Dry Needling: How It Works and Why It Helps With Pain
Dry needling is one of the most effective techniques for treating pain that comes from muscles, tendons, and even nerves. If you’ve ever felt tight, stiff, or sore and wondered why a thin acupuncture-style needle could make such a big difference, this article is for you.
As a chiropractor in Cape Town with a special interest in sports and performance injuries, I use dry needling daily to help runners, athletes, and everyday patients get relief from stubborn pain.
What Makes Dry Needling Different?
Unlike acupuncture, which is rooted in energy flow and meridians, dry needling is a modern, evidence-based therapy that works on the nervous system and musculoskeletal tissues. The goal is simple: reduce pain, restore movement, and speed up recovery.
Dry needling is most effective for conditions that are muscular in origin, particularly when muscle is experienced as tight, stiff, or overactive. But with the right technique, it also benefits tendon injuries, ligament sprains, and even nerve-related pain.
How Dry Needling Works in the Nervous System
Dry needling regulates how much “voltage” the brain sends to the muscle. It does this through two main mechanisms:
Spinal reflex looping (the twitch response)
When a needle hits a trigger point, it activates reflex loops at the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. This produces the well-known “twitch response”, which helps reset muscle tone and reduce tightness.Brain-level pain modulation
Needling also sends messages upward, triggering the brain’s descending inhibitory pain pathways. In plain terms, the brain releases natural opioids (endorphins), changing how pain is processed and experienced.
Beyond Muscles: Tendons, Ligaments, and Nerve Pain
Dry needling can be adapted for different tissues:
Tendon and ligament injuries
Using specific techniques, dry needling can stimulate healing in stubborn tendon and ligament injuries by increasing local blood flow.Drainage and circulation
Needles can be paired with electrical current (E-stim) to promote fluid drainage and enhance circulation in swollen or inflamed areas.Nerve pinching and neuropathic pain
One of my most effective approaches is E-stim dry needling, where a gentle current is run through the needle directly at the irritated nerve. This reduces symptoms like numbness, tingling, burning, or awkward sensations in the leg, arm, or gluteal region.
Why Patients Love Dry Needling
Patients often notice relief after just one session. The benefits include:
Quick reduction in pain and stiffness
Improved blood flow and tissue healing
Relief from nerve-related discomfort
A fast way to change how the body “feels” in sore or overworked areas
For runners, athletes, and even office workers dealing with back or neck tension, dry needling is an excellent way to reset the body and get moving again.