Matt Gregory of Performance Physical Therapy performs dry needling on a patient.Location: 106 Pearl Drive in LaFayette
Experience: Performance Physical Therapy Director Matt Gregory has been working at the office since 2011, while physical therapist Lauren Shank has worked at the office since 2013.
Needling in: In addition to stretches and exercises typically associated with physical therapy, the Performance office offers dry needling, a technique that focuses on using needles identical to acupuncture needles to pinpoint tension in muscles and relieve that tension by penetrating the muscles directly. Although the dry needling physical therapy technique has been legal in Georgia since 2012, Gregory got his certification after a 50-hour course in 2016.
Success stories: Gregory recalls one woman who suffered for years from plantar fasciitis, an inflammation near the heel of the foot, creating pain when she walked. After one dry needling session, Gregory said she started crying when she got on her feet. "She said it was the first time in years she hadn't had any pain while walking," he said.
Walking tall: Gregory recalled another young woman diagnosed with cerebral palsy who was getting married in a few months. She started going to Performance in the hope that she'd be able to walk down the aisle while standing as straight as possible. After undergoing dry needling, Gregory said she was able to stand much straighter than when she'd originally come into the office.
Not for everyone: While the procedure is painless for most people, Gregory said, dry needling isn't a good fit for some patients. Patients who take uncontrolled blood thinners, those with a phobia of needles, children and women pregnant in their first trimester aren't compatible with the treatment.
Like ibuprofen: One of the biggest uses of the treatment is soothing stress or tension headaches, said Gregory. The treatment involves sticking paper-thin needles into contracted muscles for approximately 30 seconds, or as little as 5 seconds, and getting a twitch response from the muscle that then relaxes it. Commonly targeted muscle groups are in the upper neck, the shoulders and the lower back; muscles which Gregory said can frequently cause chronic headaches.
Other services: Dry needling isn't the only thing Performance offers. The office also offers a full gamut of therapeutic services on-site, including treatment for orthopedic injuries, sports injuries, carpal tunnel, arthritis, fibromyalgia, degenerative diseases and more. Perfromance's sports conditioning program can help athletes train longer and safer while lowering their risk of injury, Gregory said.
Locally grown: Gregory is a 2004 graduate of LaFayette High School.
Office hours: Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Contact: Call 706-638-3880 during normal business hours, or visit performanceptsm.com.
Pricing: Performance Physical Therapy accepts most forms of health insurance. Contact the practice to confirm that physical therapy is covered by your provider.