06/02/2023

If you are unsure what dry needling is, please refer to my blog post on Dry Needling to give you the basics.

Assessment of the Low Back for

When working with clients with chronic low back pain, it is important to ask the right questions and really figure out where the pain is coming from. It is not uncommon that clients start with centralized low back pain, and over time it turns into upper glute pain. What most people don’t realize is that their glutes are higher on their body than they expect.

Why Dry Needle the Glutes for Low Back Pain?

What I find with some people who experience chronic low back pain, is that they are experiencing pain in the glutes. They also usually experience trigger point pain in their glutes. This means there is tightness and pain to the touch in specific areas of the glutes. I find that clients who fit this description do very well with dry needling to their glutes. Often I needle their glute medius and glute minimus, however, it depends on their examination.

The Key to Dry Needling Success

It is important that you don’t just stop with the dry needling. Dry needling alone with help manage pain in the short term, however, it does not address the root cause of why your glutes are tight and painful. It is important to work with a physical therapist who does more than just dry needling for you. This includes educating you on how to manage symptoms in between sessions, as well as working on what is creating this pain. This may include work on your movement pattern, mobility, and strength, and learning how to decrease compensation patterns in your body.

Have low back pain?

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