How Is Dry Needling Different Than Acupuncture? Spoiler- more than you think
Dry needling and acupuncture both use thin needles, but they are based on very different theories, treatment goals, and techniques. This article explains how each approach works, what conditions they commonly treat, and what patients can expect during treatment.
Dry needling is a modern treatment used to address musculoskeletal pain, muscle tension, movement limitations, and nervous system dysfunction. Acupuncture is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine and focuses on restoring the flow of Qi through specific points in the body.
In this blog, you will learn how the two treatments differ, how to determine which may be appropriate for your needs, and when a physical therapy service that includes dry needling may be beneficial.
“How is dry needling different than acupuncture?” is the most common question we get asked here at Empower Physio and Wellness!
Both treatments look the same on the surface because they both use the same type of needle. But that’s honestly where the similarities end.
Dry needling and acupuncture are very different from each other. By the end of this blog post, you'll know exactly what each one is, how they're different, and which might be right for you.
Here’s what we are going to talk about in this blog post:
What is dry needling?
What is acupuncture?
How dry needling works and conditions it treats
How acupuncture works and conditions it treats
What a dry needling treatment session feels like
What an acupuncture treatment session feels like
Choosing the right option for your needs
What is dry needling?
Dry needling is a technique in which a thin monofilament needle is inserted into the muscle. It helps the muscles relax, improves blood flow, and helps to regulate the nervous system around a particular injury or pain presentation.
Dry needling started in 1979 when Czech physician Dr. Karel Lewit questioned whether people benefited from an injection because of the substance injected into the body (i.e. lidocaine or corticosteroids) or just because of the needle insertion itself. He found that people got better with just the needle insertion (aka dry needling) and didn’t necessarily need the substance being injected (aka wet needling).
Dry needling came to the United States in the 1990s and has gained popularity over the past 10-20 years. It is very effective for treating musculoskeletal conditions.
I like to tell my clients that dry needling is like the deepest, deep-tissue massage you’ll ever have. It is very effective at improving pain and muscle tension. Nearly all of our clients feel an improvement immediately after a dry needling treatment.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is based in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and involves inserting small monofilament needles into the skin. There are specific points where the needles are inserted, depending on the symptoms or conditions being treated.
The goal of needle insertion is to regulate the flow of energy, or Qi, through meridians in the body. This clears energetic blockages, improves bodily function, promotes healing, regulates the nervous system, and reduces pain.
Acupuncture started in China and has been practiced for over 2,000 years .
How dry needling works and conditions it treats
Dry needling works through many different mechanisms, and researchers are still learning all the ways in which dry needling works.
When the needle is inserted into the muscle, it triggers all kinds of reactions in the body, including:
Release of muscle tension
Improving blood flow
Reducing swelling
Reducing pain
Improving muscle activation and function
Improving nerve function
Nerve healing
Calming the nervous system
Release of endorphins
All of these mechanisms help the body recover from an injury and improve a person’s overall ability to move. It interrupts the pain-tension cycle and can act as a nervous system reset. It is extremely effective!
Common conditions treated with dry needling include:
Muscle pain and tension
Joint pain and swelling
Neck and back pain
Headaches and migraine
Jaw pain, popping, and clenching/grinding
TMJ/TMD
Sciatica
Disc problems
Nerve injuries and radiculopathy
Whiplash
Tendonitis and tendinopathy
Athletic injuries and muscle strains
Fibromyalgia and chronic pain
Sinus pressure, congestion, and headaches
How acupuncture works and conditions it treats
Acupuncture works by improving the flow of energy, or Qi, through the body. When the needle is inserted into an acupoint, it does the following:
Releases endorphins
Improves circulation
Activates natural healing processes
Promotes an anti-inflammatory response
Promotes energy flow through meridians
Reduces pain
Promotes relaxation
Common conditions treated by acupuncture include:
Infertility
Insomnia
Anxiety and depression
Menopause symptoms
Heavy menstrual cramps
Chemotherapy induced or post-operative nausea and vomiting
Respiratory disorders and asthma
Allergies
Addiction
Tension headaches and migraine
Fibromyalgia and chronic pain
Muscle pain and tension
What a dry needling treatment session feels like
Dry needling treatments can feel different depending on the condition being treated and how aggressive the practitioner is with his/her needling technique.
