Needling at IHNSS?
Dr. Blanchard treats complex head, neck, jaw, and vestibular issues including TMJ, tension headaches, chronic neck pain, dizziness, and referred pain from trigger points.
The IHNSS Difference: Dry Needling Done Right
Unlike traditional clinics, IHNSS offers focused, one-on-one sessions with a board-certified craniofacial specialist—helping most patients achieve lasting relief in just 5–6 visits.