Dry Needling for Muscle Pain: How It Works and Who Benefits

Physical therapy for muscle pain can involve many different treatments. Depending on your situation and your needs, massage therapy, heat and cold therapy, and electrical stimulation may all be used to manage and minimize pain. Dry needling is also a popular option that benefits many people who require deep muscle penetration to reduce pain. 

Here at Texas Health Care’s Bone and Joint Clinic, we offer dry needling as a pain management option for people with muscle issues. But how does this treatment actually work, and will you even be a good candidate for it? We answer these questions and more. 

Dry needling 101

Dry needling is a pain management technique physical therapists use to help you achieve a more comfortable physical state. This can help you engage in several other therapies to heal an injury, manage arthritis, or otherwise improve your range of motion and strength in the affected area. But what even is dry needling?

This treatment involves pushing a needle either into the subcutaneous tissue just above the trigger point in the muscle (known as superficial penetration) or into the muscle itself (known as deep penetration). You may benefit more from one or the other depending on your specific needs. It’s called dry needling because the needles don’t carry any medication. 

Although it sounds similar to acupuncture, dry needling’s grounding in Western medicine and its focus on reducing pain are what set it apart. 

If you discuss dry needling with one of our providers, it’ll definitely be part of a larger treatment program rather than a singular procedure. The program usually also includes other physical therapy treatments, such as muscle retraining.

What to expect during a dry needling session

First, we discuss the program with you before you begin. You’ll learn where we place the needles and how deeply we insert them. The objective is to insert the needles at trigger points where the overworked muscles have become stiff and painful. The needles help increase blood supply to the area, trigger muscle spasms, and release endorphins, all of which help minimize pain.  

The session may involve just one needle at first until your provider understands exactly how much stimulation your muscle requires. The entire appointment will usually be about 30 minutes long, and while you might experience slight discomfort when the needle is inserted and some soreness afterward, many people report immediate pain relief.

A good candidate for dry needling 

There are several issues for which dry needling is a suitable treatment. Those who have experienced a car accident and have issues like whiplash or disk problems can benefit from dry needling. Repetitive motion issues, such as those causing hand or wrist pain, can also be treated with dry needling. Arthritis pain also responds well to this method. 

However, this treatment isn’t right for everyone. If you’re pregnant, taking blood thinners, or have an immunodeficiency, you should consider other treatment options. Also, if you’re afraid of needles, a condition known as trypanophobia, you aren’t the best candidate for this treatment. 

Can you really experience lessened pain with dry needling?

Yes, many people see an increase in their movement, strength, and flexibility, and a minimization of stiffness and even discomfort when they seek dry needling. We offer dry needling as part of a full physical therapy program tailored to your specific needs and recovery goals. 

Visit us at one of our three Texas offices today. Just make an appointment online or give us a call. We’re ready to help you begin your journey toward a healthy, happy, pain-free life.