If you’ve ever had a stubborn muscle knot that just won’t quit, you know how frustrating it can be. Stretching doesn’t help, massages offer only temporary relief, and the pain keeps coming back. This is where dry needling comes in—a modern, effective technique used by physical therapists to target deep muscle tension and trigger points. Dry Needling also helps improve fascia health and mitigate issues from too much scar tissue.
What is Dry Needling?
Dry needling involves the insertion of thin, sterile needles into specific areas of muscle tension or “trigger points.” Unlike acupuncture, which is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, dry needling is based on modern Western anatomical and neurophysiological principles.
How It Works
When a needle is inserted into a trigger point, it causes a local twitch response—a brief contraction followed by relaxation. This helps to:
- Reduce muscle tightness
- Improve blood flow
- Decrease pain and inflammation
- Restore normal movement patterns
Many patients report immediate relief following a session.
Who Can Benefit
Dry needling is effective for a wide range of musculoskeletal issues, including (but not limited to):
- Chronic neck or back pain
- Tension headaches and migraines
- Tendinitis and sprains
- Sciatica
- Postural dysfunctions
- Athletic muscle recovery
- Plantar fasciitis, myofascial pain syndrome and fascial adhesions
At TheraSport we typically use dry needling in combination with other treatments like exercise, stretching, electric stem treatment, laser, ultrasound and manual therapy. Our therapist will prescribe the mix of treatments for best results, based on your specific needs.
