By Taylor Ptacek, DC | Homegrown Chiropractic | Fargo, North Dakota
Muscle pain and tightness can be frustrating, especially when stretching, foam rolling, or massage only seem to provide temporary relief.
Maybe you have a stubborn knot between your shoulder blades, persistent neck tension after working at a desk, or muscle discomfort that keeps returning during workouts.
If you’ve been researching treatment options, you’ve probably come across dry needling.
But does dry needling actually work for muscle pain? Is it supported by research, or is it just another treatment trend?
The short answer: Dry needling may help reduce muscle pain and improve movement, particularly in the short term. However, results vary, and the strongest approach often involves combining symptom relief with exercise, rehabilitation, and an understanding of why the discomfort developed.
At Homegrown Chiropractic in Fargo, ND, we use an individualized, evidence-informed approach to help patients determine whether dry needling is appropriate for their symptoms and goals.
What Is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is a treatment technique that involves inserting thin, sterile needles into targeted muscle tissue.
Unlike injections, the needles do not deliver medication. The term dry simply means nothing is injected.
Dry needling is commonly used to address areas of muscle tenderness and sensitivity, sometimes referred to as myofascial trigger points.
These areas may be associated with:
- Localized muscle pain or tenderness
- A feeling of persistent tightness
- Discomfort during certain movements
- Reduced tolerance for exercise or activity
- Pain that appears to spread into nearby areas
During treatment, the needle may produce a brief muscle twitch or aching sensation. However, a twitch response isn’t required for treatment to be beneficial.
The goal is not simply to make a muscle twitch. It’s to help reduce symptoms and improve your ability to move comfortably.
Learn more about our Dry Needling services at Homegrown Chiropractic.
How Does Dry Needling Help Muscle Pain?
Muscle pain is more complicated than a muscle simply being too tight.
Pain can involve several factors, including local tissue sensitivity, nervous system processing, training demands, stress, sleep, and previous injuries.
Dry needling may temporarily influence pain sensitivity and how the nervous system responds to stimulation in a painful area.
Some patients notice:
- Less muscle tenderness
- Reduced pain during movement
- Improved comfort with stretching or exercise
- Greater confidence returning to normal activities
Importantly, feeling tight doesn’t always mean a muscle is physically shortened or needs to be released.
Similarly, dry needling doesn’t necessarily break apart scar tissue, permanently release knots, or correct the underlying reason symptoms developed.
It is best understood as one potential tool for symptom management rather than a permanent structural fix.
What Conditions Might Benefit From Dry Needling?
Dry needling may be considered when muscle-related pain or sensitivity contributes to a patient’s symptoms.
Common examples include:
Neck and shoulder tension
People experiencing persistent neck discomfort or tender muscles around the shoulders may benefit from dry needling as part of a broader treatment plan.
If headaches are also present, it’s important to determine what type of headache you’re experiencing rather than assuming tight muscles are the cause.
Lower back muscle pain
Some patients experience localized muscular discomfort alongside lower back pain.
Dry needling may help manage muscle-related symptoms, but a thorough examination is important because back pain can also involve joints, nerves, and other structures.
Sports-related muscle discomfort
Athletes may experience muscle soreness or localized pain associated with training demands, repetitive movements, or changes in workload.
Dry needling might help manage discomfort while the underlying training or movement factors are addressed.
Persistent muscle pain and tension
When symptoms repeatedly return despite stretching or massage, it may be worth examining strength, activity tolerance, recovery habits, and other contributing factors.
Dry needling may be one component of that approach.
Not every painful or tight muscle needs dry needling. Sometimes education, activity modification, or targeted exercise is the more appropriate starting point.
Why Dry Needling and Rehabilitation Work Well Together
Imagine someone who develops recurring shoulder discomfort while lifting weights.
Dry needling might temporarily reduce tenderness and make shoulder movement more comfortable.
But if the person returns to the same training demands without addressing their current strength, exercise tolerance, or programming, symptoms may return.
That’s where rehabilitation becomes important.
An individualized rehabilitation program might include:
- Progressive strengthening
- Mobility exercises when indicated
- Gradual increases in activity tolerance
- Modifications to training volume or intensity
- Strategies for managing symptoms independently
The goal is to use any improvement in comfort to help you participate in meaningful activity.
At Homegrown Chiropractic, our approach may combine chiropractic care, dry needling, and exercise-based rehabilitation when clinically appropriate.
Dry needling may help you feel better. Rehabilitation helps you build the capacity to do more.
