Dry Needling
What Is It?
Plain-Language Explanation
Dry needling uses very thin needles — the same type as acupuncture needles — inserted directly into painful knots in muscles called trigger points. It is not acupuncture and involves no medication (hence the term 'dry').
The goal is to release tight muscle knots, reduce pain, and improve movement. You may feel a brief twitch or a dull ache at the needle site, which typically resolves quickly.
Technical Explanation
Dry needling targets myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) — hyperirritatable loci within taut bands of skeletal muscle that produce predictable referred pain patterns. Direct insertion of a filiform needle into an active MTrP elicits a local twitch response (LTR) — a brief involuntary contraction of affected muscle fibres — associated with mechanoreceptor activation and normalisation of dysfunctional motor endplates.
Neurophysiologically, dry needling modulates nociceptive signalling via dorsal horn gate control mechanisms, endogenous opioid release, and normalisation of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction. In the neurorestoration context, dry needling addresses focal spastic hypertonia, peripheral neuropathic pain, and post-stroke neuromuscular dysfunction.
How It Is Used at Our Practice
In our practice, dry needling is performed by trained physicians as part of integrated neuromuscular pain management. It is frequently combined with photobiomodulation at the same site to accelerate tissue recovery and minimise post-procedure discomfort.
A thorough evaluation is performed before each session to identify trigger-point patterns relevant to the patient's primary neurological presentation — such as tension-type headache, post-stroke neck pain, or focal spasticity.
Scientific Evidence
- Dommerholt J & Fernández-de-las-Peñas C 2013, Manual Trigger Point Therapy — Elsevier
- Fernández-Carnero J et al. 2010, J Pain — Widespread mechanical pain hypersensitivity after myofascial trigger point needling
- Rainey CE 2013, J Man Manip Ther — Dry needling and needling techniques in myofascial pain management
- Liu L et al. 2018, Evid Based Complement Alternat Med — Effectiveness of dry needling for myofascial trigger points: meta-analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is dry needling the same as acupuncture?
- No. Although the same needle type is used, dry needling is based on modern anatomy and neurophysiology, targeting specific myofascial trigger points, whereas acupuncture follows traditional meridian principles.
- Is the procedure painful?
- A brief ache or muscle twitch is common, but generally well tolerated. Our physicians ensure your comfort throughout the procedure.
- Which conditions can dry needling help?
- Neck and back pain, tension headache, shoulder pain, post-stroke focal spasticity, and chronic myofascial pain, among others.
- How many sessions are needed?
- Typically 3–6 sessions at 3–7 day intervals. Individual response varies and is reassessed after each session.
Wondering whether this modality is right for your condition?