Finding Relief from Chronic Pain and Fibromyalgia: How Dry Needling and Movement Can Help
Living with chronic pain or fibromyalgia can feel like a daily battle — the constant fatigue, stiffness, and soreness can make even simple tasks feel overwhelming. For many, it’s not just about managing pain, but about getting life back — being able to move freely, sleep better, and feel strong again. That’s where a personalized approach combining dry needling and guided movement therapy can make a real difference.
At Custom Care Rehab, we’re excited to welcome Robbie, our newest physical therapist, who specializes in treating chronic pain and fibromyalgia through a hands-on, evidence-based approach. Robbie’s expertise lies in helping people reconnect with their bodies by targeting pain at its source and rebuilding strength and mobility through individualized movement programs.
Understanding Chronic Pain and Fibromyalgia
Chronic pain is pain that persists for months or even years, often outlasting an injury or appearing without a clear cause. In conditions like fibromyalgia, the body’s pain signals become overly sensitive, leading to widespread pain, muscle tension, fatigue, and tenderness. This heightened sensitivity can make traditional exercise difficult and frustrating — but with the right techniques, movement becomes a powerful tool for healing.
How Dry Needling Helps
Dry needling is a therapeutic technique that involves inserting very thin, sterile needles into specific trigger points or tight muscle bands. These are areas where muscle fibers have become knotted or overly tense, contributing to pain and dysfunction.
Dry needling works by:
Releasing muscle tension and reducing painful knots (trigger points)
Improving blood flow and oxygen delivery to affected tissues
Decreasing nerve hypersensitivity, which is especially helpful for fibromyalgia patients
Restoring normal movement patterns so muscles can function properly again
Many patients report feeling lighter, looser, and more mobile after just a few sessions. For fibromyalgia specifically, dry needling can help “reset” the nervous system’s pain response, allowing the body to move with less discomfort and more confidence.
Movement is Medicine
While dry needling can calm the pain and release tight muscles, the real healing happens through movement. Under Robbie’s guidance, clients progress through gentle, graded exercises designed to:
Restore flexibility and mobility without flaring up pain
Rebuild strength and endurance at a pace that feels safe and sustainable
Reduce fatigue by improving circulation and energy efficiency
Re-establish body awareness and confidence in movement
Movement therapy for fibromyalgia and chronic pain isn’t about pushing harder — it’s about moving smarter. Robbie’s approach blends gentle mobility work, breath coordination, and postural training to help the nervous system feel safe again during movement. Over time, this reduces pain sensitivity and builds lasting resilience.
A Personalized Approach
No two people with chronic pain experience it the same way. Robbie takes time to understand your story, triggers, and goals to develop a plan that fits your life. Whether your priority is working without fatigue, sleeping better, or simply waking up with less stiffness, the focus is on making consistent, realistic progress that lasts.
The Path Forward
Chronic pain and fibromyalgia can feel isolating — but you don’t have to navigate them alone. Combining dry needling with a guided movement program offers a powerful, research-backed path to relief and renewed energy. With the right care, your body can relearn how to move freely, respond calmly, and support your active life again.
If you’ve been living with ongoing pain, tension, or fatigue, we invite you to schedule a consultation with Robbie at Custom Care Rehab. Together, you’ll create a plan to reduce pain, restore function, and help you feel like yourself again. Robbie specifically serves Canton, Massillon, Doylestown, Fairlawn, Bath, Akron, and the surrounding areas.
