Dry needling

Needle technique to deactivate trigger points and tight muscles that do not respond to manual therapy.

Dry needling treats myofascial trigger points with a fine needle, without injecting any substance: hence the name. It is the option when tight muscle will not release with hands alone.

What a trigger point is

It is an area of maximum shortening within a taut band of muscle. It hurts under pressure, but it also refers pain to other areas and causes weakness and loss of mobility. It explains many cervical headaches, shoulder pain and low back discomfort that never show up on imaging.

How the treatment works

We locate the point responsible and apply a sterile single-use needle. The muscle responds with a brief involuntary twitch that releases the accumulated tension; after that response, elasticity improves and referred pain drops immediately in most cases.

What you will feel

During the technique there is an intense but very brief discomfort, a matter of seconds. Afterwards a feeling similar to muscle soreness for 24 to 48 hours is normal, eased by heat and gentle movement. As nothing is injected, there are no systemic side effects.

Never as the only treatment

Needling opens a window: pain drops and mobility returns. If that window is not used to correct what caused the overload (posture, repeated movement, lack of strength), the trigger point comes back. That is why we always integrate it into a plan with exercise.

Frequently asked questions

Does dry needling hurt a lot?

The muscle response produces an intense discomfort lasting a few seconds, and not everyone perceives it the same way. Most patients describe it as bearable and feel the relief that follows makes up for it.

Is it the same as acupuncture?

No. They share the use of needles, but dry needling is a physiotherapy technique based on muscle anatomy and aimed at a specific trigger point, unrelated to meridians or the theoretical framework of acupuncture.

Can I train after a session?

It is best to avoid intense effort for the first 24 hours and keep activity gentle. The next day, as the residual soreness fades, you can return to your usual activity.

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