Part Two: Physical Therapy “Ask Me Anything” from the Experts at SPARK Physiotherapy

Written by Alex Edelson

In my first installment of the Spark Physiotherapy Physical Therapy AMA series, I dove into the physical therapy modality with our expert physical therapists. We covered how to change your perspective on daily aches and pains, physical therapy versus surgery and common millennial injuries. In part two, we continue the conversation with our friends at Spark. We take a look at treatments like dry needling and the future of physical therapy.

Alex for YMyHealth: In your own words, could you tell me what dry needling is good for? Is this a magical treatment or one part of holistic PT treatments?

Carlos Berio earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology from the University of Maryland at College Park and subsequently earned his Master’s Degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology from George Washington University. His education is rounded out by a Doctoral Degree in Physical Therapy.

A: Carlos Berio

Dry needling is a treatment performed by trained physical therapists. We use a thin needle to penetrate the skin and treat trigger points in the muscle for the management of pain and movement impairments. A trigger point is a tight band in a muscle fiber that can disrupt function, restrict range of motion, refer pain, or cause local tenderness. When dry needling is applied to a dysfunctional muscle or trigger point, it can decrease banding or tightness, increase blood flow, and reduce local and referred pain.

Dry needling is similar to other soft tissue manipulation tools such as heavy pressure massage and foam rolling. I could use metal tools to manipulate the underlying muscle tissue and get similar reactions. I have found that treatment is faster given the competitive tools you can use. When dry needling is a part of treatment, it only takes a few minutes but has tremendous benefits in releasing tension within a muscle. Additionally, the treatment itself is an opportune time to answer questions about the treatment and enhance patient knowledge about PT and their injury in particular. 

When someone gets up after ten minutes of having needling done, I would say that the first day, that person's probably got more knowledge about what has happened to them than a physical therapy student with three years of education. 

It is a tool that goes right along with the other ones. And as long as the patient's goals, the patient's expectations for care, and the therapist's expertise are aligned, it's great.

A: Kristen Lattimore

Alex, this tool sticks out in your brain, as the thing that really helped you the most because we dry needled you during our first session. It was the dry needling, training, and education that got you to a place where your spasms are happening less frequently and with less intensity. I was able to look at you and say, ‘You're missing rotation in this direction. Do you feel pain with that?’ Listening to you describe why you probably felt a spasm come on with golf or specific movements was key in addressing the best ways to strengthen.

Kristen Lattimore is originally from North Carolina where she received her Bachelor’s in Sports and Exercise Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She then went on to receive her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from East Carolina University.

After we started working through strengthening your core, glutes, and hamstrings, and addressed the rotational strength coming from your core and hips, not your back, we were able to give your overworked quadratus lumborum muscle a break. (The QL is one of the deepest muscles of the posterior abdominal wall, often mistakenly referred to as one of the muscles of the back. This muscle runs down either side of your low back, from the top of your pelvis, all the way to your bottom rib.) So we could have used a different tool but dry needling was definitely the best and the quickest, and we use it a lot here. 

But I think the most important part is all the education and trying to decrease your fear and take control of the situation. Additionally, dealing with one physical therapist who really gets to know you and your body is probably overall more meaningful and effective than multiple physical therapists in a PT mill setting during the trajectory of your treatment, who are trying to treat the symptoms and get you in and out.

The Future of Physical Therapy

If you’re thinking about a career as a physical therapist, the future is bright as business is booming. Due to longer working hours which sometimes leads to a sedentary lifestyle, and aging baby boomers, physical therapists will be in high demand. Millennials—those of us in our 20s, 30s, and early 40s–are well positioned to succeed in this growing industry.  

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for physical therapists is projected to grow by 21% before 2030, which is much faster than the 8% average growth rate across all U.S. occupations. As millennial physical therapists take the reins, there are a few tools they will begin to utilize more often; one of these tools is telehealth technology.

Alex for YMyHealh: Health and wellness is a priority for millennials. As the millennial generation becomes the majority of PT practitioners, how are they going to change the modality? 

A. Carlos Berio

The entire medical world is changing to a much more hybrid model leaning on virtual visits and consultation. In some cases, you still need the time, but I can do an interview over Zoom and get the same information from a patient. 

The real magic is being hands on, identifying the problem and assessing where we are going to focus carefully. That's actually why we get people well fast. We're not shooting a shotgun. We're shooting a bow and arrow. And so I don't know if a virtual visit  lends itself to that, but it might lend itself to the access required to maintain that good relationship with pain. 

Patients can end a phone call feeling better about their issue. They think, “I guess I'm not broken. This is a minor hiccup, a little speed bump.” Or we can assess a patient and recommend they go to the emergency room immediately. I can do all that over Zoom. Nonetheless, I think that we're going virtual. 

YMyHealth Discount

If you were impressed with the PT experts at Spark and you want to book a service, mention YMyHealth for 25% off!

Subscribe to the YMyHealth newsletter to stay up to date on everything that’s health-related for millennials!