Dry needling in Calgary

CARE BUILT AROUND YOU

Is dry needling right for you?

We begin by understanding what you’re experiencing and what you want to get back to. An assessment helps us decide whether this approach fits your needs and what other care may be appropriate.

Concerns we can discuss

Select a topic to learn more.

• Neck and shoulder tension+

  Neck and upper-shoulder discomfort may be noticed during work, activity or alongside a headache. Describe the pattern and mention new symptoms, an injury or any arm changes, rather than assuming every headache comes from a tight muscle.

  Assessment helps determine whether physiotherapy or another route is appropriate. Dry needling is an optional technique, not a treatment for every type of headache; exercise and other care can be considered instead.

  Understand neck pain Explore physiotherapy
• Back or hip discomfort+

  Pain or stiffness around the spine can affect sitting, turning, lifting or sleep. The pattern, any symptoms into an arm or leg, and changes over time are more useful than assuming the location tells us the cause.

  Your assessment considers relevant movement, health history and everyday demands. Explain any new weakness or altered sensation and mention a recent accident or medical advice so the practitioner can decide what care is appropriate.

  Understand lower back pain Understand neck pain
• Muscle tightness or sensitivity+

  Tightness, tenderness and soreness describe sensations, not a diagnosis. Tell your practitioner how long they last, what changes them and whether they affect movement, sleep or activity.

  Assessment helps determine which options are appropriate. Massage, exercise, movement guidance or another approach may be discussed, with persistent or changing symptoms considered in the wider health picture. More pressure or more stretching is not automatically better.

  Massage therapy Explore physiotherapy
• Sports and training-related injuries+

  Sport-related concerns need to be understood in the context of the sport: the movements, training schedule, recent changes and demands of competition. Your goal may be participation, confidence or a return to a previous level.

  Tell your practitioner what happens during activity and afterwards. Care can bring together symptom assessment, appropriate exercise and a staged return to those demands, with communication between practitioners or coaches when appropriate and with your consent.

  Running injury care Personal training options
• Overuse-related pain+

  Repeated work or training can be relevant when symptoms build during a task or after a change in workload. Timing, duration, recovery and the movement itself all help describe the problem.

  Your practitioner can discuss suitable adjustments and exercises after assessment. The aim is a plan that fits the activity you need to do, rather than assuming that every repetitive task must be avoided permanently.

  Explore physiotherapy
• Restricted or uncomfortable movement+

  A movement may feel stiff, sensitive or difficult for several reasons. Explain which movement is affected and whether the restriction developed gradually or followed an injury.

  Your practitioner can examine relevant movement and function, then discuss suitable exercises, activity adjustments or optional hands-on techniques. A useful plan connects the assessment with a task that matters to you and checks how you respond over time.

  Explore physiotherapy
• Persistent muscle soreness+

  Tightness, tenderness and soreness describe sensations, not a diagnosis. Tell your practitioner how long they last, what changes them and whether they affect movement, sleep or activity.

  Assessment helps determine which options are appropriate. Massage, exercise, movement guidance or another approach may be discussed, with persistent or changing symptoms considered in the wider health picture. More pressure or more stretching is not automatically better.

  Massage therapy Explore physiotherapy
• Certain headache-related muscle tension+

  Neck and upper-shoulder discomfort may be noticed during work, activity or alongside a headache. Describe the pattern and mention new symptoms, an injury or any arm changes, rather than assuming every headache comes from a tight muscle.

  Assessment helps determine whether physiotherapy or another route is appropriate. Dry needling is an optional technique, not a treatment for every type of headache; exercise and other care can be considered instead.

  Understand neck pain Explore physiotherapy

A concern on this list is a starting point for assessment, not a diagnosis or a promise of a particular result.

YOUR TREATMENT PLAN

What dry needling may involve

Treatment is selected around the assessment, your preferences and your response over time. Your plan may include:

Select a topic to learn more.

• Dry needling+

  Dry needling uses a fine, single-use needle in selected muscle tissue. No medication is injected. It may be discussed for particular muscle-related pain or movement concerns as one part of physiotherapy.

  Your physiotherapist screens suitability and explains benefits, limitations and risks before obtaining consent. Soreness, bruising and small amounts of bleeding can occur; rare serious complications depend on the area treated. You can choose exercise or other options instead.

  Patient resource: Cleveland Clinic
• Exercise+

  Exercise in rehabilitation is selected to address a specific finding or task. A plan may work on strength, control, endurance or movement, depending on what your assessment shows and what you want to do again.

  The term “corrective exercise” describes a targeted exercise choice; it does not mean there is one perfect posture or movement for everyone. Your practitioner explains the purpose, helps you practise and reviews the plan as your ability and response change.

  Explore physiotherapy Personal training options
• Manual therapy+

  Manual therapy is hands-on treatment of joints or soft tissues. Depending on your assessment and consent, it may involve massage, gentle movement or other techniques intended to address pain or restricted movement.

  Your practitioner explains the technique and checks your comfort. Hands-on care can sit alongside exercise and self-management; it does not replace a plan for the activities you want to regain. Ask about alternatives if you prefer a different approach.

  Explore physiotherapy Chiropractic care
• Mobility work+

  Mobility work explores the movement available at a joint or through a task. It can include active movements, stretches or hands-on assistance selected for the area that feels limited.

  The aim is to make the plan relevant to a real task, such as reaching, turning, walking or lifting. The range, pace and amount are chosen around your findings and response; forcing a painful movement is not the goal.

  Explore physiotherapy
• Education+

  Education means making sense of your assessment and the choices available to you. Your practitioner explains the working picture, what remains uncertain, and how treatment relates to the activities you want to return to.

  It can include guidance on daily activity, exercise, symptom monitoring and when to ask for further help. Bring questions about your work, sport or previous advice so the plan is practical outside the clinic.

  Explore physiotherapy
• Activity and load-management guidance+

  Load management considers how much demand your body is handling across work, exercise and daily life. Duration, intensity, frequency and recovery all form part of that picture.

  Your plan may temporarily adjust a provoking activity while keeping appropriate movement in your routine. Progression is based on your assessment and response; there is no single mileage increase, rest period or training schedule that suits every injury.

  Running injury care Explore physiotherapy

What to expect at your appointment

We reassess as you progress. Recommendations, treatment choices and outcomes vary between people. Where appropriate, your practitioner can discuss working with other members of the team, with your consent.

Appointments in Bridgeland

Visit our clinic at 217 4 St NE, Unit 105, in Bridgeland, Calgary. See clinic hours, parking and directions, or compare treatment prices before booking.

Direct billing is available. Coverage and referral requirements depend on your insurance plan.

MEET YOUR PEOPLE

Meet your practitioners

Melissa Chea

Physiotherapist