In a very gentle dry needling session, you may not feel much aside from some muscle cramping. In a more aggressive dry needling session, you will feel muscle cramping and twitch responses in the muscle (aka where the muscle contracts and relaxes, sometimes repetitively).
The number of needles used in a dry needling session is also variable. For someone new to dry needling, only a few needles may be used. For someone with more diffuse pain or who tolerates dry needling well, more needles can be used.
At Empower Physio and Wellness, we always customize the needling treatment to each client. We take great care to dose the dry needling properly so you get maximum benefit with the least amount of post-needle soreness.
If you’ve tried dry needling in the past and it was very painful, to the point where it turned you off or made you not want to try it again, then the treatment was too intense or aggressive for you (in our clinical opinion).
We always err on the side of caution, especially when first starting dry needling treatments with a client. It is very important to us that you feel safe and supported throughout the entire treatment! Because of this, dry needling is one of our most popular treatments requested.
After a dry needling treatment, you can feel an immediate reduction in your pain or symptoms. Sometimes you will feel post-needle soreness, which feels the same as the muscle soreness you may feel the day after a workout. Physiologically, the same thing is occurring in both scenarios. This post-needle soreness, if experienced, can last 1-2 days.
You can check out our dry needling service page to learn more about how we perform dry needling here at Empower Physio and Wellness.
What an acupuncture treatment session feels like
An acupuncture treatment session feels different than a dry needling treatment. In acupuncture, the needle is inserted into the skin, not the muscle, so you really don’t feel much of anything. Typically many needles are inserted into the body and you are left to rest for 20-30 minutes.
Acupuncture treatments are usually very relaxing and you may feel sleepy afterwards.
Choosing the right option for your needs
Dry needling is very effective at treating musculoskeletal problems. If you are having problems related to movement, muscles, or joints, then dry needling is a great treatment option. If your pain keeps coming back after rest, dry needling is a great treatment to address underlying reasons why the pain hasn’t gone away for good.
It is also great for chronic muscle tension that isn’t fully addressed with massage or stretching, and areas where stress manifests in the body. If you tend to carry stress and tension in your neck, shoulders, jaw, back, or hips, dry needling can help release that tension on a deeper level.
If you’ve been told your imaging looks fine but you still hurt, dry needling could be a very effective option for you to finally find relief.
Acupuncture is a great option for more systemic problems that you may see a specialist for, or haven’t gotten relief from with traditional medical treatment. It can also help you through stressful and overwhelming periods in life by aiding in nervous system regulation.
With both dry needling and acupuncture, typically several treatment sessions are needed, anywhere from 3-10 sessions (though this number can vary depending on your unique situation).
It is also important that you make lifestyle improvements to help the benefits of dry needling and acupuncture last. Dry needling is most effective when paired with mobility drills and strength exercises to help improve your movement and strength, making the original problem less likely to come back. At Empower Physio and Wellness, we also help you with stress processing so that muscle tension from stress doesn’t keep popping up during every busy season in life.
Where to find physical therapy for dry needling treatment
We hope you have a better understanding of your question, “How is dry needling different than acupuncture.”
Are you interested in trying dry needling treatment, or wondering if it could be helpful for you?
If you are located in or near Westerville, Ohio we are happy to provide you with dry needling treatment for your current pain or injury!
You can get started right away by learning more about our dry needling services or getting in contact with us.
If you have additional questions, we would love to talk with you, hear your story, answer all your questions, and see how we could help.
You can call or text us at (614) 423-9731 or schedule a free discovery call. You can also learn more about Empower Physio and Wellness + our team or check out other services we offer.