what is dry needling

Dry needling is a technique that healthcare providers use to treat pain and movement issues associated with myofascial trigger points. It is a treatment performed by skilled, trained physical therapists, certified in the procedure. The technique involves inserting a thin monofilament needle into areas of the muscle, without medication or injection, to release or inactivate trigger points and relieve pain or improve range of motion. Dry needling can be used for a wide variety of musculoskeletal issues, such as shoulder, neck, heel, hip, and back pain. Other conditions that dry needling may treat include joint issues, disk issues, tendinitis, migraine and tension-type headaches, jaw and mouth problems, such as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, whiplash, repetitive motion disorders, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, spinal issues, pelvic pain, and night cramps. The technique rarely is a standalone procedure and is often part of a broader physical therapy approach incorporating other traditional physical therapy interventions into treatment. Dry needling is not acupuncture, which is based on traditional Chinese medicine performed by acupuncturists.