Baptist Memorial Hospital-Collierville has added dry needling to its array of services.

Dry needling is a form of physical therapy used to treat a variety of musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions, including but not limited to spinal pain, migraines, sprains, strains, osteoarthritis, Carpal Tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, sports injuries and others.

The process involves the use of a very fine monofilament needle inserted through the skin and into the deeper tissues to create a micro lesion within the tissue, which induces a mild inflammatory response. The body's response to the inflammation is to increase blood flow, which relaxes the shortened tissues, and relieves the nerve inhibition. These mechanical and neuromuscular responses provide an environment that enhances the body's ability to heal, which results in pain reduction.

Though commonly associated with acupuncture, dry needling is not considered to be part of Eastern medicine and is based on the research and work of the Integrative Dry Needling Institute.