Dry Needling

Dry needling is a skilled technique performed by licensed physical therapists that uses thin, solid filament needles to treat myofascial trigger points — hyperirritable spots in tight bands of muscle that can cause local and referred pain. The term “dry” means no medication or injection is used — the needle itself produces the therapeutic effect.

When a needle is inserted into a trigger point, it creates a local twitch response that releases the tight muscle band, improves blood flow to the area, and reduces the chemical irritants that sustain the trigger point. Patients often experience immediate improvement in pain and muscle tightness.

Dry needling is not acupuncture. While both use similar needles, dry needling is based on Western medical science and neuroanatomy, specifically targeting musculoskeletal trigger points identified during your physical therapy evaluation.

• Chronic muscle tightness and trigger points — Persistent muscle knots that do not fully respond to manual therapy alone
• Neck and back pain — Myofascial pain patterns involving the cervical and lumbar paraspinal muscles
• Headaches — Trigger points in the cervical and suboccipital muscles that contribute to headache patterns
• TMJ dysfunction — Trigger points in the jaw and facial muscles
• Tennis and golfer’s elbow — Forearm muscle trigger points that perpetuate tendon overload
• Shoulder pain — Rotator cuff and scapular muscle trigger points
• Hip and gluteal pain — Deep hip rotator and gluteal trigger points

Dry needling is used as one component of a comprehensive treatment plan — always in combination with exercise, manual therapy, and other interventions.

Your therapist will explain the procedure, discuss risks and benefits, and obtain your consent before performing dry needling. The needles used are very thin (much thinner than injection needles), and most patients describe the sensation as a deep ache or muscle cramp during the twitch response.

Some soreness in the treated area is normal for 24 to 48 hours after treatment — similar to post-exercise soreness. Most patients notice improved range of motion and reduced pain within one to two days.

Not everyone is a candidate for dry needling, and it is never the only treatment we provide. Your therapist will determine whether dry needling is appropriate for your condition and integrate it into your overall treatment plan.