Izzi Ord-Kinnear, Physiotherapist (Palmyra clinic)
As physios we are regularly asked about dry needling, with reactions varying from people keen to jump straight on the table to those who look a little terrified.
Beyond what dry needling is, another question we hear a lot is, ‘Isn’t that acupuncture?’
So, in this post I will break down what dry needling is, how it differs from acupuncture, how it works and what it can (and can’t) help with. This way you can feel more comfortable before deciding if it’s something you wish to try.
What Is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is the use of fine, single-use needles in muscles and soft tissue to help settle pain and tension. The dry part simply means nothing is being injected (so rest assured it’s nothing like getting a cortisone shot).
We apply the needles to tight, sore spots in a muscle called trigger points or knots, or around areas that aren’t moving or working as well as they should. Where we needle depends on what we find in your assessment, so treatment is always tailored to your body.
Is Dry Needling Just Acupuncture?
The simple answer is: not quite. Both treatments use similar needles, but the thinking behind them is different.
Here’s a quick side by side:
| Dry needling | Traditional acupuncture | |
| Based on | Western anatomy and science | Traditional Chinese medicine |
| Where the needles go | Into sore or tight muscles found in your assessment | Along meridians and set acupuncture points |
| What it’s aiming to do | Ease pain and tension so you can move better | Restore the flow of energy (qi) and balance in the body |
| Who does it | Physios and allied health professionals with extra training | Registered Chinese medicine practitioners and some doctors |
| How it’s used | Usually as part of a larger treatment plan including exercise | Often as a standalone treatment |
In Australia, only practitioners registered to practice acupuncture can call themselves acupuncturists. While physiotherapists undertake extra training on top of their degree to perform dry needling, so either way you’re in safe hands.
How Does Dry Needling Work?
New research is consistently done to examine the science of dry needling is so effective. But the main thing to know is that dry needling works a lot through your nervous system. It does this by:
- Turning down the pain volume: The needle stimulates tiny nerve endings in the muscle, which triggers a nervous system response that dials down the pain signals from that area to your brain.
- Helping the muscle relax: Often the muscle gives a small twitch when we hit a tight spot, which causes muscle release.
- Waking up the area: Needling can boost blood flow and change the chemistry around a sore, overworked spot, which can help it settle.
- Kickstarting your internal pain relief: It is believed to trigger your brain and spinal cord to release natural painkillers like endorphins.
So, while it can feel like the needle is releasing the knot, much of what is happening is within in your nervous system – which is pretty cool when you think about it!
Does Dry Needling Help?
Clinical research on dry needling shows that it can:
- Reduce pain in the short term, across multiple areas of the body
- Ease muscle tension and make moving a bit easier
- Work best when it’s combined with other physio treatment, including exercise prescription
- Be a low-risk treatment when performed by a trained practitioner
So, yes. Experience tells us that dry needling is great for settling things down so patients can move and do their exercises more comfortably. However, it’s best used as part of your overall physio treatment plan, not a quick silver bullet on its own.
What Can Dry Needling Help With?
Here are some of the common conditions and injuries dry needling in physio is used for:
- Neck and shoulder tension (including headaches that stem from a tight neck)
- Lower back and glute pain
- Shoulder pain
- Tennis and golfer’s elbow
- Tight hips and thighs
- Tight calves and heel pain, like plantar fasciitis
- Jaw pain
- General sporting niggles and tightness
A good physio will always do a proper assessment first and discuss options with you before deciding if dry needling is a good fit.
Does Dry Needling Hurt?
Honestly, not as much as some people expect! The needles are considerably thinner than ones used for blood tests and vaccines, so most people barely feel them go in. Once a needle is in the muscle you may feel a dull ache, a heavy feeling or a small twitch, all of which are normal and should settle quickly.
You may feel a bit sore for a day or two afterwards, perhaps as you might expect to after a big gym session. Some people also feel a little tired or lightheaded after their first session, so we always make sure patients are feeling good before leaving the clinic.
Is Dry Needling Safe?
Yes, when performed by a trained physio or health professional. We use sterile, single use needles and follow strict safety guidelines.
Before any session however, please let your therapist know if:
- You’re pregnant or trying to fall pregnant
- You take blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder
- You’re scared of needles or have fainted with them before
- You have diabetes, a weakened immune system or a skin infection
- You’ve had lymph nodes removed or have lymphoedema
- You have a metal allergy
These conditions doesn’t always mean you can’t have dry needling – it just helps us make the safest call. And if needles simply aren’t your thing, that’s totally fine too! There are plenty of other ways we can help you.
Dry needling can be a useful part of physio treatment, especially when pain or tightness is getting in the way of moving well and doing your exercises. It’s not a magic fix, but paired with the right plan it can help you get back doing what you love sooner.
If you’re curious about whether dry needling is right for you, just ask us at your next appointment or book in for an assessment. Myself and my colleagues at both our Leeming and Palmyra physio clinics are always happy to talk it through with new patients.
