When rest and stretching aren't enough for stubborn muscle pain
Some muscle pain just will not let go. You stretch, you rest, you foam roll, and the tight, achy spot keeps coming back, or never really left. Often the problem is a knot deep in the muscle that surface treatments cannot reach, the kind that quietly limits how you move and refers pain somewhere else.
Dry needling is built for exactly that: getting into the muscle itself to release what is stuck.
What is dry needling, and how does it work?
Dry needling places a thin, sterile needle directly into a tight band of muscle, a trigger point, to help it release. Once the tension lets go, Dr. Young often adds gentle electrical stimulation to help the muscle reset, almost like giving it a fresh start. Then she pairs it with corrective exercises so the muscle keeps moving well instead of knotting back up.
It is not a quick poke and done. The goal is to change how the muscle works, not just to quiet the spot for a day
Dry needling from a certified practitioner in Lawrence
Meet Dr. Yacey Young
Dr. Yacey Young, DC, has practiced dry needling since opening her clinic in 2020 and is certified through Structure & Function Education, a leading dry needling institute, in Boston. She uses it regularly across the body and is trained to needle every region except the pelvic floor. Because she does it so often, she knows when dry needling is the right tool, and when it is not.
What dry needling can help with:
Dry needling is versatile, and Dr. Young uses it for a range of issues, including:
- Jaw pain and TMJ-related headaches (see TMJ treatment)
- Sports injuries and overworked muscles (see sports chiropractic)
- Tendon and joint pain that becomes more common in perimenopause and menopause (see women's health)
- Stubborn trigger points, plantar fasciitis, and similar muscle-driven pain
If you are not sure whether it fits your situation, she will tell you honestly at your first visit.
How DOT Physicals Work at Young Spine & Joint
We find the source
Needle and reset
Keep it from coming back
The benefits of dry needling
Release that lasts longer. Reaching the knot directly, instead of working around it, so relief tends to hold better than surface treatment alone.
Better movement. Muscles that glide and fire the way they should, which helps the pain stay gone.
A targeted approach. Treatment aimed at the exact spot driving your pain, paired with a plan you can keep up at home.
Common questions about dry needling in Lawrence, KS
It depends on the issue and how long you have had it. Some people feel a difference after one session; others need a short series. Dr. Young will give you a realistic sense of it after your first visit.
Often a little, similar to after a workout, for a day or two, and sometimes minor bruising. It usually eases quickly, and Dr. Young will tell you what to expect for your specific treatment.
No, though both use thin needles. Acupuncture comes from traditional Chinese medicine and works along energy meridians. Dry needling is a modern, Western technique aimed at the muscles and trigger points causing your pain. Different training, different intent, similar small needle.
Yes, when it is performed by a trained, certified practitioner. The most common after-effects are mild soreness or a little bruising for a day or two. Serious complications are rare, and avoiding them comes down to proper training and technique, which is exactly why it matters who is holding the needle.
Most people with muscle-driven pain are good candidates, but it is not right for everyone. Dr. Young reviews your health history and will let you know if dry needling is a fit or if another approach makes more sense.
Ready to release what's holding you back?
If tight muscles and stubborn pain are not responding to rest, dry needling may be the targeted approach that helps. Book a visit with Dr. Yacey Young in Lawrence to find out if it is right for you.
