Serving Highlands Ranch and the Surrounding Metro Area
Serving Highlands Ranch and the Surrounding Metro Area
Serving Highlands Ranch and the Surrounding Metro Area
Serving Highlands Ranch and the Surrounding Metro Area
At Ascend Direct Primary Care, we offer dry needling in Highlands Ranch as a practical, evidence-informed way to help your body reset. This is not just for athletes or those pursuing alternative therapies. Nearly everyone carries muscular tension, and dry needling is one of the most effective ways to address it.
Led by Dr. Vizanko, a board-certified family medicine physician, our approach combines clinical precision with a whole-person perspective. Whether you are dealing with chronic discomfort or simply want to move and feel better, dry needling can be a powerful addition to your care.
Tension has a way of building up over time until, one day, you’re forced to stop and notice the pain. It shows up in your shoulders after long workdays, in your lower back after sitting too long, or in your neck when stress starts to accumulate. Over time, that tension can turn into pain, limited movement, and fatigue that affects how you feel day to day.
Dry needling is a technique that uses thin, sterile needles to target tight bands of muscle, often referred to as trigger points. These areas of tension can restrict blood flow, limit movement, and contribute to pain patterns throughout the body.
Unlike injections, there is no medication involved. The goal is to stimulate the muscle directly, encouraging it to release, relax, and restore normal function.
This makes dry needling a simple but highly effective tool for addressing both acute and chronic musculoskeletal issues.
To understand why dry needling is effective, it helps to look at how tension develops in the first place.
Fascia is a connective tissue that surrounds and supports your muscles, joints, and organs. Think of it as a continuous web throughout your body. When everything is functioning well, fascia is flexible and allows smooth, coordinated movement.
However, stress, injury, poor posture, and repetitive movement can cause fascia and muscle fibers to tighten. Over time, this leads to:
These knots are not just localized issues. They can refer pain to other areas of the body, which is why a tight shoulder might contribute to headaches or arm discomfort.
When a needle is inserted into a trigger point:
This process helps break the cycle of tension, pain, and restricted movement.
Over time, repeated treatments can retrain the muscle to function more normally, reducing the likelihood of recurring issues.
Dry needling is not just about short-term relief. It supports your body’s ability to heal and function more efficiently.
Patients often experience:
Because this therapy works directly with the neuromuscular system, it can have a noticeable impact even after just a few sessions.
Dry needling is appropriate for a wide range of individuals, not just athletes.
You may benefit if you experience:
Even if you are not in significant pain, many patients use dry needling proactively to maintain mobility and prevent issues from developing.
At Ascend Direct Primary Care, dry needling is performed by Dr. Vizanko, a board-certified family medicine physician. This matters.
Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all technique, your treatment is guided by a medical understanding of your:
Dry needling is often combined with osteopathic manipulation therapy (OMT) and other strategies to create a more complete treatment plan. This ensures that your care is not just reactive, but truly supportive of long-term function and wellness.
Dry needling is offered as an add-on service at Ascend Direct Primary Care, with discounted rates for members.
Whether you are part of our membership or visiting for a single session, you have access to high-quality, personalized care.
Yes. When performed by a trained medical professional such as Dr. Vizanko, dry needling is considered very safe. Sterile, single-use needles are used, and treatments are guided by a strong understanding of anatomy.
Most patients tolerate the procedure well with minimal discomfort.
While both techniques use thin needles, they are based on different principles.
Dry needling is typically more targeted toward specific areas of tension and musculoskeletal pain.
Side effects are usually mild and temporary. They may include the following:
These effects typically resolve within 24 to 48 hours.
This depends on your condition and goals. Some patients experience relief after one session, while others benefit from a series of treatments to address deeper or chronic issues.
Your plan will be personalized based on your response to care.
You may feel a slight pinch when the needle is inserted, followed by a brief twitch or ache in the muscle. This sensation is usually short-lived and often followed by a sense of relief.
Most patients find the discomfort manageable and worth the results.
Yes. In fact, it is often most effective when combined with therapies such as osteopathic manipulation, stretching, strengthening, and lifestyle adjustments.
At Ascend DPC, your care is designed to work together rather than in isolation.
Dry needling is a powerful tool, but it is just one part of what makes Ascend Direct Primary Care different.
We are a full-spectrum clinic focused on:
Instead of bouncing between providers, you have one place where your care is coordinated, consistent, and built around you.
You do not have to live with ongoing tension, stiffness, or discomfort. Whether you are looking for targeted relief or a more complete approach to your health, dry needling can help your body move and function the way it was designed to.
Whether you are interested in dry needling in Highlands Ranch or exploring a comprehensive membership, our team is here to support you with personalized, high-quality care that fits your life.
Located in Highlands Ranch, CO. Ascend Direct Primary Care aims to serve the community’s family medicine needs in a transparent and accessible way.