The Science Behind Dry Needling: How It Works In Physiotherapy
Dry needling is a physiotherapy technique that has gained popularity in recent years. This technique involves inserting thin needles into trigger points in muscles to relieve pain and improve muscle function. Dry needling is also considered a form of neuromuscular therapy. It has been appreciated for its effectiveness but how exactly does dry needling work, and why is it so significant? In this blog, we’ll look at the science behind dry needling and its benefits for injury recovery.
What Is Dry Needling?
Dry needling physiotherapy, also known as intramuscular stimulation (IMS), is a treatment that helps to reduce muscle pain and improve joint range of motion (ROM).

This technique is similar to acupuncture and involves inserting needles into myofascial trigger points. These trigger points, which are also known as knots or muscle spasms, are tight and painful areas that can restrict movement and cause discomfort. Dry needling is an outpatient process that is frequently used in combination with other therapies such as massage, heat therapy, stretching, and electrical nerve stimulation to treat chronic and acute pain. Physiotherapists use solid needles that do not contain any medicine. That is why this technique is known as “dry.”
How Does Dry Needling Work?
Dry needling is a technique that involves the insertion of small needles into trigger points within muscles. This technique works by stimulating the body’s natural healing response, which can help to relieve pain, reduce muscular tension, and promote injury recovery. The needles cause a micro-injury to the muscle tissue, resulting in a series of healing responses such as endorphin release, increased blood flow, and activation of the body’s natural anti-inflammatory response. Dry needling can be used to treat a wide range of conditions, including back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, knee pain, and migraines.
How Do Physiotherapists Use Dry Needling?
Physical therapists use needles to treat the trigger points in your muscles. When dry needling works on your muscles and tissues, it can reduce tightness, improve blood flow, and reduce local and referred pain. Dry needling can also be used in combination with other physiotherapy procedures, such as manual therapy, exercise therapy, and electrotherapy. Before performing dry needling, physiotherapists examine patients and analyze their myofascial pain. Then, they determine how deep the needles go inside their skin and how long they remain there.
What Are The Benefits of Dry Needling Therapy?
Dry needling therapy has various advantages, including:
Natural Treatment For Pain Relief
One of the main benefits of dry needling is its ability to relieve pain effectively. Dry needling can help relieve pain and tension by targeting muscle trigger points. This therapy is particularly beneficial for people suffering from chronic pain issues like fibromyalgia or back pain. Dry needling can relieve pain without requiring risky surgery or potentially addictive pain medications. Some patients may experience immediate relief after just one dry needling session, while others may require multiple sessions to achieve pain relief.
Improves Blood Circulation
“Trigger points” refer to tight areas of the body where blood flow and oxygen supply are restricted. As a result of the lack of oxygen, the area is painful. Dry needling is a treatment that helps relax the smooth muscles of the blood vessel walls, allowing them to expand and improve blood flow to the affected area. This increased blood flow provides the nourishment that damaged tissues require for healing. Dry needling also enhances nerve communication and triggers the release of natural pain-relieving chemicals in the body.
Reduce Chronic Pain
Physical therapy and dry needling are two of the most effective treatments for chronic pain conditions. The dry needling technique involves inserting needles into specific areas of the affected muscle through the skin. This technique can be extremely beneficial in cases of chronic pain. Inserting the needles helps to release or inactivate trigger points that have developed due to injury or continual muscle stress. By stimulating these trigger points, the muscle releases, allowing for improved range of motion and reduced pain. Patients often experience quick relief after treatment. So, if you are suffering from chronic pain, physical therapy and dry needling are the best options for you.
Improved Mobility And Range of Motion
Dry needling therapy is a technique that can help improve the range of motion of an injury by reducing pressure and tension at trigger points. It is important to remember that smooth movement and a full range of motion are necessary for your recovery. Trigger points, which are also known as taught bands, can cause muscles to become tight, short, and stiff, which can restrict movement. As the taught bands relax, the muscles become more relaxed and flexible. Dry needling, when performed before stretching, is often more effective than stretching alone for releasing muscular bands, especially if stretching is too painful or ineffective enough to “untie” the muscle knot.
Quick Healing Or Recovery
If you have suffered an injury or had surgery, physical therapy can be a crucial part of your recovery treatment. However, adding dry needling therapy to physical therapy can help speed up the healing process. Dry needling therapy works by reducing pain, improving blood flow, and stimulating your body’s natural healing mechanisms. After dry needling, some patients may experience soreness and muscle tension, but it can also lead to better flexibility and other benefits, such as relieving headaches and migraines. Therefore, dry needling therapy can help speed up your body’s natural healing process.
Minimally Invasive
Dry needling is a technique used by physical therapists to treat muscle pain and tension. The needles used in this method are much thinner than medical syringes or sewing needles and can be as thin as human hair. During the procedure, you may feel a “pin prick” or pain as the needle penetrates the skin and muscle. A drop or two of blood is also normal, which happens around 20% of the time. The entire session takes about 30 minutes and you do not need to make particular preparations. Dry needling is an effective treatment that leads to faster recovery and less downtime.
To conclude, dry needling is a physiotherapy technique that is safe and efficient in relieving pain, reducing muscular tension, and promoting injury recovery. While some people may find it more effective in reducing stress and anxiety too.
At Vital Physiotherapy Clinic, our dry-needling therapists are highly trained and professional. If you would like to learn more about our services, please feel free to contact us.