Alexandria chiropractor adds dry needling for stubborn muscle pain

Virginia Family Chiropractic & PM is using dry needling at its Alexandria office to treat myofascial trigger points that have not responded to stretching, massage or chiropractic adjustment. The clinic says the technique is part of a broader care plan aimed at improving pain, mobility and function for Northern Virginia patients.

Why it matters: - Dry needling targets trigger points deeper in the muscle than manual therapy typically reaches. - The Alexandria clinic says the approach is aimed at patients with persistent neck, shoulder, back and posture-related pain that has not improved with stretching, massage or adjustment. - The technique could matter for Northern Virginia workers with repetitive strain, long commutes or desk-heavy jobs.

What happened: - Virginia Family Chiropractic & PM is offering dry needling at its Alexandria office. - The practice says the treatment uses thin, solid needles placed directly into myofascial trigger points. - Dr. Cameron Hatam, founder and clinical director, said the clinic uses dry needling for patients who have not found lasting relief from other therapies. - Virginia Family Chiropractic & PM says the technique is available at all four locations in Alexandria, Falls Church, Manassas and Woodbridge.

The details: - Dry needling is described as a Western anatomical technique, distinct from acupuncture and based on orthopedic and neuromuscular assessment. - Practitioners identify trigger points by palpation and referred-pain patterns before inserting sterile filament needles into the muscle belly. - The needle can produce a brief twitch response, which the clinic says signals release of the trigger point. - Virginia Family Chiropractic & PM says the treatment can help restore blood flow and begin tissue repair. - The clinic integrates dry needling with Chiropractic BioPhysics adjustment, rehabilitative exercise and soft tissue mobilization. - A 2026 meta-analysis in PLoS ONE found improved pain intensity and functional outcomes when dry needling for myofascial trigger points was combined with exercise therapy and manual treatment. - Sessions at the Alexandria office typically last 30 to 45 minutes. - Patients may have mild soreness for one to two days after treatment, similar to a hard workout. - The clinic says many patients notice improved range of motion and reduced pain within the first few sessions. - Virginia Family Chiropractic & PM says all locations use credentialed practitioners licensed in Virginia. - The Alexandria office is at 50 S Pickett St, Suite 114, and takes new patients by appointment Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Between the lines: - The announcement positions dry needling as a bridge between hands-on care and deeper tissue treatment for pain that keeps returning. - The focus on workers in government, corporate and trade jobs suggests the clinic is targeting common overuse and posture complaints in the region. - The combined-care model signals that Virginia Family Chiropractic & PM is framing dry needling as one tool inside a broader rehabilitation plan rather than a stand-alone fix.

What's next: - Virginia Family Chiropractic & PM says patients will continue receiving dry needling as part of prescribed care plans. - The clinic is directing patients to more information on its Alexandria services.

The bottom line: - Virginia Family Chiropractic & PM is expanding its Alexandria pain-care toolkit with dry needling for trigger points that do not respond to standard manual therapy.