Dry Needling: An Evidence-Based Tool to Relieve Muscle Pain and Restore Function

Dry Needling: An Evidence-Based Tool to Relieve Muscle Pain and Restore Function

What is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is a skilled technique performed by specially trained physical therapists. It involves inserting a very thin, sterile needle into muscle tissue to release tight bands (trigger points), improve blood flow, and reduce pain. Unlike acupuncture, dry needling follows principles of Western medicine and contemporary neuroanatomy.

Benefits of Dry Needling — Supported by Research

✅ Reduces Muscle Pain and Trigger Points

• Dry needling is shown to effectively reduce pain in muscles with active trigger points (Liu et al., 2015; Kietrys et al., 2013).

• A meta-analysis found that dry needling provides short-term pain relief for musculoskeletal pain, especially when combined with other therapies (Gattie et al., 2017).

✅ Improves Range of Motion and Function

• Research supports dry needling to improve joint mobility and muscle activation when tight muscles restrict motion (Dunning et al., 2014).

• Adding dry needling to a physical therapy plan can accelerate recovery for conditions like neck pain and shoulder impingement (Boyles et al., 2015).
  

✅ Decreases Pain in Pelvic Floor Conditions

• Emerging evidence shows dry needling can help patients with pelvic pain, chronic pelvic floor dysfunction, and overactive pelvic floor muscles (Ruffini et al., 2017; Kalichman et al., 2010).

• When integrated with pelvic floor rehab, it may reduce muscle guarding and discomfort, supporting better bladder and sexual function.
  

✅ Supports Healing by Improving Blood Flow

• Dry needling stimulates local blood circulation, which helps clear metabolic waste products and promotes tissue repair.

✅ Safe and Minimally Invasive

• Dry needling is generally well-tolerated with minimal side effects. Common temporary responses include mild soreness, which typically resolves within 24-48 hours.
  

Who Can Benefit?

Patients with:
✔ Neck or back pain
✔ Headaches or migraines
✔ Sports injuries
✔ Shoulder, hip, or knee pain
✔ Tendinitis
✔ Myofascial pain syndrome
✔ Pelvic pain and muscle tension

Interested in Trying Dry Needling?

At Practically Perfect PT, our licensed physical therapists are certified in dry needling and tailor each session to your specific needs. We combine dry needling with hands-on therapy, exercise, and patient education to help you achieve lasting results.

📞 Contact us today to see if dry needling is right for you!
✨ Practically Perfect PT — Helping you move better, feel better, and live better.