How Does Dry Needling Work?
If you’ve ever experienced stubborn muscle tightness or persistent pain that just won’t budge, no matter how much stretching or massage you do, you may have been told to try dry needling. But what exactly is it? And more importantly, how does it work?
Let’s break it down.
How Does Dry Needling Work?
Dry needling is a technique that uses fine, sterile needles to release trigger points, tight, sensitive spots in your muscles that cause pain and restrict movement. While it uses similar needles to acupuncture, dry needling is based on modern anatomy and science, not traditional Chinese medicine.
What Can It Help With?
Dry needling can treat a range of conditions where muscle tightness or overuse is a factor, including:
Neck and shoulder pain
Tennis/golfer’s elbow
Knee or calf tightness
ITB syndrome
Glute or hip pain (common in runners)
It’s particularly helpful for those dealing with desk posture strain, sports injuries, or repetitive movement issues.
How Does It Work?
Once your physiotherapist identifies the problematic area, they insert a very thin needle into the muscle trigger point. This can:
Reduce muscle tension
Improve blood flow
Ease pain
Improve joint movement
You may feel a small prick or muscle twitch, these are normal and usually brief. The needle stays in for 1–5 minutes, depending on the area.
Does It Hurt?
Most people feel minimal discomfort. Some experience a dull ache, twitch, or mild soreness afterward. Side effects like bruising or fatigue are rare and temporary. When done by a trained physiotherapist, dry needling is very safe.
What Happens After?
While dry needling provides short-term relief, long-term results come from following a tailored rehab plan. This usually includes strengthening, stretching, and posture education to address the root cause and prevent recurrence.
Thinking About Trying It?
At Ballsbridge Physiotherapy Clinic, our team can assess if dry needling is right for you and integrate it into a personalised treatment plan.
Whether you're dealing with marathon training soreness, desk-job stiffness, or long-standing niggles, our team is here to help.
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