Dry Needling: Myths vs. Facts
Separating Hype from Help for Pain and Performance
Dry needling has quickly become a buzzword in the world of rehab and recovery (PURE has educated over 100 PTs to DN in the past year) — but with increased popularity comes confusion. Is it acupuncture? Is it dangerous? Is it just a placebo? As a physical therapists who use dry needling regularly with fitness athletes and people in pain, we’re here to set the record straight.
Let’s tackle some of the most common myths.
❌ MYTH #1: Dry Needling and Acupuncture Are the Same
✅ FACT: While both use thin needles, the philosophy and application are completely different. Acupuncture stems from traditional Chinese medicine and targets energy meridians. Dry needling is based on modern anatomy and neuroscience, targeting muscular trigger points or areas of neuromuscular dysfunction to create a physiological response (Dunning et al., 2014; Fernández-de-las-Peñas et al., 2005).
Fun fact: The overlap of acupoints and trigger points is likely 90+% (Sun et al., 2021)
❌ MYTH #2: Dry Needling Just Relaxes Muscles Temporarily
✅ FACT: Yes, it can reduce muscle tension — but its effects go deeper. Dry needling may improve neuromuscular function, modulate pain, and help restore mobility when combined with exercise and manual therapy (Kietrys et al., 2013; Dommerholt et al., 2011). It’s just ONE tool, however, not a standalone fix.
❌ MYTH #3: It’s Not Safe
✅ FACT: When performed by a licensed, trained clinician, dry needling is extremely safe. Physical therapists certified in dry needling undergo extensive anatomy and safety training, and complications are rare when proper protocols are followed. Common side effects are bleeding at 16%. Serious adverse events are very rare at <0.1% (Gattie et al., 2017; Boyce et al., 2020).
Fun fact: You are 9x more likely to die in a car accident than have a serious adverse event from dry needling.
❌ MYTH #4: It Works Instantly — Or It Doesn’t Work at All
✅ FACT: Some people feel relief right away, some results take days. Others need multiple sessions, especially when dry needling is integrated with therapeutic exercise. Outcomes depend on the individual, the diagnosis, and overall treatment plan (Boyles et al., 2015).
❌ MYTH #5: It’s Just a Trendy Placebo
✅ FACT: Dry needling’s mechanisms — including local twitch responses, increased blood flow, and central pain modulation — are well-documented (Cummings & White, 2001; Fernández-Carnero et al., 2010) and result in improved function for some (Koppenhaver et al, 2016; Koppenhaver et al, 2017). Yes, placebo can play a role in any treatment, but the physiologic changes induced by needling are measurable and real.
💡 Should You Try It?
If you’re dealing with nagging pain, tightness, or a mobility restriction — dry needling might be a useful addition to your plan of care. It will not be your entire plan of care. Physical therapists are movement experts- you should and will move during your visit! At our clinic, you will also have a home exercise plan to address specific items identified during your exam.
📞 Ready to Learn More?
Curious if dry needling could help you? Let’s talk. Book a session or reach out with your questions — we’re happy to walk you through what to expect and whether it’s a good fit for your goals.
📚 References
Boyles, R., Fowler, R., & Ramsey, D. (2015). Effectiveness of trigger point dry needling for multiple body regions: a systematic review. Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy, 23(5), 276–293.
Boyce, D., Wempe, H., Campbell, C., Fuehne, S., Zylstra, E., Smith, G., ... & Jones, R. (2020). Adverse events associated with therapeutic dry needling. International journal of sports physical therapy, 15(1), 103.
Cummings, T. M., & White, A. R. (2001). Needling therapies in the management of myofascial trigger point pain: a systematic review. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 82(7), 986–992.
Dommerholt, J., Fernández-de-las-Peñas, C., & Chou, L. W. (2011). A critical overview of the current myofascial pain literature — January 2010 to December 2010. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 15(3), 328–334.
Dunning, J., Butts, R., Perreault, T., & Mourad, F. (2014). Dry needling: a literature review with implications for clinical practice guidelines. Physical Therapy Reviews, 19(4), 252–265.
Fernández-Carnero, J., Fernández-de-las-Peñas, C., et al. (2010). Immediate hypoalgesic and motor effects after a single cervical spine manipulation in patients with lateral epicondylalgia. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 40(5), 328–335.
Fernández-de-las-Peñas, C., Dommerholt, J., & Gerwin, R. D. (2005). Myofascial trigger points: peripheral or central phenomenon? Current Pain and Headache Reports, 9(5), 346–352.
Gattie, E., Cleland, J. A., & Snodgrass, S. J. (2017). Dry needling for patients with neck pain: a clinical commentary. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 12(3), 529.
Kietrys, D. M., Palombaro, K. M., & Azzaretto, E. (2013). Effectiveness of dry needling for upper-quarter myofascial pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 43(9), 620–634.
Koppenhaver, S., Embry, R., Ciccarello, J., Waltrip, J., Pike, R., Walker, M., ... & Flynn, T. (2016). Effects of dry needling to the symptomatic versus control shoulder in patients with unilateral subacromial pain syndrome. Manual therapy, 26, 62-69.
Koppenhaver, S. L., Walker, M. J., Rettig, C., Davis, J., Nelson, C., Su, J., ... & Hebert, J. J. (2017). The association between dry needling-induced twitch response and change in pain and muscle function in patients with low back pain: a quasi-experimental study. Physiotherapy, 103(2), 131-137.
Sun, M., Yang, M., Rong, J., Ma, X., Zheng, H., Cai, D., ... & Liang, F. (2021). Trigger points and sensitized acupoints: same book, different covers?. Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, 1(2), 74-80.
