Dry Needling
A thin sterile needle into the trigger point itself, to release muscle that has not let go on its own.
What it is
Understanding dry needling
Dry needling puts a sterile filament needle directly into the trigger point driving your pain. The muscle usually twitches and then releases. Most people describe a deep ache for a moment, then noticeably looser movement.
It is popular with athletes because it reaches tissue that hands cannot get to efficiently, and because the change is often immediate enough to train on the same week.
How it compares
Dry needling is not acupuncture
Acupuncture
- Rooted in traditional Chinese medicine
- Needles placed along meridian points
- Aims at energy flow and system-wide balance
- Needles usually left in place
Dry needling
- Rooted in western musculoskeletal anatomy
- Needle placed into the trigger point causing pain
- Aims at releasing one tight band of muscle
- Often brief, with a twitch response
What it helps
Commonly needled for
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Joint pain
- Overuse injuries in athletes
- Muscle spasm
- Post-training soreness that will not clear
- Chronic muscular pain
- Restricted range of motion
Common questions
Dry Needling FAQs
Does dry needling hurt?
Most people feel the twitch more than the needle. It is a brief deep ache in the muscle rather than a sharp pain, and it settles quickly. Some soreness the next day is normal.
How is it different from a cortisone shot?
Nothing is injected. The needle is solid rather than hollow and there is no medication involved, which is where the name comes from.
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