Dry Needling: Targeted Relief for Persistent Muscle Pain
Musculoskeletal pain is a common and often persistent issue, affecting a portion of the population and impacting everything from athletic performance to everyday tasks. For many, this persistent discomfort may be resistant to conventional treatments.
This article examines how dry needling, a physiotherapy method supported by evidence, offers potential relief where other approaches may be less effective. It will also delve into how it targets and alleviates this pain by addressing the root cause, not just the symptoms.
Understanding Musculoskeletal Pain
Pain arising from the body’s muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons can be complex. A frequent source of this pain is the presence of myofascial trigger points[1], often referred to as “muscle knots.” These hyperirritable spots, located in a tight band of muscle, are tender to the touch and can cause pain in other areas of the body, a phenomenon known as referred pain.
When this pain becomes persistent, it can lead to a cycle of discomfort, muscle guarding, and restricted movement. This type of pain, driven by muscle tension and neurological irritation, can become a constant presence, limiting daily function and quality of life. Understanding this underlying mechanism is the first step to seeking muscle pain relief.
The Science of Dry Needling for Pain Relief
So, how does dry needling work? It’s a physiological process that influences both the muscle tissue and the nervous system. The approach involves a physiotherapist inserting a very fine, sterile needle into a myofascial trigger point within the muscle. This process may provide immediate and targeted effects:
- Deactivating Trigger Points: When the needle enters the taut band of muscle, it aims to elicit a “local twitch response”—a quick contraction followed by a relaxation of the muscle fibres. This may help to release the knot’s tension, restoring normal muscle length and function and alleviating the pain that originated from that spot. This is what dry needling does to the muscle.
- Neurophysiological Effects: Aside from the mechanical response, the needle’s presence may influence nerve pathways and local chemistry. It may stimulate a healing cascade, promoting blood flow and oxygen to the area and helping to decrease pain signals sent to the brain[2]. This neurophysiological effect may contribute to the long-term benefits of dry needling.
The outcome of these mechanisms may provide an optimal and lasting form of muscle pain relief[3].
Conditions Targeted by Dry Needling
Dry needling is not a universal cure, but it may be helpful for a specific set of conditions where musculoskeletal pain is a key component. A qualified physiotherapist can help determine if this approach is suitable for your condition.
That said, it may be helpful for:
- Chronic neck pain and associated headaches (tension-type, cervicogenic)
- Persistent lower back pain[4]
- Shoulder pain (e.g., rotator cuff issues, impingement-related muscle tension)
- Hip and gluteal pain (e.g., piriformis syndrome, tendinopathies)
- Elbow conditions (e.g., tennis/golfer’s elbow)
- Plantar fasciitis and other stubborn tendinopathies
- Fibromyalgia-related muscle pain
For these conditions, dry needling may offer targeted relief where other approaches, such as acupuncture, might have been less effective.
Integrating Dry Needling Into Your Physiotherapy Programme
Dry needling is rarely a standalone approach[5]; instead, it is typically a helpful component of a comprehensive physiotherapy plan. A physiotherapist at a physiotherapy centre in Singapore will first conduct a thorough assessment to assess the root cause of your pain.
Based on their findings, dry needling may be recommended to prime the muscle for other approaches, such as:
- Manual therapy: It can be used in combination with manual therapy to improve the range of motion and reduce stiffness.
- Exercise therapy: After a dry needling physio session, muscles are often more receptive to strengthening or stretching, making your exercise therapy more effective.
- Postural correction and ergonomic advice: By addressing underlying muscle dysfunction, dry needling can make it easier to maintain proper posture and implement ergonomic changes.
The decision to use this modality is always evidence-based and is part of a physiotherapist’s broader scope of practice.
What to Expect of Dry Needling
If you’re considering dry needling, it’s natural to wonder what the experience is like. After a comprehensive assessment to ensure it’s safe and appropriate for you, your physiotherapist will proceed with the needling.
You may feel a slight prick upon needle insertion, but this is usually minimal. When the needle enters a trigger point, you may feel a brief, sharp muscle contraction or “twitch.” This sensation is a sign that the approach is helping to release the knot.
While it’s common to experience some mild muscle soreness after the session, similar to a post-workout ache, this is a normal part of the process and may typically resolve within 24-48 hours. Your physiotherapist will provide specific aftercare instructions to ensure the overall goal of a lasting reduction in pain is achieved.
Unlock Relief, Restore Function
Dry needling is a helpful and targeted tool for relieving persistent musculoskeletal pain. When delivered by a qualified physiotherapist, it can help accelerate recovery and improve quality of life. If you’re experiencing persistent muscle pain and are looking for a new approach, consider an assessment to see if this modality is suitable for your pain condition.
References
- Tsai, P., Edison, J., Wang, C., Sefton, J., Manning, K. Q., & Gramlich, M. W. (2024). Myofascial trigger point (MTrP) size and elasticity properties can be used to differentiate characteristics of MTrPs in lower back skeletal muscle. Scientific Reports, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-57733-4
- Gattie, E., Cleland, J. A., & Snodgrass, S. (2017). The effectiveness of trigger point dry needling for musculoskeletal conditions by physical therapists: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 47(3), 133–149. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2017.7096
- Chys, M., De Meulemeester, K., De Greef, I., Murillo, C., Kindt, W., Kouzouz, Y., Lescroart, B., & Cagnie, B. (2023). Clinical Effectiveness of Dry Needling in Patients with Musculoskeletal Pain—An Umbrella Review. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(3), 1205. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12031205
- Dach, F., & Ferreira, K. S. (2023). Treating myofascial pain with dry needling: a systematic review for the best evidence-based practices in low back pain. Tratamento da dor miofascial com agulhamento a seco: uma revisão sistemática para as melhores práticas baseadas em evidências em lombalgia. Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria, 81(12), 1169–1178. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0043-1777731
- Dommerholt J. (2011). Dry needling – peripheral and central considerations. The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy, 19(4), 223–227. https://doi.org/10.1179/106698111X13129729552065
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Meet Our Physiotherapist
This article is written by Ng Hong Kai, our Clinic Director and Chief Physiotherapist
Clinic Director and Chief Physiotherapist
- Master of Clinical Physiotherapy (Musculoskeletal), Curtin University (Australia)
- Master of Physiotherapy, University of Sydney (Australia)
- Bachelor of Applied Science (Exercise & Sports Science), University of Sydney (Australia)
- Member of Australian College of Physiotherapists and Australian Physiotherapy Association
- Full registration with Allied Health Professions Council, Singapore, and Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
- GEMt Certified Dry Needling Practitioner
Hong Kai has been practising musculoskeletal physiotherapy for more than a decade. He is the first Singaporean to achieve dual credentials as both an APA Titled Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist and a tertiary trained Exercise Scientist.
Hong Kai's broad and extensive skillset allows him to create solutions that are simple, effective and tailored to a client’s musculoskeletal needs. His beliefs in continuing education and self improvement led him to complete his Masters in Clinical Physiotherapy (Musculoskeletal), where he had a chance to participate in formal research into knee osteoarthritis under the supervision of world renowned researcher and physiotherapist Prof Peter 0′ Sullivan.
Hong Kai has experience treating a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, with a specific focus on addressing lower back, neck, shoulder and knee pain.