Dry needling
A physiotherapy-led technique inserting thin needles directly into muscular trigger points to release tension and reduce localized pain.
What it is & how it works
A physiotherapy-led technique using thin, solid filiform needles inserted directly into muscular trigger points, distinct from acupuncture in its rationale though similar in tool, intended to release muscular tension and reduce localized pain.
How it's done
Typically administered as part of an in-clinic physiotherapy session lasting a few minutes per treated area, performed by a trained physiotherapist, with sessions spaced days to weeks apart as part of a broader rehabilitation plan.
Conditions it treats
Why Brain Bridge
Delivered as one technique within Brain Bridge's physiotherapy-led musculoskeletal care, not as a stand-alone offering.
Evidence & safety
Adjunct within musculoskeletal rehabilitation.
Related questions
It can cause a brief prick or a muscle twitch as the needle reaches the trigger point, which is usually taken as a sign the muscle is responding; mild soreness or bruising for a day or two afterward is common.
It's generally avoided in people with a needle phobia, an active infection or skin condition at the treatment site, a bleeding disorder or blood-thinning medication, or in young children, and used cautiously in pregnancy; a treating clinician screens for these before starting.