📞 Call to Book: 228-471-5047
Dry Needling · Pascagoula, MS

Dry Needling in
Pascagoula, MS

Same-week appointments. One-on-one with Dr. Austin Baskin, PT, DPT every visit. Medicare and most insurance accepted.

📞 Call 228-471-5047 Request Appointment
1–3Sessions to feel relief
80%+Knee OA pain reduction
1-on-1DPT every visit
MostInsurance Accepted
★ 5.0 Google Rating
✓ AAMT-Certified Dry Needling
✓ Medicare & Insurance Accepted
📍 Pascagoula, MS 39567

What Is Dry Needling — And Why Does It Work?

Dry needling is a musculoskeletal treatment grounded in Western anatomy and neuroscience. It's not acupuncture. The goal isn't a meridian — it's your nervous system.

Dry needling treatment on neck and shoulders at GT Physical Therapy Pascagoula MS

Dry needling uses thin monofilament needles to target hyperirritable points within muscle tissue that contribute to local and referred pain. When the needle contacts the tissue, it creates a neurological input the body responds to — often triggering a brief twitch response that begins breaking the pain cycle.

At GT PT, we combine dry needling with electrical stimulation (e-stim) when appropriate. The e-stim generates sustained muscle contractions that help flush out pain-sensitizing chemicals, restore normal muscle firing patterns, and accelerate recovery — significantly faster than rest or stretching alone.

You work directly with Dr. Austin Baskin, PT, DPT every visit. He knows your case, tracks your response, and adjusts each session accordingly. No techs. No hand-offs.

GT Physical Therapy is one of the only clinics in Jackson County offering dry needling with electrical stimulation — performed by the same clinician, every visit.

Dry needling treatment on knee with electrical stimulation at GT PT Pascagoula
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How It's Different from Acupuncture

Acupuncture follows meridian lines rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. Dry needling targets specific anatomical structures — muscle tissue, tendons, fascial planes — based on Western anatomy and current pain science. Same tool, completely different purpose and training.

The Actual Mechanism — What the Research Shows

Every dry needling course teaches you how to insert the needle. Far fewer explain what it's actually doing.

"It releases the knot." That model has been outdated for years. A 2026 systematic review across 14 studies mapped what dry needling actually does at the chemical and nervous system level — and the picture is clear.

The needle doesn't physically break up tissue. It creates input the nervous system responds to.

Local Effect

Pain-Sensitizing Chemicals Go Down

At the needle site, concentrations of substance P, CGRP, and other pain-mediating chemicals measurably decrease. The chemical environment driving peripheral sensitization changes.

Central Effect

Descending Pain Pathways Activate

The brain's own pain-modulating systems engage. The needle creates afferent input that triggers top-down inhibition — the same pathways activated by opioids, without the medication.

The Result

The Nervous System Processes Pain Differently

These effects occurred in the research regardless of whether any tissue was physically disrupted. The mechanism is neurophysiological. The tissue is the starting point. The nervous system is the target.

"The needle creates a window.
What you do with that window is the clinical skill."
— Austin Baskin, PT, DPT · AAMT-trained · practicing this framework since 2016

Conditions We Treat With Dry Needling

If you've tried rest, injections, or standard PT without lasting results — dry needling may be the missing piece.

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Knee Osteoarthritis

Reduces joint pain and restores range of motion without surgery. Over 80% of patients report significant relief. Often effective where injections have failed.

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Patellar Tendinopathy

Targets the patellar tendon and surrounding muscle to break the chronic pain cycle. Combined with progressive loading for lasting results.

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Achilles Tendinopathy

Restores load tolerance and eliminates chronic heel and ankle pain that hasn't responded to stretching or orthotics.

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Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy

Deactivates points that restrict shoulder mobility. Effective for impingement, partial tears, and shoulder pain that limits daily activity.

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Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow)

Resolves chronic forearm and elbow pain that limits gripping, lifting, and everyday tasks. Results often faster than bracing alone.

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Low Back & Neck Pain

Addresses the muscle and nervous system drivers behind back pain and headaches. Often effective for cases where standard physical therapy plateaued.

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TMJ & Jaw Pain

Specialized dry needling for jaw pain, clicking, locking, and TMJ-related headaches. One of the only dedicated TMJ dry needling programs on the Gulf Coast.

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Chronic Pain

Persistent pain that hasn't responded to injections or standard care. Dry needling combined with pain neuroscience education to help the nervous system recalibrate.

The Numbers Behind Dry Needling

80%+of knee OA patients report significant pain reduction
2–4×faster tendon recovery vs. rest alone
1–3sessions to notice measurable improvement
0medications required — drug-free pain relief

What Happens at Your First Appointment

No surprises. Here's exactly what to expect from call to treatment.

