Dry Needling

When we first met Steve, he had been living with chronic pain that came and went for years. Despite his dedication to exercises and manual therapy, he hit a frustrating plateau—progress had stalled. That’s when he decided to try dry needling.

After just a few sessions, things began to shift. Steve started noticing real relief—less pain, more movement, and a renewed sense of hope. It was the breakthrough he needed.

Today, Steve can get down on the floor and play with his two young kids—something he hadn’t been able to do comfortably in years. Dry needling helped unlock that freedom, and he’s incredibly grateful he gave it a try.

What is dry needling?

Dry needling (often referred to as intramuscular stimulation or trigger point needling) is a treatment technique often performed by physiotherapists (although, it can be other disciplines) to decreased muscle tightness. Dry needling is performed with an acupuncture needle is inserted directly into the trigger point of a muscle to get a twitch response. Once the muscle twitches, the needle is removed and your physiotherapist will move on to the next muscle group or a different spot in the same muscle. It was developed approximately 100 years ago when doctors found that when injecting patients backs they received more relief if they elicited a twitch when the needle was inserted.

This technique is performed by a number of physiotherapists on our team in Winnipeg, Carman, Morris, Calgary & Edmonton.

Dry needling is a great adjunct to your physiotherapy treatment especially those that are plateauing with their regular treatments, have chronic pain, are competing at a high level or have a lot of muscle tightness.

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How Does Dry Needling Work?

With dry needling, a thin monofilament needle is inserted into a muscle. Your physiotherapist will feel for trigger points and try to target those areas. It is called “dry” needling because nothing is inserted while the needle is in the patient. Hence, when something is inserted with a needle it is termed “wet” needling. Physiotherapists are not allowed to inject anything.

When the needle is inserted into the muscle it is a mechanical stimulus that allows the muscle to twitch. Once the twitch is elicited it then causes the muscle to start to relax. Even though dry needling is targeting muscles it will have an affect on the nervous system causing a neurophysiological response, the cardiovascular system causing an increase in blood flow to the area and it also helps to disrupt the pain cycle.

One of the most common questions we get asked is “does it hurt?” For most people the answer is no, but they do find the twitch to be a strange sensation. The twitch only lasts for a split second. Immediately afterwards there is a range of responses. Some people will feel relief immediately and some will feel tighter right away. Both are normal. Usually there will be some soreness that will be the worst for the first 20 minutes to 2 hours depending on the amount of dry needling done. Soreness can last up to 1-2 days, rarely does it last longer. A lot of people will report that the muscle felt tired afterwards like they had done a really intense workout.

Benefits of Dry Needling

Dry needling has numerous benefits:

1. Reduces Muscle Pain & Tightness

Dry needling is the most effective at decreasing muscle tightness that is causing pain. The needle goes directly into the muscle and causes a twitch response which allows that muscle to relax which can decrease muscle tightness and pain.

2. Improves Mobility & Range of Motion

At the fibers of the muscle start to relax it takes pressure of the surrounding tissues including any joints that the muscle crosses. As this happens, we often get an increase in our ability to move through the joint because the muscle is less tight. For example, if we have a lot of tight muscles around the shoulder especially the lats, traps and pecs it will restrict our movement with the shoulder overhead. Releasing these muscles will often restore that mobility quickly.

3. Complements Other Physiotherapy Treatments

The research on dry needling has shown that it is the most effective when combined with other physiotherapy treatments. This can including joint mobilization and manipulation, exercises and education. Often, once the muscles that are causing pain are finally able to decrease the tightness, we want to work on the underlying reason why they were tight in the first place. This often involves strengthening through that area which is why dry needling and exercise can be one of the most effective combinations of treatment.

4. Speeds Up Recovery

Because the technique works directly within the muscle, it allows us to create a deeper, more targeted release than other manual therapies alone. This often leads to quicker results—helping to decrease tightness, improve mobility, and accelerate your overall recovery. Many people find that dry needling helps them break through plateaus in their healing journey, especially when progress has slowed with exercise or hands-on therapy.

5. Can Be Performed Safely At Home

We have been dry needling patients safely at home since our company opened in July 2022. We have physiotherapists that are now licensed in numerous locations including Winnipeg, Morris, Carman, Calgary & Edmonton. Your physiotherapist will bring everything they need for the session including needles, sharps container, solution to clean your skin and gloves. If you have any concerns about the treatment being performed at home please ask your physiotherapist.

Who is dry needling for?

Dry needling can be beneficial for a wide range of patients and conditions. In fact, we use it with many of the individuals we treat—but like any treatment, it’s not for everyone.

We avoid needling directly into surgical sites for at least 12 weeks post-operation to allow proper healing. And if you’re pregnant, dry needling may still be an option during your second and third trimester, but only with approval from your healthcare provider.

That said, there are many situations where dry needling can make a meaningful difference. It’s particularly helpful for patients dealing with:

1. Chronic Pain

If you’ve been dealing with tight, achy muscles that just won’t seem to let go—no matter how much you stretch, foam roll, or massage—dry needling may be exactly what you need. This type of muscle tightness is often caused by trigger points, or “knots,” deep within the muscle tissue. These trigger points can limit your movement, cause referred pain, and lead to ongoing discomfort. Dry needling targets these problem areas directly, helping to release the tension from the inside out. Many patients experience noticeable relief after just a few sessions, and it’s especially effective for people who sit for long hours, carry stress in their neck or shoulders, or deal with stiffness from previous injuries.

2. Sports Injuries

Whether you’re a competitive athlete or a weekend walker, injuries from overuse can slow you down. Conditions like runner’s knee, tennis elbow, shin splints, or rotator cuff irritation often involve muscle imbalances or tightness. Dry needling speeds up recovery by relaxing irritated muscles, improving circulation, and helping tissues heal more efficiently—so you can get back to the activities you love.

3. Ongoing Neck, Shoulder or Lower Back Pain

Persistent pain in the neck, shoulders, or lower back is one of the most common reasons people seek out dry needling. These areas often carry a lot of tension, whether from poor posture, stress, or past injuries. Trigger points in these regions can send pain down the arms, into the head (causing headaches), or across the lower back and hips. Dry needling helps reduce this tension at the source, allowing you to move more freely and experience less day-to-day discomfort.

4. Tension Headaches or Migraines

For many people, headaches are caused—or worsened—by tight muscles in the neck, shoulders, and upper back. These muscles can refer pain into the head and create a “vice-like” sensation. Dry needling can reduce the frequency and intensity of these headaches by releasing those tight muscles and calming down irritated nerves. Patients often report fewer headaches and a better quality of life after treatment.

5. Postural Issues or Limited Movement

If your posture has suffered due to years of sitting, injury, or muscle imbalances, you may feel stiff, sore, or limited in how you move. Dry needling helps to reset muscle tone in the areas that are too tight, allowing your body to move more naturally. When combined with targeted exercises and hands-on therapy, it can be an effective part of correcting poor posture and improving overall function.

6. Pain from Arthritis

While dry needling doesn’t treat arthritis itself, it can significantly reduce the muscle tension that builds up around arthritic joints. This tension often develops as a protective response to pain or inflammation and can further limit your movement. By relaxing the surrounding muscles, dry needling can help improve joint mobility and reduce the strain that adds to your discomfort.

7. Pain with Sciatica or Fibromyalgia

Chronic conditions like fibromyalgia or sciatica often involve widespread muscle pain or nerve irritation. Dry needling can help calm hyperactive muscles and reduce referred pain, which is especially helpful when multiple areas are affected. For many patients living with long-term conditions, dry needling becomes a useful part of a broader pain management plan.

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