Dry Needling
Relieve pain. Restore movement. Support your body's natural healing process.
Muscle tightness that won't release. Trigger points that ache every time you press them. Pain that keeps coming back no matter what you try.
Dry needling is an evidence-based treatment that uses thin, sterile, single-use needles to target muscles, connective tissue, and myofascial trigger points that may be contributing to pain and movement restrictions. When combined with a comprehensive rehabilitation program, dry needling can help reduce pain, improve mobility, and restore normal muscle function.
At Acadiana Pain & Performance Rehab, dry needling is never used as a stand-alone treatment. It is integrated into a personalized rehabilitation program that addresses the underlying cause of your pain through movement assessment, manual therapy, exercise, and education.
What Is Dry Needling?
Dry needling involves inserting a very thin, solid filament needle into specific muscles or soft tissues to stimulate a healing response and improve neuromuscular function.
Unlike injections, dry needling does not involve medication. Instead, the needle itself provides a mechanical stimulus that can help reduce muscle tension, improve circulation, decrease pain sensitivity, and restore normal movement.
Depending on your condition, dry needling may help:
- Reduce muscle tightness and trigger points
- Improve blood flow to injured tissues
- Decrease pain sensitivity
- Improve muscle activation
- Restore normal movement patterns
- Reduce restrictions caused by scar tissue
- Complement rehabilitation following injury
What Conditions Can Dry Needling Help Treat?
Dry needling may be appropriate for many musculoskeletal conditions, including:
- Neck pain
- Back pain
- Shoulder pain
- Hip pain
- Knee pain
- Headaches, including cervicogenic headaches
- Tendinopathy
- Tennis elbow
- Plantar fasciitis
- Muscle strains
- Sports injuries
- Persistent muscle tightness
Because every patient is different, we'll determine whether dry needling is appropriate after a comprehensive evaluation.
What Should I Expect During Treatment?
Most patients are surprised by how comfortable dry needling feels.
During treatment:
- A sterile, single-use needle is gently inserted into the targeted muscle.
- You may feel a brief muscle twitch, mild ache, or cramping sensation. This response is normal and often indicates the muscle is relaxing.
- Many patients report little to no discomfort during the procedure.
- Mild soreness similar to what you might feel after exercise can occur for 24 to 48 hours.
Treatment sessions are typically combined with movement, stretching, strengthening, or manual therapy to maximize your results.
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer.
Some patients notice improvement after only one or two treatments, while others with more persistent conditions may benefit from additional sessions. Your treatment plan depends on your diagnosis, how long you've had symptoms, your activity level, and how your body responds to treatment.
Our goal is never to prescribe a predetermined number of visits. Instead, we monitor your progress and adjust your treatment based on your individual response.
Why Choose Acadiana Pain & Performance Rehab?
Dry needling is only as effective as the clinical reasoning behind it.
Dr. Derrick Hines is certified in Integrative Dry Needling through the American Dry Needling Institute and has participated in clinical research investigating the use of dry needling combined with manual therapy for mechanical neck pain.
Our approach emphasizes identifying and treating the underlying cause of your symptoms rather than simply treating painful muscles.
Research & Evidence
Dry needling has been extensively studied over the past decade and is supported by growing evidence for several musculoskeletal conditions.
- Clinical practice guidelines support dry needling as part of a comprehensive treatment program for selected patients with neck pain and other musculoskeletal disorders.
- Systematic reviews have found that dry needling can improve pain and function, particularly when combined with therapeutic exercise and manual therapy rather than used as a stand-alone treatment.
- Research suggests dry needling may help reduce muscle tension, improve pressure pain thresholds, and restore normal muscle function in appropriately selected patients.
While dry needling can be an effective treatment tool, it works best as one component of an individualized rehabilitation program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does dry needling hurt?
Most patients experience very little discomfort. You may feel a brief muscle twitch or mild cramping sensation, but treatments are generally well tolerated.
Is dry needling the same as acupuncture?
No. Although both use similar needles, dry needling is based on modern anatomy, neuroscience, and musculoskeletal medicine. The goal is to treat muscles, connective tissues, and movement dysfunction rather than traditional acupuncture points.
How quickly will I notice results?
Some people notice improvement within a day or two, while others experience gradual improvement over several treatments depending on their condition.
Is dry needling safe?
When performed by a properly trained and certified clinician using sterile, single-use needles, dry needling is considered a safe treatment with a low risk of complications.
References
- Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. Clinical Practice Guidelines for Neck Pain.
- Gattie E, Cleland JA, Snodgrass S. The Effectiveness of Trigger Point Dry Needling for Musculoskeletal Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
- American Physical Therapy Association. Dry Needling in Physical Therapy.
Discover Whether Dry Needling Is Right for You
If muscle tightness, persistent pain, or movement restrictions are keeping you from doing the things you enjoy, dry needling may be an effective part of your rehabilitation program.
Schedule an evaluation with Acadiana Pain & Performance Rehab to find out whether dry needling is appropriate for your condition.
Find Out If Dry Needling Can Help You