1

Call & Get Scheduled Fast

Call 228-471-5047. We'll get you scheduled — typically same week. Medicare and most insurance accepted. We'll answer every question before your first visit and verify your insurance upfront.

2

Full Evaluation With Dr. Baskin

Your first visit is a thorough 1-on-1 assessment. Dr. Baskin identifies the exact structures and patterns causing your pain — not just the general region. He uses diagnostic ultrasound imaging when precision matters.

3

Dry Needling Treatment — Same Day

Treatment begins on day one. You'll feel the therapeutic response — often followed by a meaningful reduction in symptoms within 24–48 hours. Dr. Baskin adjusts technique and needle depth for your specific presentation.

4

Clear Plan & Measurable Progress

You leave with a specific treatment plan — how many sessions, what to expect, what exercises to do between visits. Progress is measured each session. No open-ended plans.

Who You're Working With

Every needle, every session — placed by a credentialed DPT who knows your case.

Austin Baskin PT DPT — GT Physical Therapy Pascagoula

Austin Baskin

PT, DPT, CSCS, Cert DN · Owner & Founder

Austin founded GT Physical Therapy to bring serious, one-on-one care to the Gulf Coast. He completed post-graduate dry needling training through AAMT — a program that has been teaching the neurophysiological framework behind dry needling since 2016. He also uses diagnostic ultrasound imaging for precision needle guidance when needed.

He is a guest lecturer at William Carey University's Doctor of Physical Therapy program. When you come to GT PT, you see the same clinician every time — someone who knows your response, your history, and adjusts accordingly.

DPT — Doctor of Physical Therapy Cert DN — Dry Needling CSCS — Strength & Conditioning Diagnostic Ultrasound Imaging WCU Guest Lecturer

Insurance & Payment

We'll verify your benefits before your first visit — no surprise bills.

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Major Insurance

We work with most major insurance providers. Call to confirm your specific plan and benefits.

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Medicare

We accept Medicare. We'll explain your coverage and out-of-pocket costs upfront.

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Cash Pay

Transparent cash-pay rates. Know your cost before you come in — no surprise invoices.

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Workers' Comp

Work-related injuries accepted. We coordinate directly with adjusters.

Dry Needling FAQs

The questions we hear most before a first appointment.

Does dry needling hurt?
Most patients feel a brief muscle twitch or mild cramping — that's the therapeutic response you want. Any discomfort is short-lived. Most patients report significant relief within 24–48 hours. Dr. Baskin's approach focuses on precise placement to minimize discomfort throughout.
How many sessions will I need?
Most patients notice measurable improvement in 1–3 sessions. Full resolution of chronic conditions typically takes 4–8 total visits. Dr. Baskin will give you a clear, specific timeline during your first evaluation — not a vague "let's see how it goes."
Do I need a referral for dry needling in Pascagoula?
Most commercial insurance plans don't require a referral — Mississippi is a direct access state. Medicare patients require a physician referral. Call 228-471-5047 and we'll verify your benefits and coordinate any referrals needed.
Does insurance cover dry needling?
Coverage varies by plan. Some plans cover dry needling under physical therapy, others don't. We'll verify your specific benefits before your first visit so you know exactly what to expect. Cash-pay rates are also available.
How is dry needling different from a cortisone shot?
A cortisone shot reduces inflammation but doesn't address the underlying muscle dysfunction or neurological sensitization driving your pain. Dry needling directly changes the chemical and nervous system environment causing the problem. Many patients come to us after cortisone provided only temporary relief.
What should I do after a dry needling session?
Stay hydrated, move gently, and expect some mild soreness similar to post-workout soreness for 24–48 hours. Avoid intense exercise the day of treatment. Dr. Baskin will give you specific instructions and at-home exercises to support recovery between sessions.

Ready to Schedule in Pascagoula?

Same-week appointments available. Medicare and most insurance accepted. We verify your benefits before your first visit.

228-471-5047
GT Physical Therapy · 1408 Ingalls Ave, Pascagoula, MS 39567 · Mon–Fri 8am–5pm

Serving Pascagoula & All of Jackson County

Conveniently located to serve patients from across the Gulf Coast.

GT Physical Therapy

Address:  1408 Ingalls Ave, Pascagoula, MS 39567
Phone:  228-471-5047
Hours:  Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
New Patients:  Call to verify your insurance benefits
Call to Schedule

Areas We Serve

Pascagoula · Moss Point · Gautier · Ocean Springs · Vancleave · Hurley · Wade · Jackson County, MS · Gulf Coast Mississippi
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