Frequently Asked Questions

You may seek reimbursement for services on your own if you'd like. I'm happy to provide you with a receipt (called a superbill) which you can submit with a claim to your insurance provider. However, it is also your responsibility to understand what your specific insurance carrier requires for reimbursement, e.g. pre-authorization, a physician's referral for PT, etc. Most commercial insurance payors don't require anything additional, but a few do. You can find out what yours requires by calling the number on the back of your insurance card.

Federal insurance plans, like Medicare, won't reimburse payment-for-service physical therapy (which is my model of PT). This is because physical therapy is considered a covered service with Medicare, meaning if a patient sought PT with a provider who works with Medicare, it would be covered. If you have Medicare and would like to do physical therapy with me, contact me to discuss options.

My goal is to address your concerns while making the appointment a fun and empowering experience. More details can be found on my Services page.

Dry needling is the use of tiny, monofilament, sterile needles inserted into muscle tissue to provide external stimulus to areas that are painful or "knotted." The goal is to reduce pain and improve function in muscles.

Dry needling works through neuromodulation — our nervous systems do a great job of protecting us from sensed real and potential dangers, often resulting in tightened, guarded, painful muscles. This can occur following an injury and sometimes just from the stress of daily life. Neuromodulation is a term that means calming down the nervous system. Dry needling provides stimulus and feedback that tells muscles to relax.

Different technique, same needles. Acupuncture is a form of Eastern Medicine, theorized to target energies of the body and the needles often remain in place for extended periods. Dry needling targets specific muscular structures and the needles remain in place for much shorter periods of time (usually between one minute and a few minutes).

Everyone experiences dry needling differently, but it's commonly reported to feel like a "deep ache" in the muscle, similar to the sensation of a deep tissue massage. The needles used are tiny and often can't even be felt by the skin when they are placed. The general consensus is that whatever discomfort occurs during dry needling is well-worth the relief it provides!

It can be helpful anywhere you feel like you have a "knot" but common areas I treat are the calves, shoulders, neck, lower back, and hips. It can provide great relief for tension headaches, too!

I want to make sure dry needling is appropriate for your symptoms. Even if you've had it in the past and know you responded well to it, it is my responsibility as a healthcare provider to assess you before I recommend or perform a treatment. Also, it's important to note that while dry needling can improve symptoms, it's still important to address the root of the problem, which is why a full physical assessment is necessary.