Acupuncturist Services

Trigger Point Dry Needling in Greenville, SC

Trigger Point Dry Needling at IHP Greenville. Dr. Hendry, DAOM — NCCAOM-certified, 25+ yrs experience, hospital-credentialed. Call (864) 365-6156.

Trigger point dry needling is the most targeted application of dry needling — directing the needle precisely into the myofascial trigger point (the hyperirritable knot within a muscle band) that is generating pain, referral patterns, and functional restriction. At Integrative Health Partners, Dr. Hendry uses trigger point dry needling as a precision intervention for conditions where specific trigger points are the primary driver of symptoms — not just a contributing factor.

How Trigger Point Dry Needling Works

Dr. Hendry locates active trigger points through systematic palpation, following the referred pain maps of Simons, Travell & Simons. He inserts a fine needle directly into the trigger point and elicits one or more local twitch responses (LTRs) — confirming point deactivation. For trigger points resistant to mechanical needling, electroacupuncture stimulation is added to extend the neuromuscular reset effect.

Conditions Treated with Trigger Point Dry Needling

Your First Appointment

Wear loose clothing for muscle access. Bring any prior imaging or physical therapy notes. Describe your pain pattern clearly — where it hurts, where it refers to, what makes it better or worse. This information helps Dr. Hendry identify the most likely trigger point sources.

Why Dr. Hendry for Trigger Point Dry Needling

Dr. Hendry's expertise in trigger point anatomy — developed through acupuncture practice, dry needling training, and his Prisma Health research on needling techniques — gives him a precise understanding of referred pain patterns and trigger point location that produces consistently effective outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

A hyperirritable spot within a taut band of skeletal muscle. Trigger points generate local pain, referred pain in predictable patterns, restricted range of motion, and autonomic phenomena (goosebumps, tingling). They can be caused by acute injury, chronic overuse, emotional stress, and nutritional deficiency.
Trigger point pain has characteristic features: it is reproducible with palpation, refers pain to a predictable distant location, and is often worse with specific movements or sustained positions. Dr. Hendry identifies trigger point patterns through systematic palpation at your first appointment.
The local twitch response (LTR) — a brief, involuntary muscle fasciculation — indicates the needle has hit the trigger point and the contracted sarcomere has been mechanically disrupted. Eliciting an LTR is associated with better clinical outcomes in research.
Post-treatment soreness (like a hard workout) lasting 24–48 hours is common and a sign of normal therapeutic response. Apply ice or heat to the treated area, drink extra water, and avoid intense exercise the evening after treatment.
Most conditions respond meaningfully in 3–6 sessions. Some chronic or widespread trigger point conditions (fibromyalgia) require ongoing management. Dr. Hendry provides an individualized estimate at your first appointment.
Integrative Health Partners, 319 Wade Hampton Blvd, Ste A, Greenville, SC 29609. Call (864) 365-6156.

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