Dry Needling: 10 Surprising Uses You Didn’t Know About

Dr. Nathan Teter • May 27, 2025

It’s not just for sore muscles.

If you've been told dry needling is only for athletes or people with back pain, you're missing out on its full value. If you’re here, you’re likely searching for solutions to chronic, nagging pain, and this technique might be the answer.

In this post, you'll discover unexpected ways dry needling helps with conditions you might not connect to physical therapy. If you’re tired of short-term fixes or confusing diagnoses, keep reading.

This could offer real hope.

What Is Dry Needling and How Does It Work?

Dry needling uses thin, sterile needles to target trigger points—tight spots in your muscles that often refer pain to other areas. Unlike acupuncture, this treatment is based on Western anatomical and neurological principles. It stimulates the body's natural healing response, increasing blood flow and relaxing tight or overworked muscles.

You may feel a small twitch during treatment. That reaction helps break the pain cycle and reset the muscle. This technique is especially helpful when traditional stretching or massage hasn't worked.

Can Dry Needling Help with Migraines?

Yes, and here's why.

Many migraines start in the muscles around the neck and shoulders. When those areas are full of trigger points, they irritate nearby nerves and blood vessels. This irritation often leads to tension-type headaches and migraines.

Dry needling relaxes those deep muscle knots, relieving pressure on the nerves. It often reduces the frequency and intensity of attacks. According to a study published in the National Library of

Medicine, patients saw measurable improvement after several sessions.

Is Dry Needling Effective for TMJ Pain?

Jaw pain, clicking, and even earaches can be traced to your temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Dentists often suggest mouthguards, but if the root problem is muscle tension around the jaw, needling can be more effective.

Dry needling targets the masseter and pterygoid muscles. These are deep jaw muscles that are hard to reach with other treatments. Once relaxed, patients often report easier chewing, better sleep, and less jaw tension.

Can It Treat Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis feels like stabbing pain in the bottom of your foot, especially in the morning. Traditional advice includes ice, rest, and inserts, but for stubborn cases, that isn't enough.

Trigger points in the calf and foot can pull on the plantar fascia, making symptoms worse. Dry needling these areas reduces muscle tightness, helping the fascia heal faster. Patients often notice improvements after just a few treatments.

Will Dry Needling Help with Shin Splints?

Shin splints are common in runners and dancers. They often start when muscles around the shin become inflamed from overuse or poor biomechanics.

Dry needling helps by calming the tibialis anterior and posterior muscles. It can also address deeper tissues that are hard to stretch manually. Athletes find this method shortens recovery time and helps them train without recurring pain.

Can It Alleviate Tennis Elbow?

Tennis elbow doesn’t only affect tennis players. Anyone who uses repetitive arm motions like typing, lifting, or painting can feel that burning ache near the outside of the elbow.

Dry needling works by reducing tension in the extensor muscles of the forearm. When these muscles are relaxed, inflammation around the elbow tendon drops. Patients often regain grip strength and range of motion quickly.

Does Dry Needling Help Sciatica Pain?

Sciatica isn't always caused by a disc problem. Often, it's triggered by tight glutes or piriformis syndrome, which compress the sciatic nerve.

By inserting needles into the gluteal muscles and hamstrings, dry needling can release that tension. This takes pressure off the nerve, easing the sharp pain that travels down the leg.

Could It Support Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Recovery?

Most people associate carpal tunnel with wrist issues alone, but trigger points in the forearm and upper arm can restrict nerve pathways and worsen symptoms.

Targeting these hidden trigger points helps reduce pain and numbness. When paired with ergonomic changes, dry needling often allows people to return to work faster.

Can Dry Needling Ease Hip Flexor Tightness?

Tight hip flexors cause more than stiffness. They pull the pelvis out of alignment, which can trigger back pain and disrupt posture.

Dry needling the iliopsoas and rectus femoris muscles helps reset your natural alignment. Patients often feel lighter and more balanced, with less pressure in the low back and hips.

Can It Help with Rotator Cuff Pain?

Rotator cuff injuries often involve inflammation of deep shoulder muscles. Traditional therapy helps, but progress is sometimes slow.

Dry needling reaches those deep rotator cuff muscles more directly than hands-on methods. Many patients see faster gains in strength and overhead movement. This makes a huge difference for athletes and active adults.

Is It Safe and Who Should Avoid It?

Dry needling is safe when done by trained professionals. At APEX Physical Therapy - Cumming, all treatments are performed by licensed physical therapist, Dr. Nathan Teter.

You should avoid dry needling if you:

Are pregnant (in some cases, your provider may make exceptions)
Have a bleeding disorder
Have a fear of needles that causes extreme anxiety

Always talk with your therapist to make sure you're a good candidate.

How to Know If Dry Needling Is Right for You

You might benefit from dry needling therapy if:

You’ve tried massage, heat, or stretching with no relief
Your pain moves or travels when pressed
You feel tightness or limited mobility

The best way to know is to get a full evaluation. At APEX Physical Therapy, we don’t guess. We assess your movement patterns, test strength and flexibility, and build a plan.

