What is Dry Needling? How Does it Work?

You know that stubborn spot of pain and tenderness in your neck or back that never really goes away, even if you stretch, change your pillow, massage the area, or “just deal with it”? If the “crick in your neck," or similar pain elsewhere in your body, keeps coming back, you may not be able to fix it on your own.

You might think of localized muscle pain and tightness like that as a “trigger point.” This type of pain often occurs when your fascia, the connective tissues around your muscle fibers, is clumped or folded.

The tight knot you feel may only be one symptom, as these trigger points can contribute or manifest as pain elsewhere in your body—like headaches, shoulder tension, or low back discomfort. This type of pain can be difficult to treat with stretching or massage alone. A technique known as dry needling, performed by a physical therapist, can help.

What Happens in a Dry Needling Session?

During a dry needling session, your physical therapist inserts thin, sharp needles through your skin to access trigger points in layers of tissue that can't be reached by hand. The reason the technique is called "dry" needling is because the needles are solid and don't inject anything into your body. 

Most patients feel a quick pinch, followed by a brief muscle “twitch.” While that sensation can be surprising, it’s actually a sign that the trigger point is releasing.

Stimulating a trigger point with a needle helps draw normal blood supply back to the area, releasing tension and allowing the muscle to relax. Some patients feel pain relief after 1–2 sessions, and others require a longer course of treatment. Beyond pain relief, dry needling can help you restore healthy movement.

Do I Need Physical Therapy, Too?

Different needling techniques release the fascia in various ways. When these connective tissues are loosened, the tissues and muscles downstream can take a break from compensating for the pain, making it easier to work on exercises that correct your overall movement patterns. 

Because of the tension-releasing effects of dry needling, we often perform dry needling immediately before a physical therapy session. Foundation Physical Therapy offers short dry needling sessions as part of a regular 60-minute physical therapy appointment, or as a standalone 30-minute appointment.

If you think dry needling may help you relieve pain and restore function, inquire at your next appointment, or schedule an evaluation. We can help you decide if dry needling is a good option for your specific pain and goals.