The Wellness Mama Podcast Dry Needling & the 4 Rs of Healing Pain: Reset, Repair, Replenish, Respect With Cristi Cuellar
Dec 1, 2025
Cristi Cuellar is a holistic physical therapist and founder of CC Dry Needling, focusing on neuromuscular balance and pain restoration. In the conversation, she explains the innovative practice of dry needling and how it differs from acupuncture. Cristi discusses the physiological changes our bodies undergo during treatment, including muscle acidity and voltage shifts. She introduces the Four Rs of Healing: Reset, Repair, Replenish, and Respect, offering practical tips for hydration, movement, and mindful recovery tailored to individual needs.
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How Dry Needling Resets Muscle Function
- Dry needling targets muscle tension and reconnects the nerve-to-muscle link for lasting function.
- Cristi explains it mechanically disrupts knots and resets tissue so healing can proceed.
Immediate Performance Boost Example
- Cristi tried needling while training for a bodybuilding competition and felt dramatic release within 24 hours.
- She reports improved running and hip flexor mobility right after the session.
Nervous System Reset And HRV Link
- Needling first provokes a brief sympathetic response then shifts clients into parasympathetic relaxation.
- Cristi links neck needling to vagus stimulation and measurable HRV increases.
