Dry Needling for Pain Management — Is It The Right Choice For You? We Asked An Expert

Image Credit: @alexismorganpt

This content is brought to you in partnership with OrthoCarolina, one of the nation's leading orthopedic practices with offices across the Southeast.

Aren't we all just out here trying to minimize the amount of pain we're experiencing in our day-to-day lives? Neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain — we do what we can to prevent these things, but throughout the course of our lives, we do experience them.

So, what's the best way to treat and manage pain in different areas of our bodies? Well, depending on the situation at hand, dry needling might be the answer.

We asked Ken Breath (a PT, ATC, LAT, and Cert. DN at OrthoCarolina) a few questions to learn more about what dry needling is and who can benefit from it.

Image Credit: @jaguartherapeutics

Work For Your Beer: What is dry needling and how does it work? 

Ken Breath: Dry needling (DN), meaning no medication is used, is a skilled intervention performed by a PT using a thin needle to penetrate the skin and stimulate underlying myofascial trigger points, muscular tissue, and connective tissues for the management of neuromusculoskeletal pain and movement impairments.

WFYB: How does dry needling impact the body? Mind?

KB: Inserting a needle into a hypersensitive nodule (aka active trigger point or “knot”), a localized twitch response occurs which is a mechanical response. DN also creates chemical and neurological changes. While the mechanisms as still being studied and validated, it is theorized that some of the nerve stimulation of the treatment actually blocks the pain stimuli from the trigger points. Improved muscle mobility combined with lower pain can help not only the body but also the mind.

WFYB: Who can dry needling benefit? (Runners? Yogis? Weight lifters? Cyclists?)

KB: Dry needling can benefit anyone that is having myofascial pain or trigger points, but it is only a part of the treatment. When combined with exercise and stretching, the benefits are much greater. I treat many runners and cyclists who feel tightness during or after training to maximize their performance.

WFYB: For what reasons would you recommend dry needling to a patient?

KB: I recommend DN as a part of a comprehensive plan for pain that may not be responding to traditional stretching or soft tissue mobilization. Many trigger points “break up” on their own but for some reason, some stick around and cause pain or movement dysfunction. These are the ones that typically respond the best in my experience.

WFYB: How often do you recommend that someone make dry needling appointments?

KB: Generally, most patients respond in just a few treatments, especially if combined with a stretching and exercise program. Some athletes will schedule more frequent appointments as they get closer to their event. These athletes tend to be much more in tune with their bodies and small changes can have large effects on their performance and mind.

WFYB: If someone is considering trying dry needling out for the first time, what would you tell them?

KB: I always go over the risks (even though they are minimal) and benefits of the treatment. Of course, I obtain written/verbal consent since it is a more specialized technique. I explain what a trigger point is and reassure the patient that DN is a safe procedure.

Then I explain what the patient should experience during the treatment.

Typically, the patient will not feel the insertion of the needle itself, only the pressure of the guide tube and a little tap. If not into a trigger point, the patient may not feel anything but some small movements around the skin.

Once a trigger point is hit, often a quick twitch is felt in the muscle which most describe as a small, cramping sensation. It is intense but tolerable. Feedback from the patient is very important during the process, which may only take 20-30 seconds per trigger point, unless electrical stimulation is applied to the needles.

Most patients will feel an immediate change in the tissue at which time I would instruct them in some functional movements or exercises to “retrain the brain” in the new range of motion, sort of a reset back to normal patterns.

I encourage increased movement as they would normally do in the day and fluid uptake (even though this has not been proven, it just seems like a good idea). I also explain that the patient may have a general fatigue or soreness afterward — sometimes within a few hours or up to a day later. 

​Learn More About Health & Wellness From the Experts at OrthoCarolina

Whether you’ve recently experienced an injury or you just need help figuring out the best way to live a healthy and balanced lifestyle, OrthoCarolina can help. Make an appointment at a location near you to start getting the treatment you need.