By: Mandeep Hayer, Physiotherapist
Dealing with stubborn muscle pain, tension, or tightness? Whether it’s from an old injury, poor posture, or overuse, irritated muscles can limit your movement and remain even with stretching, rest, or massage.
When your muscles are in a constant cycle of tightness and pain, you need more than surface-level relief.
That’s why more people are turning to dry needling.
Physiotherapists trained in dry needling insert thin needles directly into specific trigger points – helping reset the muscle, reduce pain, and restore function.
Dry needling is a fast-acting, focused way to release tension at the root and help your body recover, not just manage symptoms.
What is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is a physiotherapy technique used to release tight muscle bands, relieve pain, and improve movement.
It involves inserting a very fine, sterile needle directly into a trigger point – a taut, sensitive spot in the muscle that’s often responsible for the stiffness or discomfort you may be feeling.
While it may sound similar to Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS), dry needling has a different clinical focus.
IMS often targets nerve-related pain patterns by inserting needles into specific areas including the painful muscle and corresponding nerve region, while dry needling tends to focus more locally on muscle tension and movement restrictions.
By targeting the source of the tension, dry needling helps restore balance in the surrounding tissues and allows for better mobility, faster recovery, and long-term relief.
How Dry Needling Works in Physiotherapy
Dry needling often works as part of a broader treatment plan, especially when other techniques and exercise alone aren’t resolving deeper muscle dysfunction.
When muscles are overworked or injured, they can develop “trigger points” – small knots or tight bands within the muscle that are more sore, tender, and sometimes spread pain to other areas of the body or referred pain.
These points can disrupt normal muscle function and movement patterns and make it harder for the body to move freely and without pain.
By inserting a needle into these trigger points, physiotherapists can stimulate the muscle, which often causes an involuntary twitch response, helping the muscle release its tension, improve blood flow, and “reset” the way the muscle is firing. When the trigger point is released, the needle is removed.
What Conditions Can Dry Needling Help With?
Dry needling can be effective for a wide range of conditions, especially chronic conditions or those with persistent pain who are no longer responding to other treatments
- Neck and shoulder tension: Great for people with desk jobs, stress-related tightness, or poor posture habits
- Lower back pain: Especially when caused by muscle overcompensation or imbalance
- Headaches and migraines: Trigger points in the upper shoulder or neck can often refer pain to the head
- Chronic pain conditions: For those experiencing persistent pain and discomfort
- Hip, glute, and pelvic tension: Especially common in runners, cyclists, or those with lower back pain.
- Restrictions in fascia: Fascia, the connective tissue surrounding muscles, can become tight or stuck. Dry Needling can help with localized fascial restrictions. (You can read more about how fascia works here.)
Dry needling is most helpful when pain is muscular in origin and can be valuable during different stages of healing, whether it’s to reduce short-term pain or support longer-term rehab goals.
What are the Benefits of Dry Needling – And When is it Most Effective
Dry needling, when used strategically by your physiotherapist, can provide more than just temporary relief. It works to restore function, improve movement, and support long-term recovery. It offers numerous benefits that help you stay active:
Reduces Muscle Tension at the Source
- Targets tight or overactive muscle bands that may be causing stiffness and pain
- Helps muscles relax and return to a healthier resting state
- Decreases pressure on joints, tendons, and surrounding tissues
Improves Range of Motion
- Releases physical restrictions that limit flexibility
- Especially effective in areas prone to tension, like the shoulders, hips, and neck
- Supports better posture and movement patterns
Speeds Up Recovery
- Increase effectiveness of exercise and other forms of physical therapy
- Helps the body respond faster to rehabilitation
- Promotes circulation and healing in tense or overused muscles
When is Dry Needling Most Effective?
The technique or dry needling is most effective when used with other physiotherapy treatments, like strengthening exercises and movement re-training.
It’s especially effective when:
- Pain keeps returning despite rest, massage, or stretching
- Progress in rehabilitation has plateaued
- Certain muscles aren’t activating properly or are chronically overworking
Knowing when to use dry needling is just as important as how it’s applied. At Hayer Health, our physiotherapists will thoroughly assess your movement goals and overall treatment plan to determine if dry needling will support your recovery.
Dry Needling vs. Acupuncture: What’s the Difference?
Many people often assume that dry needling is just another form of acupuncture. While both treatments involve the use of thin, sterile needles, the similarities stop there.
Though the treatments might look alike on the surface, dry needling and acupuncture come from different traditions, use different clinical reasoning, and serve different goals.
Dry needling is rooted in Western medicine and used by physiotherapists to target tight muscles and trigger points. It’s based on musculoskeletal assessment and focuses on pain relief and internal health concerns.
Acupuncture comes from Traditional Chinese Medicine and aims to balance the body’s energy by stimulating specific meridian points. It is often used for a wide range of physical, mental, and emotional health concerns.
Although the techniques look similar, the clinical reasoning behind them is very different.
If you’re dealing with muscle tension, injury recovery, or movement restrictions, dry needling from a trained physiotherapist may be a good option.
What to Expect in a Dry Needling Session
If it’s your first physiotherapy appointment, it’s normal to feel a bit unsure about what the session will involve. At Hayer Health, we take the time to clearly explain the process, answer your questions, and make sure you understand every step of the process.
Every session begins with a thorough assessment. Your physiotherapist will review your symptoms, movement patterns, and goals to determine whether dry needling is appropriate.
We prioritize your safety by screening for any contraindications and obtaining informed consent before starting. If dry needling is recommended, your physiotherapist will walk you through what to expect and address any concerns you may have. We follow strict sterile procedures at all times to minimize any risk and ensure a clean and safe experience.
During the treatment, your physiotherapist will insert thin, sterile needles into specific trigger points or areas of tightness. There might be a brief twitch or deep ache, which are both normal responses as muscle reacts to the needle
After the treatment, it’s common to feel soreness in the area, similar to post-workout fatigue or deep tissue massage. This usually fades within 24-48 hours. Your physiotherapist may recommend light movement, hydration, or heat to support recovery.
Dry needling may be used in combination with other physiotherapy techniques to support better results.
Ready to move better, feel better? Book your appointment with Hayer Health today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are there any risks or side effects with dry needling?
Dry needling is generally a very safe procedure when performed by a trained physiotherapist. At Hayer Health, we follow strict sterile procedures and screen for contraindications to minimize any risks.
Mild side effects can include temporary soreness, bruising, or dizziness after treatment. These are typically short-lived and resolve on their own. Serious complications are rare but may include infection or injury if performed improperly – which is why proper training and technique are essential.
How many dry needling sessions will I need?
The number of sessions varies depending on the condition being treated, how your body responds, and what your overall treatment plan includes. Some people feel noticeable relief after one or two sessions; others may benefit from a short series of treatments over a few weeks.
Does dry needling hurt?
Many often describe the sensation as deep ache, cramp, or quick twitch – not a sharp needle-like pain. Some people experience very little, while others may experience mild discomfort that passes quickly. Our physiotherapists will always adjust the technique based on your comfort level.
