What Is Dry Needling and How Can It Help?

Posted by: Reform Physical Therapy in Patient Education on January 10, 2026

Muscle pain and tightness can make everyday movement uncomfortable and frustrating. When muscles stay tense for long periods, they can limit mobility, cause pain, and make other treatments less effective. One treatment many patients ask about is dry needling physical therapy.

Dry needling is a technique used by trained physical therapists to release tight muscles, reduce pain, and improve movement. When used as part of a physical therapy plan, it can help patients feel relief faster and move more comfortably.

dry needling treatment performed by physical therapist

What Is Dry Needling Treatment and How Does It Work?

Dry needling is a treatment that uses very thin, sterile needles to target tight or painful areas in muscles, often called trigger points. These trigger points can cause pain, stiffness, or referred pain in other areas of the body. Unlike injections, dry needling does not use medication. The needle itself helps stimulate the muscle and nervous system, allowing the muscle to relax and heal more effectively.

How Dry Needling Works

When a needle is placed into a tight muscle, it creates a small response that helps release tension. This response can improve blood flow, reduce muscle guarding, and calm irritated nerves.

As the muscle relaxes, pain often decreases and movement becomes easier. Dry needling works best when combined with movement, stretching, and strengthening exercises.

What Conditions Can Dry Needling Help With?

Dry needling is often used to treat muscle-related pain and movement restrictions. It may help with neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, hip pain, headaches, and muscle tightness caused by overuse or poor posture. It is also commonly used for chronic muscle pain and conditions where muscles stay tense for long periods. Your physical therapist determines if dry needling is appropriate based on your symptoms and movement evaluation.

What Does Dry Needling Feel Like?

Many patients are nervous about how dry needling will feel, but most are surprised by how tolerable it is. You may feel a brief pinch or twitch when the needle reaches a tight muscle. After treatment, muscles may feel sore for a day or two, similar to how muscles feel after a workout. This soreness usually fades quickly and is often followed by improved movement and reduced pain.

Dry Needling vs Acupuncture

Although dry needling and acupuncture both use thin needles, they are not the same. Acupuncture is based on traditional Chinese medicine and focuses on energy flow. Dry needling is based on modern anatomy and movement science. Physical therapists use it to directly target muscles and movement problems as part of a rehabilitation plan.

dry needling treatment for muscle pain relief

Is This Technique Safe?

When performed by a trained and licensed physical therapist, dry needling is considered safe. Therapists receive specific education and follow strict safety guidelines. Before treatment, your therapist will explain the process, answer questions, and make sure dry needling is appropriate for you.

How This Technique Fits into Physical Therapy

Dry needling is rarely used on its own. It works best when combined with exercises, stretching, and movement retraining. By reducing muscle tension first, dry needling can help other physical therapy treatments be more effective and comfortable.

How Reform Physical Therapy Uses Dry Needling

At Reform Physical Therapy, dry needling is used as one tool within a personalized treatment plan. Our therapists focus on understanding your pain, movement patterns, and goals before recommending dry needling. If dry needling is appropriate, it is used alongside one-on-one physical therapy to support long-term improvement, not just short-term relief.

If muscle pain or tightness is limiting your movement, dry needling may help. Contact Reform Physical Therapy to schedule an evaluation and learn if dry needling is right for you.