Dry needling is a therapeutic technique that involves inserting very fine needles into specific points within the muscle to release deep tension. Nothing is injected — the needle itself does the work, hence the word "dry".
Dry needling vs. acupuncture
The two are often confused, but they rest on fundamentally different foundations:
- Dry needling — grounded in anatomy and neurophysiology, targets trigger points inside muscles
- Acupuncture — rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, follows energetic meridians
The needles look alike, but the theory and the targeted points are distinct.
What is a trigger point?
A trigger point is a localised zone of involuntary contraction within a muscle. It produces:
- Local pain under pressure
- Referred pain (in an area away from the point)
- Stiffness and muscle weakness
The trapezius, gluteals, soleus, rhomboids and psoas are among the muscles most commonly affected.
How a session goes
- Palpation — I locate the trigger points by pressure
- Needle insertion — a thin needle is placed into the point
- Local twitch response (LTR) — a brief involuntary muscle jump confirms the point has been released
- Removal — after a few seconds to a few minutes
What you'll feel
Most patients describe a sensation of pressure, heaviness or a light cramp during the twitch. It's not pleasant, but it's brief and signals relief on the way.
Who is it for?
- Chronic muscle pain
- Tendinopathies and insertional pain
- Neck and lower back pain
- Tension headaches
- Myofascial pain syndrome
- Sport recovery
Dry needling is often used alongside osteopathy to reach deep tension points that the hands alone can't fully release.