Dry needling

Dry needling is a technique physical therapists use (where allowed by state law) for the treatment of pain and movement impairments. The technique uses a "dry"needle, one without medication or injection, inserted through the skin into areas of the muscle. other terms commonly used to describe dry needling, include trigger point dry needling, and intramuscular manual therapy.

Trigger-point dry needling is an invasive procedure where an acupuncture needle is inserted into the skin and muscle. It is aimed at myofascial trigger points which are hyperirritable spots in skeletal muscle that are associated with a hypersensitive palpable nodule in a taut band. Trigger point dry needling can be carried out a superficial or deep tissue level.