Athletes push their bodies to perform at their best, and in doing so, they can face challenges such as muscle soreness and injury. Dry needling is a treatment gaining traction for alleviating pain and improving mobility by targeting trigger points in muscles and fascia.
For athletes, it can enhance performance, speed recovery time, and reduce overall muscle tension. This article will explore how dry needling can help athletes recover faster, relieve muscle tension, and improve performance.
What is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is a therapeutic technique that is used by trained healthcare professionals, such as physical therapists, to treat muscle pain and dysfunction. The procedure inserts thin, flexible needles into “trigger points,” which are tight knots or areas of muscle that can be painful and restrict your movement.
Dry needling is different from acupuncture, which is founded on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine and focuses on balancing energy flow. While the technique is similar, dry needling focuses on musculoskeletal pain and is based on modern Western anatomical and neurophysiological principles.
The needles are typically inserted into areas of muscle where there is pain, tightness, or spasm. This can help release tension, improve blood flow, and promote healing by stimulating the body’s natural pain-relief mechanisms. While dry needling is commonly used to treat conditions like muscle strain, tendonitis, and chronic pain, it is especially popular among athletes for relieving muscle tightness, enhancing flexibility, and speeding up recovery from injury.
The Dry Needling Procedure
During a dry needling procedure, your healthcare provider will follow several steps to ensure it’s done safely and effectively. The entire session will generally last about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of areas being treated.
Before Dry Needling
The process begins with an initial assessment that will include a thorough evaluation of your muscle pain, injury history, and physical condition. Your provider will identify the specific areas of muscle tightness or trigger points contributing to your pain or dysfunction.
During Dry Needling
Once the trigger points are identified, the therapist will use a thin, sterile needle (about the size of a hair) and insert it directly into the trigger point or tight muscle. The insertion is typically quick and may cause a brief sensation of a mild twitch or muscle contraction, known as a local twitch response. In some cases, the provider might gently move or twist the needle to stimulate deeper muscle fibers and increase the therapeutic effect.
After Dry Needling
After the needles are removed, there may be some mild soreness or tenderness in the treated areas, similar to the feeling you might experience after a deep tissue massage. Your physical therapist might suggest stretching, staying hydrated, and other recovery techniques to optimize healing.
Risks and Complications
Dry needling is typically not recommended for children under the age of 12, as the procedure can be painful and frightening, especially if you are scared of needles. You should consult with a healthcare provider before receiving dry needling, especially if you are pregnant, have a compromised immune system, just had surgery, or are taking blood thinning medication.
How Can Dry Needling Help Athletes?
Dry needling can be highly beneficial for athletes, helping them to manage pain, improve performance, and speed up recovery.
Relieve Muscle Tension, Pain, and Tightness
Athletes often experience muscle tightness due to intense training or repetitive motion. Dry needling targets trigger points or tight knots in muscles, helping to release this tension and restore flexibility, making it easier to move freely and perform at high athletic levels. Dry needling can also help reduce chronic and acute pain by stimulating specific muscle groups and triggering the body’s natural healing responses.
Speed Up Recovery
After intense workouts or injuries, muscles can become inflamed or stiff. Dry needling promotes circulation and reduces muscle inflammation, helping athletes recover more quickly and get back to training or competition.
Improve Range of Motion
Tight muscles can limit an athlete’s range of motion, leading to decreased performance and a higher risk of injury. Dry needling can help release these restrictions, improving joint mobility and overall movement efficiency.
Prevent Injury
By addressing muscle imbalances, tight spots, and dysfunctional movement patterns, dry needling can help prevent future injuries. Regular treatments can keep muscles in optimal condition, reducing the risk of strains, tendinitis, and other common athletic injuries.
Effectiveness of Dry Needling
Several studies have explored the effectiveness of dry needling in treating different musculoskeletal conditions, including in athletes, with positive findings for its role in pain reduction, muscle function improvement, and faster recovery.
Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain
A 2023 review of dry needling in patients with musculoskeletal pain found that dry needling was as effective as other interventions for pain reduction in the body, especially in the short term. The review concluded that dry needling was effective in treating conditions like myofascial pain syndrome, which is commonly seen in athletes.
Tennis Elbow
A study published in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery in 2021 concluded that dry needling was more effective than corticosteroid injections in treating tennis elbow. The researchers found that dry needling reduced pain and improved strength and function in participants with chronic tennis elbow, suggesting its potential for enhancing recovery in athletes with overuse injuries.
Plantar Fasciitis
Dry needling was found to be effective in treating heel pain for people with plantar fasciitis in a 2021 review published by Pain Med. The review found evidence of long and short-term improvement in pain intensity, though the authors cautioned that the results should be considered with a bit of skepticism due to the small number of trials.
Shoulder Pain
A study published by The International Association for the Study of Pain examined the effects of dry needling for shoulder pain and found significant improvements in pain reduction, strength, and function after just a few sessions. Shoulder injuries are common in many athletes, and the study suggests dry needling could be a beneficial treatment for athletes dealing with shoulder-related issues.
Can Dry Needling Can Help Improve Your Athletic Performance? Turn to UpSlope Physical Therapy
If you think dry needling might be an effective treatment for your muscle pain or injury, don’t hesitate to make an appointment at UpSlope Physical Therapy.
Our experienced therapists are trained in dry needling and can assess your needs to determine if it’s the right solution. Whether you’re dealing with muscle tightness, chronic pain, or an athletic injury, dry needling could help speed up your recovery and improve your performance.
Schedule an appointment today. Let us help you feel better and get back to doing what you love.
