You may have heard of a technique called dry needling and wondered what exactly it is. Sticking needles in your skin to treat musculoskeletal pain may sound a little strange. It’s basically acupuncture, right? Not exactly. While there are some similarities, there are some important differences, too. Acupuncture is an ancient technique that has been a part of traditional Chinese medicine for about 3000 years. It is intended to balance the flow of chi, or your body’s life force, through various pathways in your body. It has been used to treat a wide range of conditions, including pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression and more. It has been studied extensively and is generally considered a safe and effective treatment for many conditions.
Dry needling, however, is not acupuncture. They both involve using thin needles and may be complementary treatments, but dry needling is exclusively used to treat pain and movement issues, and it usually is prescribed as part of a larger pain management plan that can include many other treatment techniques1.
How is Dry Needling Different from Acupuncture?
Dry needling is not a part of ancient Chinese medicine. It is a modern technique based on modern science and typically provided by certified physical therapists or licensed acupuncturists. It is embraced by western medicine and regulated in each state2.
While both techniques involve needles, dry needling will typically use fewer needles and target different parts of the body. The point of acupuncture is to regulate the flow of energy, and it is used to treat a variety of conditions. Dry needling, on the other hand, targets specific myofascial (muscle and surrounding connective tissue) trigger points and is used specifically to treat musculoskeletal and neuromuscular pain.
How Does it Work?
Dry needling involves the insertion of needles into specific trigger points. These trigger points are sensitive, knotted areas that develop in your muscles, and are often associated with pain. This pain can be local to the trigger point or can be “referred” pain that occurs elsewhere in the body. Dry needling applied to these trigger points can reduce pain by decreasing muscle tightness and increasing blood flow3.
There is no medication or any other type of substance inserted into the body during dry needling. This is why it is referred to as “dry”. (Acupuncture is also a “dry” technique). The intervention is purely mechanical, with the pain relief resulting solely from the stimulation of the trigger points.
The science behind dry needling began in the 1930s and 40s, with multiple research papers published throughout the 20th century. Trigger points and associated pain points have been mapped and verified throughout the human body. The technique is well-established and embraced by modern medicine.
While the science has been understood for several decades, dry needling wasn’t a popular treatment option until after the year 2000. As more research was done and the safety and effectiveness were clearly established, more physical therapists wanted to make the treatment available to their patients. It was in 2015 that the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) and the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) worked with several dry needling experts to establish a core set of standards to allow physical therapists to use dry needling in their clinical practices4.
Dry Needling Can Treat Several Common Conditions
Dry Needling is almost always included as part of a larger treatment program rather than a standalone treatment, but there are many common conditions for which it can play an effective role in a patient’s pain management plan. This is why it’s a good idea to see a physical therapist that takes an integrative approach to pain management. They will be uniquely qualified to assess your condition and determine whether dry needling would be an effective part of your treatment strategy. Some of the most common conditions treated by dry needling include:
- Shoulder pain
- Low back pain
- Neck pain
- Hip pain
- Tendinitis
- Tennis elbow
- Whiplash
- Headaches
- Muscle strains
Your physical therapist will give you a thorough assessment to help determine the source of your pain and craft an effective treatment strategy. Your therapist may recommend a single dry needling session, multiple sessions, or none. If dry needling is part of your recommendation, you should know that it is a safe, research-supported therapy provided by trained professionals, and most people report minor or no discomfort at all during treatment.
After treatment, since dry needling targets trigger points that develop within stressed muscles, it’s normal for patients to experience some mild soreness for a short time. Your therapist may recommend some simple stretches you can do to help speed up your recovery time. Other suggestions to help you recover include staying hydrated and getting plenty of rest. Any discomfort should not last long after your treatment, and patients commonly experience reduced pain and improved range of motion quickly after the treatment is completed.
Is Dry Needling Right for You?
Since dry needling is known to be a safe and effective treatment for a wide range of conditions, it makes sense to wonder if this is a good treatment for you. That will depend on several different factors. While it’s safe for most people in most situations, it may not be appropriate if you are experiencing certain medical conditions or if you have an intense fear of needles. Your best option is to consult a trained physical therapist who can give you an assessment to determine whether this innovative treatment option is a good fit for you.
At Strive! Physical Therapy Centers, our therapists are skilled at evaluating pain or discomfort in people of any age and any lifestyle. We have been assessing and treating pain in Ocala and surrounding communities for more than 40 years. If you want to learn more about dry needling or want a professional assessment from a skilled, caring physical therapist, we would love to hear from you. Call us at 1.352.351.8883 or email us today to schedule a free consultation.
Sources
- “Dry Needling & Physical Therapy | Cleveland Clinic.” Cleveland Clinic, 20 Feb. 2023, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/16542-dry-needling.
- American Physical Therapy Association. “Dry Needling State Laws.” APTA, 19 July 2022, www.apta.org/patient-care/interventions/dry-needling/laws-by-state.
- Johnson, Kara. “On Pins and Needles: Just What Is Dry Needling? – Mayo Clinic Health System.” Mayoclinichealthsystem.org, 2019, www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/on-pins-and-needles-just-what-is-dry-needling.
- McAphee, Darius, et al. “Dry Needling: A Clinical Commentary.” International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, vol. 17, no. 4, 1 June 2022, https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.35693.
