Muscle & mobility
Dry needling for deep muscle knots
Some muscle knots are too deep or too guarded to release with hands alone. A fine, solid filament needle reaches the trigger point directly and resets it.
What it is
A trigger point is a tight, irritable band in a muscle. It can refer pain elsewhere (a knot in the upper shoulder that causes a headache, a deep glute knot that feels like sciatica). Dry needling places a thin, sterile, single-use needle into that point. The muscle often gives a brief twitch, then lets go.
It's called "dry" because nothing is injected. The technique is based on anatomy and neurophysiology: where the muscles, nerves and trigger points actually are. It works well alongside adjustments and stretching because it frees up tissue that's been holding a joint in a bad position.
Often used for
- neck and upper-shoulder tension
- tension headaches
- deep low back and glute pain
- piriformis syndrome
- shoulder and rotator cuff tightness
- tennis elbow and forearm tension
Read about related conditions
What a session is like
Sessions are 30 minutes. Needles stay in for a few seconds up to several minutes depending on the area.
Is it right for you?
Let us know if you take blood thinners, have a bleeding disorder, are pregnant, have a needle phobia, a weakened immune system, or a pacemaker if electrical stimulation through the needles is planned. We don't needle over infected skin or areas of lymphedema.
Questions
Does it hurt?
The needle itself is very thin and most people barely feel it go in. The twitch can feel like a quick, deep cramp. Afterward the area may feel sore like a hard workout for a day or two.
Is it the same as acupuncture?
Both use similar needles, but the reasoning is different. Dry needling targets specific muscles and trigger points based on anatomy. Acupuncture follows the meridian system of traditional Chinese medicine.
Ready to feel better?
See every open time up to two months out, including same-day visits you can book from the parking lot.
Pairs well with
Massage & Soft-Tissue Therapy
Our hands-on sessions are built around what your body needs to move better, from a focused release on an injured area to a full-hour session for an athlete in training..
Learn more →Assisted & Resistance Stretching
Stretching on your own only goes so far.
Learn more →Radial Shockwave Therapy
Some injuries stop improving.
Learn more →