What is Dry Needling and What Conditions Can It Treat?

If you live with chronic muscle tightness or joint stiffness, finding relief can feel like an endless search. You might have heard of dry needling as a highly effective option to release stubborn muscle knots. At Ascension Spine, Pain, and Sports Medicine in East Brunswick, NJ, we use this technique to help relieve pain and restore mobility.

Dr. Mahmud Ibrahim specializes in nonsurgical treatments that target the root cause of your discomfort. We design personalized plans to help you move freely and live with less pain.

What is dry needling?

Dry needling involves inserting thin, sterile needles directly into tight knots of muscle known as trigger points. While the needles look identical to those used in acupuncture, the two treatments are entirely different.

The American Physical Therapy Association defines dry needling as an evidence-based intervention based on Western anatomy and neurophysiology. Unlike acupuncture, it does not focus on Eastern energy meridians or balancing your body's qi.

Instead, we use this therapy to target hyper-irritable spots in your muscles. The physical needle helps release tension, allowing the muscle to relax and restoring healthy blood flow.

What conditions can dry needling treat?

We often recommend dry needling as part of a comprehensive plan for several common musculoskeletal conditions. 

Chronic neck pain

If you suffer from neck pain, muscle knots can severely limit how well you turn your head. A 2025 systematic review in Surgical Neurology International analyzed 540 adults with chronic mechanical neck pain. The researchers found that dry needling significantly reduced pain immediately after treatment. It lowered pain scores by an average of 1.05 points on a 10-point scale.

This quick drop in pain provides a temporary window of relief. It makes it much easier to do daily tasks and start gentle stretching. 

Knee osteoarthritis

Dry needling is also highly effective when paired with active rehabilitation. A 2026 systematic review in Therapeutic Advances in Musculoskeletal Disease evaluated 453 adults with clinical knee osteoarthritis. It found that adding dry needling to an exercise program reduced pain at three months. Patients reported an average pain reduction of 1.91 points on a 10-point scale compared to exercise alone. 

At our East Brunswick office, we use dry needling to calm secondary muscle spasms in your quadriceps and calves. This lowers your pain barrier so you can comfortably complete the sports medicine & rehabilitation exercises that actually help strengthen your joints.

What should you expect during a dry needling session?

When you visit Dr. Ibrahim, we first perform a thorough physical evaluation to locate your specific muscle trigger points. We insert the thin needle with precision, and it typically causes minimal, if any, discomfort.

You may feel some mild muscle soreness, tiredness, or slight bruising for a day or two after your session. These are very common, normal responses as your muscles begin to heal and relax. 

We always view dry needling as a helpful catalyst rather than a standalone treatment. We combine it with targeted therapies to ensure you achieve lasting, long-term relief.

If you are ready to find relief from persistent muscle tightness or joint pain, our team is here to help. 

Contact Ascension Spine, Pain, & Sports Medicine today to schedule your consultation in East Brunswick, NJ.