Understanding Dry Needling: How It Works and Who It Can Help
If you’ve ever struggled with persistent muscle tightness, chronic pain, or nerve irritation, you may have heard of dry needling. It’s becoming increasingly popular among physical therapists and sports medicine specialists — but what exactly is it, and how does it differ from acupuncture? Let’s break it down.
What Is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is a therapeutic technique that involves the insertion of thin, filiform needles into specific areas of the body — typically muscles, tendons, or trigger points. Unlike injections, no medication or fluid is used (hence the term “dry”).
The goal is to treat musculoskeletal and neuromuscular issues, helping reduce pain, improve movement, and promote healing.
How Is It Different from Acupuncture?
Although both practices use fine needles, their intent and philosophy differ.
Acupuncture is rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and focuses on balancing the body’s energy (or qi) along meridian channels.
Dry needling, on the other hand, is based on Western medicine principles. It targets specific muscles and neural pathways to address dysfunctions identified through orthopedic and neurological assessment.
In short: same tools, different approach and goals.
How Does Dry Needling Help?
Dry needling helps the body heal and manage pain through several mechanisms:
Activates natural pain relief: Stimulates opioid-based pain reduction via the endogenous cannabinoid and sympathetic nervous systems.
Boosts “feel-good” neurotransmitters: Increases the release of serotonin and norepinephrine, which can improve mood and pain tolerance.
Reduces inflammation: Encourages immune cell activity while blocking inflammatory cytokines.
Supports tissue healing: Promotes fibroblast and keratinocyte function, improving tissue repair and reducing pain sensitivity.
Improves circulation: Enhances vasodilation (blood flow) to the treated area, which accelerates recovery.
For people dealing with chronic pain, dry needling can help “reset” the inflammatory cycle, supporting long-term healing rather than just temporary relief.
Conditions That May Benefit from Dry Needling
Dry needling can be helpful for a range of conditions, including:
Hip and knee osteoarthritis
Piriformis syndrome and sciatica
Plantar fasciitis
Achilles tendonitis
Low back pain
Headaches and migraines
Temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD/TMJ)
Shoulder and neck pain
🌟Final Thoughts
Dry needling isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, but for many people, it offers significant relief from pain and stiffness — especially when combined with other therapeutic approaches like exercise, manual therapy, and postural correction.
At the Pilates Rx, our newest physical therapist, Cate McPherson is certified in dry needling. If you’re curious whether dry needling could help you, consider booking a discovery call to learn more information!
