36. Needling for Pain with Mandy Blackmon, DPT

In the podcast episode, Mandy Blackmon, DPT discusses the use of dry needling as a treatment, primarily for pain management, and its application for those with hypermobility, such as dancers and athletes. She differentiates dry needling from acupuncture, describing it as a Western technique targeting muscle trigger points without injecting substances, unlike acupuncture which follows a more holistic Eastern approach. Blackmon explains that individuals with hypermobility often have more trigger points due to their muscles compensating for joint instability, making dry needling a useful treatment. However, she emphasizes that it must be part of a comprehensive care plan, combining with other treatments to ensure long-term benefits and prevent symptoms from reoccurring. Throughout, Blackmon discusses how dry needling may help with issues beyond musculoskeletal, such as autonomic system reactions. She advises a thoughtful, cautious approach and discusses scenarios where dry needling might not be suitable, emphasizing the need for practitioners to have adequate knowledge of patient histories, especially in those with systemic symptoms or conditions like POTS.