Neither treatment needs to be used automatically. The best plan depends on the individual.
Does Dry Needling Hurt?
This is one of the most common questions patients ask.
Dry needling uses very thin needles, so the initial insertion may cause little discomfort.
However, some people experience:
- A brief pinch
- A deep ache
- A temporary muscle twitch
- Mild soreness afterward
Post-treatment soreness is relatively common and may last approximately 24–36 hours.
Some patients feel relief quickly, while others notice little change or need time to evaluate their response.
Temporary bruising can also occur.
Your provider should explain the procedure, review relevant medical history, discuss potential risks, and obtain informed consent before treatment.
Although serious complications are uncommon, dry needling carries risks, including infection, bleeding, and, when performed near the chest, pneumothorax (collapsed lung). Sudden shortness of breath or chest pain after treatment requires urgent medical evaluation.
Is Dry Needling Right for Everyone?
No.
Dry needling isn’t automatically appropriate simply because someone has muscle pain.
Additional precautions may be necessary for people who:
- Take blood-thinning medications
- Are pregnant
- Have certain immune system conditions
- Have recently undergone surgery
- Have significant needle anxiety
- Have an infection near the proposed treatment area
A clinician should also evaluate symptoms that suggest something other than routine musculoskeletal pain.
For example, unexplained weakness, progressive neurological symptoms, fever, or significant unexplained pain may require further medical assessment.
The decision to use dry needling should always follow an appropriate history and examination.
What to Expect From Dry Needling at Homegrown Chiropractic
At Homegrown Chiropractic in Fargo, our focus is on understanding the bigger picture rather than automatically treating the area that hurts.
Your visit begins with a discussion of your symptoms, relevant medical history, activities, and goals.
Depending on your complaint, the examination may include joint mobility, range of motion, strength, and movement assessment.
If dry needling is appropriate, we’ll explain what the treatment involves, what you may feel, and how it fits into your overall care plan.
Some patients may benefit from dry needling alongside exercise-based rehabilitation or other conservative treatment. Others may be better served by a different approach.
Our goal is not to make you dependent on repeated treatment. It’s to help you understand your symptoms, improve your function, and develop strategies for staying active.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dry needling sessions does it take to work?
There is no universal number. Some patients notice improvement after one session, while others experience gradual changes or little benefit. Your response should be reassessed rather than committing automatically to a fixed number of visits.
Is dry needling the same as acupuncture?
Both techniques use thin needles, but their clinical frameworks and treatment approaches differ. Dry needling generally targets musculoskeletal symptoms based on examination findings, while acupuncture has different traditional and contemporary approaches.
Can dry needling permanently fix muscle knots?
There is no strong evidence that dry needling permanently removes a physical knot. It may reduce tenderness and pain sensitivity, but recurring symptoms often require broader management.
Can I exercise after dry needling?
Light movement is generally reasonable, although temporary soreness may influence your comfort. Your provider can help determine whether to modify strenuous exercise immediately after treatment.
Is dry needling better than massage or chiropractic adjustments?
Not necessarily. Research does not consistently demonstrate that dry needling is superior to other active conservative treatments. The most appropriate option depends on your condition, preferences, and treatment goals.
The Bottom Line: Does Dry Needling Actually Work?
Dry needling may help some people experience less muscle pain and improved comfort with movement, especially over the short term.
However, the evidence doesn’t support treating it as a guaranteed solution or a replacement for exercise and rehabilitation.
At Homegrown Chiropractic, we believe treatment should do more than temporarily reduce discomfort. It should help you understand your symptoms, improve your ability to move, and return to the activities that matter to you.
Interested in dry needling in Fargo, ND?
Learn more about Homegrown Chiropractic or schedule an appointment to discuss whether dry needling may be appropriate for your needs.
Clinical References
- Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C, et al. (2020). Effectiveness of Dry Needling for Myofascial Trigger Points Associated with Neck Pain Symptoms: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Clinical Medicine. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9103300
- Ferreira K, Dach F. (2024). Treating Myofascial Pain with Dry Needling: A Systematic Review for the Best Evidence-based Practices in Low Back Pain. Neurology. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10756779/
- Chen Y, et al. (2025). Comparison of Dry Needling with Physical Modalities for Myofascial Trigger Point of Patients with Neck Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41316611/
- Cleveland Clinic. Dry Needling: What It Is, Uses, Side Effects & Risks. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/16542-dry-needling
This article is for educational purposes and does not replace an individualized medical evaluation.