Trigger point acupuncture, commonly known as dry needling, is a technique using acupuncture needles to treat muscle pain and tightness. It involves inserting the needle into specific areas called trigger points—tight “knots” that can cause pain and stiffness locally as well as referred pain elsewhere in the body.

The term “dry needling” refers to the fact that there is no medication involved. Dry needling’s discovery is credited to Dr. Janet Travell (who is otherwise famous for being the private physician to JFK during his presidency). In the 1950s, she began doing experiments in patients with myofascial pain where one group of patients received cortisone injections and the other group received a “dry” needle. Her findings were that the release of muscle tension, and therefore reduction of pain, resulted from the stimulation and release of trigger points within the tight bands of muscles with the needle even in absence of medication. The medicated needles had no added benefit and unless the same stimulation and release was achieved, they had no positive effect.

How Does It Work?

When a needle is inserted into a trigger point the patient will experience an involuntary twitch or spasm of the muscle. This allows knotted muscle fibers to elongate immediately. So what is happening? At the neuromuscular junction the needle causes an electrochemical change that allows the muscle fibers to switch from being chronically contracted to elongated. This restores proper function of the muscles and allows circulation to return and healing to begin.

How does Trigger Point Acupuncture differ from Traditional Acupuncture?

Trigger Point Acupuncture is a completely different approach and technique than Traditional Acupuncture. The needles themselves are really the only commonality.

In Traditional Acupuncture, the needle goes just beneath the surface of the skin and is stimulating the body's Qi or energy system. A single needle can impact many different areas of the body, including internal organs and the endocrine system.

In Trigger Point Acupuncture, the needle is going directly into knots in the muscle that are causing pain and tension and primarily focuses on the myofascial system at the site of insertion.

I personally believe that in ancient China acupuncturists were also doing a version of dry needling. The texts discuss the importance of “releasing the muscle layer” prior to working with the internal organs. Several of the locations of acupuncture points also happen to be where trigger points are commonly found. I believe that these modalities work synergistically and I often approach my treatment in patients with pain using both.

What Conditions Can It Help?

Trigger point acupuncture is often used to treat:

• Chronic muscle pain (ie neck, shoulder, or back pain)
• Headaches and migraines
• Sports injuries and muscle strains
• Tendinitis and repetitive use injuries
• TMJ
• Nerve pain

Is It Effective?

According to clinical studies:

• Dry needling can significantly reduce pain intensity and muscle tightness.
• It improves range of motion and function.
• Patients often report feeling less pain and tension within 24–48 hours after treatment and the results are usually long lasting.

Is It Safe?

Yes, when performed by a trained and licensed practitioner, trigger point acupuncture is very safe. The needles are sterile, single-use, and extremely thin—much finer than those used for injections or blood draws. They are only strong enough to penetrate superficial capillaries of blood vessels. This can happen, but will only result in mild bruising.

What to Expect

You will feel an involuntary spasm or twitch of the muscle once the needle releases the trigger point which can be uncomfortable, especially if there is inflammation due to injury or recent exercise. Most people find the treatment tolerable, and many describe a sense of release or relief immediately.

After treatment, it’s normal to feel some muscle soreness for a day or two—similar to what you feel after a workout. This is because when muscles are too tight they do not get adequate blood flow. This causes lactic acid and other toxins to build up within the muscle fiber. When the knots are released, so are these toxins and the result is temporary soreness. Hydration and applying heat to the muscle (Epsom salt bath, heating pad, sauna, etc) helps the body to process and release the toxins and the soreness to resolve.

Final Thoughts

Trigger point acupuncture or dry needling is a modern, evidence-based treatment that targets the root cause of many types of pain. It offers many patients a fast and effective path to relief, recovery, and improved quality of life. It has been the secret weapon to quick recovery amongst many professional athletes and sports teams for the last 15 or so years and is becoming more mainstream. In my practice, I have treated every type of patient from endurance athletes to post operative chronic pain in the elderly successfully and safely with dry needling. If you are suffering this could be your solution.