Conclusion

Dry needling is not a miracle cure, but it is a powerful tool when used with smart, personalized therapy. This post showed how it helps with conditions beyond sore muscles. From migraines to plantar fasciitis, it targets problems other methods can’t reach.

If you’ve been living with pain, stuck in a cycle of temporary relief, dry needling in Forsyth County might be the turning point. At APEX Physical Therapy - Cumming, we take the time to understand your pain, your lifestyle, and your goals.

Let us help you get back to doing what you love. Book your one-on-one session today and see what a different kind of care feels like.

< Older Post

6 Ways Dry Needling Can Help During Winter

By Dr. Nathan Teter • February 11, 2025

Are the cold winter months taking a toll on your body? Many people experience increased muscle tension, joint stiffness, and persistent aches during colder seasons. If you’re tired of letting winter discomfort slow you down, it might be time to consider dry needling . In this article, we’ll explain why winter can worsen pain, how dry needling works, and how it can become an integral part of your winter wellness routine. Keep reading, and discover actionable tips to stay pain-free, mobile, and ready to enjoy the season.

A person is doing acupuncture on a woman 's back.

7 Common Conditions Treated with Dry Needling

By Dr. Nathan Teter • November 13, 2024

Dry needling can be a powerful technique for relieving pain and improving patient movement. It helps with a variety of conditions by targeting muscle pain and discomfort. In this article, we’ll explore how dry needling can benefit you if you suffer from common musculoskeletal issues. We’ll cover specific conditions and show you how this method can provide relief through dry needle therapy. What is Dry Needling? Dry needling involves a physical therapist inserting fine needles into specific points in the muscle. These needles for therapy help to relax tight muscles and release myofascial trigger point knots. This pain management technique can decrease discomfort and improve movement in affected areas. Many people find dry needling effective for treating different types of myalgia (muscle pain and discomfort). Back Pain What Causes Back Pain? Back pain, especially low back pain, can result from various factors. Poor posture, heavy lifting, and muscle strain are common causes. Over time, these issues can lead to chronic pain and limit your range of motion. How Dry Needling Helps Needle therapy for back pain targets tight muscles, connective tissue, and areas of discomfort in the back. By needling muscles, the technique helps to relieve muscle tension and pain. Many individuals experience reduced discomfort and improved mobility after needling for back pain . Neck Pain What Causes Neck Pain? Neck pain can arise from poor posture, repetitive strain, or injury. Spending long hours at a desk or looking down at a phone can contribute to muscle tightness and discomfort in the neck. How Dry Needling Helps Dry needling treatment addresses tight muscles in the neck area. The needles help to relax these muscles and reduce discomfort. This physical therapy method can improve your neck's range of motion and decrease overall discomfort. Sciatica What is Sciatica? Sciatica refers to the discomfort radiating along the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back to your legs. It often results from a herniated disc or muscle spasm. How Dry Needling Helps Dry needling therapy targets the muscles around the sciatic nerve. It can relieve the tension that presses on the nerve and reduce inflammation along the leg. This treatment can help to ease the discomfort associated with sciatica. Shoulder Pain What Causes Shoulder Pain? Shoulder pain can be caused by overuse, injury, or muscle imbalance. Activities that involve repetitive shoulder movements can lead to discomfort and inflammation. How Dry Needling Helps Dry needling can relieve shoulder pain by targeting soft tissue, tight muscles and trigger points. This physical therapy technique helps to relax the muscles and alleviate discomfort. Many people find that it improves their shoulder function and reduces inflammation. Hip Pain What Causes Hip Pain? Hip pain can be due to arthritis, muscle strain, or injuries from athletic training. Activities that put stress on the hip joint can contribute to pain and discomfort. How Dry Needling Helps Dry needling addresses tight muscles around the hip joint. By targeting these areas, the technique helps to reduce pain and improve hip movement. It can have high efficacy in managing hip discomfort. Knee Pain What Causes Knee Pain? Knee pain can result from injuries, arthritis, or overuse. Activities that put strain on the knee joint can lead to discomfort and pain. How Dry Needling Helps Dry needling targets the muscles, and soft tissue around the knee. The technique helps relieve tension and pain, improving overall knee function. It can be a useful pain management treatment for those experiencing knee discomfort. Elbow Pain What Causes Elbow Pain? Elbow pain can be caused by repetitive movements, overuse, or injuries from sports or athletic training. Common conditions include tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow. How Dry Needling Helps Dry needling targets the muscles around the elbow joint. It helps to reduce tension and pain in the area, improving movement and function. This method can have high efficacy in managing elbow discomfort. Conclusion Dry needling by a reliable physical therapist can help with various musculoskeletal conditions like back pain, neck pain, and sciatica. By targeting specific muscles, it provides relief from discomfort and improves range of motion. If you’re dealing with pain from any of these conditions, dry needling in Cumming might be a solution for you. Apex Physical Therapy - Cumming offers this treatment to help you feel better and move more comfortably. Contact us to learn more or discuss any questions you have.