Dry Needling 101

By: Kelsie Mazur, DPT

What is Dry Needling?

If you’ve been to a physical therapist lately, you have probably discussed or even received dry

needling as a treatment modality…

What is dry needling?

Dry needling, discovered and utilized as early as the 1940’s, is still being heavily researched today. Generally performed by physical therapists or sports medicine doctors, dry needling utilizes thin, monofilament needles to target “trigger points” in muscle and fascia. This helps to decrease neuromuscular pain and has also been shown to increase mobility. The name “dry” simply means that no medication or fluid is inserted during treatment. The goal of dry needling is to stimulate the trigger points or muscles to release tension and relieve pain, improve blood flow, and promote healing. It is based on the principles of Western medicine and neurophysiology.

Comprehensive research regarding the scientific mechanisms of dry needling is limited, but clinical studies overwhelmingly support the role of dry needling as a targeted approach in the reduction of pain. While there are many emerging scientific hypotheses surrounding how dry needling leads to pain reduction and range of motion increase, the exact mechanism is still being investigated.

What is dry needling NOT?

Dry Needling is NOT a one time fix. As your physical therapist, we have treatment modalities (like dry needling, scraping, etc) and exercises we prescribe that help you with rehab, but none of these are a “fix all”

solution. Dry needling is a multi-modal approach utilized by me, meaning there are many other factors to be considered and applied throughout the individualized treatment process. Dry needling is not a guaranteed solution to chronic pain. Pain is incredibly complex. When our brain interprets a stimulus as possibly harmful, it can trigger a pain response, even when there's no real danger present. Dry needling aids in desensitizing the brain to these pain signals, aka altering the perception of previously perceived threats, transforming them into non-threatening stimuli for both the brain and body. Consequently, this leads to reduced pain and creates an opportunity for improved movement. HECK YA BYE BYE PAIN. Coupled with tailored exercises, dry needling effectively dampens pain signals, fostering healthier movement patterns and enhancing flexibility.

Dry needling is not the same as acupuncture!

Acupuncture, originating from ancient Chinese medicine, is a method for managing pain. It is based on the concept of balancing the flow of energy (Qi) through meridians in the body to promote health and alleviate pain. Acupuncture is often used to address a wide range of health issues beyond pain management, including digestive disorders, stress, and infertility, based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine.

Dry needling is a more targeted approach and is a modern technique rooted in Western medicine. It is based on neuroanatomy and the understanding of trigger points, muscular dysfunction, and pain mechanisms. Dry needling is primarily used to treat musculoskeletal pain and movement impairments by targeting trigger points or tight bands of muscle to release tension and improve function

How does dry needling work?

Dry needling works by directly targeting myofascial trigger points (MTrPs), or knots, and the tense muscles that tend to surround the knot. Clinical evidence points to the insertion of the needle into the knot and surrounding muscular region having “pricked” the nerve endings and thus alleviating pain. Quite often with dry needling, the insertion of the needle in the MTrP (trigger point) will elicit a local twitch response, felt by the patient and therapist. This twitch is not painful but causes “a very strong neural impulse to the MTrP circuit to break the vicious cycle so that MTrP pain is relieved.” This twitch caused by the needle essentially “interrupts” the pain cycle and thus, helps you to move better! While the twitch is often reported during dry needling, studies have found that a decrease in pain symptoms also are possible without the twitch.

How could dry needling help me?

Dry needling has shown to be helpful in treating a plethora of pain related issues such as: low back pain, neck pain, shin splints, tennis elbow, shoulder impingement, carpal tunnel syndrome, and even headaches. Dry needling has displayed an increased range of motion and decreased shoulder pain in patients following a stroke. Dry needling has been shown to be most successful when reinforced by movement and exercise. Optimal movement following dry needling includes weighted exercises and resistance training. For example, if a patient came into Wattage with low back pain and the area was dry needled, the patient would then perform exercises and mobility such as, supine curl ups, Jefferson curls or pelvic tilts (depending on the case) to reinforce the increased strength and mobility gained from the dry needling. Here at Wattage, I am passionate about helping my patients in every way possible. To learn more about dry needling, performance training, or how I can help you get out of pain and back to doing the things you love, email us at Kelsie@wattagept.com today.