3PT Health, LLC - Physical Therapy, Personal Training, Personalized Treatment

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What is Dry Needling?

At 3PT, dry needling is one of the specialized tools we use to help you recover faster, reduce pain, and move better. Using very thin, sterile needles, we target irritated or tight muscles known as trigger points — areas that often contribute to pain, stiffness, and restricted movement.

Unlike an injection, dry needling doesn’t deliver medication. The needle itself creates a small, controlled stimulus that helps the muscle “reset,” reduces tension, and restores normal movement patterns.

Why We Use Dry Needling at 3PT

Dry needling is especially effective for the patients we see most often:

  • Headaches – By releasing tension in muscles around the neck, dry needling can reduce the frequency and intensity of tension-type headaches.

  • Motor Vehicle Accident Recovery – After whiplash or post-accident injuries, dry needling helps calm muscle spasms, reduce pain, and restore mobility when paired with gentle movement and strengthening.

  • Athletes – From runners to weightlifters, dry needling helps relieve tight muscles, speed recovery, and improve performance by restoring normal muscle activation and flexibility.

What to Expect at Your Appointment

  1. Personalized Assessment – We identify the muscles driving your pain or limitation.

  2. Targeted Treatment – A thin, sterile needle is gently inserted into the muscle. You may feel a brief twitch or ache — this is the muscle “releasing.”

  3. Relief & Reset – Most people feel looser, lighter, and able to move better right away.

  4. Follow-Up Care – Dry needling is paired with hands-on therapy and exercises to ensure long-lasting results.

Some mild soreness afterward is normal, similar to post-workout soreness.

What the Research Says

Dry needling is supported by clinical evidence and is shown to:

  • Decrease headache frequency and intensity (Pain Medicine, 2019)

  • Improve pain and function in whiplash and neck pain (Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 2017)

  • Reduce low back pain and improve daily function when combined with exercise (Clinical Journal of Pain, 2018)

  • Enhance athletic recovery by decreasing tightness and restoring muscle function (British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2020)

Common Questions

Is it the same as acupuncture?
No — acupuncture is based on traditional Chinese medicine, while dry needling is rooted in modern anatomy and neuroscience.

Does it hurt?
Most patients feel only a quick muscle twitch or dull ache. The relief after is often immediate, with improved range of motion and less pain.

Is it safe?
Yes — at 3PT, dry needling is performed by a licensed physical therapist with advanced training. Needles are sterile, single-use, and extremely thin.