What is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is a treatment technique used by physiotherapists to help reduce muscle pain and tension, improve movement, and support recovery. It involves using thin, sterile single-use needles to target specific areas of muscle or fascia.
Dry needling is often used alongside other physiotherapy techniques, exercise, and rehabilitation to address the underlying causes of pain and movement restrictions.
What's the difference between Dry Needling and Acupuncture?
Although dry needling and acupuncture use similar fine needles, they are different treatment techniques with different underlying principles.
Acupuncture is rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine philosophy and is based on the concept of influencing the flow of energy (Qi) throughout the body. Dry needling, on the other hand, is based on Western medicine principles and focuses on the neuromusculoskeletal system, targeting muscles and other tissues to help reduce pain, muscle tension, and movement restrictions.
How Does Dry Needling Work?
There are multiple ways Dry Needling influences the body:
Centrally:
- Dry needling has been shown under functional MRI to affect areas of the brain involved in pain modulation (Niddam et al 2008)
Locally dry needling:
- Increases blood flow and decreases spontaneous electrical activity at the muscle site (Chys et al 2023)
- Changes chemical mediators associated with pain and inflammation (Fernández-de-Las-Peñas et al 2019)
- Dry needling can elicit a localised twitch response (a contraction of the muscle being needled), this can lead to altered length and tension of the muscle fibres (Cagnie et al 2013)
Who Can Benefit form Dry Needling?
Dry needling may be beneficial for people experiencing many types of neuromusculoskeletal pain.
Most importantly, your physiotherapist will assess your individual symptoms, movement, and goals to determine whether dry needling is suitable for you. They will also review your medical history and relevant health conditions to see whether Dry Needling is safe for you.
Dry Needling is typically most effective when combined with an individualised rehabilitation program designed to help you move better and get back to the activities you enjoy.
If you’re interested in dry needling, please discuss with your treating clinician and they can discuss the risks and benefits at your next appointment.
References
Cagnie, B., Dewitte, V., Barbe, T. et al. Physiologic Effects of Dry Needling. Curr Pain Headache Rep 17, 348 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-013-0348-5
Chys, M., De Meulemeester, K., De Greef, I., Murillo, C., Kindt, W., Kouzouz, Y., Lescroart, B., & Cagnie, B. (2023). Clinical Effectiveness of Dry Needling in Patients with Musculoskeletal Pain—An Umbrella Review. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(3), 1205.
Fernández-de-Las-Peñas, C., & Nijs, J. (2019). Trigger point dry needling for the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome: current perspectives within a pain neuroscience paradigm. Journal of pain research, 12, 1899–1911. https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S154728
Niddam, D. M., Chan, R. C., Lee, S. H., Yeh, T. C., & Hsieh, J. C. (2008). Central representation of hyperalgesia from myofascial trigger point. NeuroImage, 39(3), 1299–1306.
Author: Caitlin Cook (Physiotherapist)