If you’ve been exploring alternative treatments for pain relief and healing, you may have already come across the terms “dry needling” and “acupuncture.” While the two may sound similar—and both use needles—these practices have distinct histories, purposes, and approaches to treatment. Understanding these differences can help you decide which (if either) option aligns best with your needs and goals.
What is dry needling?
Dry needling is a modern therapeutic technique commonly used in physical therapy and sports medicine to treat soreness and muscle tension. This practice involves inserting thin, filiform needles (similar to acupuncture needles) directly into trigger points, also called “muscle knots.” The goal is to release tension, relieve pain, and restore function to the affected muscles.
Dry needling emerged in the 1980s when practitioners began combining research into “referred pain” and musculature trigger points with research on the immediate pain relief effect of inserting needles into the skin and muscle tissue. So unlike acupuncture, dry needling was developed through a Western anatomical and scientific lens, focusing on muscle and tissue physiology.
Benefits of Dry Needling in Physical Therapy
Dry needling offers several benefits for those dealing with muscle pain, inflammation, and tightness. Patients often report improvements in mobility, reduced stiffness, and faster recovery, making it a popular treatment in physical therapy for athletes and people with generally active lifestyles.
Common benefits include:
- Providing relief from chronic and acute muscle pain
- Releasing tight knots to improve range of motion
- Reducing inflammation around the affected area
- Accelerating recovery from injury
Difference between dry needling and acupuncture
We want to be clear: our physical therapists do not practice acupuncture, although there are many people who have had successful treatments of various kinds through the practice. Instead, we focus on the evidence-driven discipline of dry needling that may look similar from the outside, but is fundamentally different than acupuncture.
Although both acupuncture and dry needling involve similar tools, the philosophies, techniques, and intended outcomes of dry needling and acupuncture diverge significantly.
Philosophy and objectives
- Dry needling: Based on Western medicine and anatomy, dry needling targets trigger points, myofascial tissue, and specific muscle groups. It’s specifically intended to address physical dysfunction and relieve pain for improved movement.
- Acupuncture: Grounded in traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture seeks to balance the body’s energy, or Qi, by stimulating specific points along energy pathways (meridians). The goal is to restore harmony, which many believe can help alleviate pain, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being.
Types of needles
- Both practices use fine, stainless steel needles. However, dry needling needles tend to be slightly thicker to penetrate deeper into muscle tissues.
Placement of needles
- Dry needling: Focuses on specific and predictable muscle trigger points where patients experience tightness or pain.
- Acupuncture: The placement is more generalized and guided by a person’s meridian system, targeting points believed to influence both physical and emotional well-being.
Depth of treatment
- Dry needling often involves inserting needles deeper into tissues and muscles to reach specific trigger points.
- Acupuncture usually involves more superficial placement, as its focus is on stimulating energy flow rather than treating the physical muscle tissues.
Training for practitioners
- Dry needling practitioners: Often licensed physical therapists (PTs) or sports medicine experts trained in anatomy, physiology, and techniques specific to dry needling.
- Acupuncturists: Licensed acupuncturists undergo years of study in traditional Chinese medicine, meridian theory, and acupuncture methods.
Dry needling treatment areas
Dry needling is widely used in physical therapy as an additional benefit for treating musculoskeletal issues and sports-related injuries. Here are some common areas where dry needling can make a difference:
- Back and neck pain
- Shoulder issues
- Knee pain
- Chronic headaches/migraine
- Sports injuries
- Post-surgery recovery
Not everyone who has one of these issues will benefit from dry needling, since, like all of our evidence-based treatments, it should be personalized to truly address your underlying concerns with the utmost efficacy and reliability.
Learn more about dry needling as part of physical therapy
If you’re experiencing pain, stiffness, or issues with mobility, dry needling may a helpful part of your comprehensive treatment plan. When administered by a skilled and licensed professional, dry needling can work in synergy with other physical therapy techniques, enhancing your recovery and overall outcomes.
At Carolina Strong Physical Therapy, our experienced practitioners incorporate dry needling into customized treatment plans tailored to your needs and preferences. Whether you’re rehabilitating from an injury, managing chronic pain, or simply seeking improved performance, dry needling could be a game-changer. Learn more about how this might look for your treatment plan by calling one of our clinic locations today.
