If you’re searching for pain relief, you’ve probably come across both acupuncture and dry needling as treatment options. While they may appear similar—both involve inserting thin needles into the body—their philosophy, training, technique, and treatment goals are very different.
At Big Easy Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine in Metairie, LA, we frequently get asked:
“Is dry needling the same as acupuncture?”
Let’s break down the science, similarities, and when to choose one over the other.
What Is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is a relatively modern technique developed by physical therapists and sports medicine practitioners. It targets myofascial trigger points—tight bands of muscle that may cause pain, stiffness, or limited movement.
Dry needling is a technique that uses thin, solid needles to stimulate muscle tissue without injecting any substances—hence the term “dry.”
Key Features:
- Based on Western anatomy and neurophysiology
- Involves inserting thin needles into muscle knots to relieve tension
- Often used to treat sports injuries, tendonitis, or joint stiffness
Research on Dry Needling:
- A 2013 systematic review in Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy found it can improve muscle function and reduce pain
- A 2017 study in Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy noted that 85% of patients experienced relief after just one session
Dry needling is symptom-focused—it treats the area that hurts but doesn’t address systemic issues or underlying imbalances.
When most people hear the term “acupuncture” they think of needles being inserted into the skin. The term dry needling is often brought up for people suffering from pain as well and it also includes needles being inserted into the skin. But for the most part, that’s where the similarities end. Everything from their origins and benefits to how many needles and how long a session might take is different. Let’s take a deep dive into both.
What Is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient system of medicine, practiced for over 2,000 years. It’s a central part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and uses a network of energy pathways (meridians) to treat pain and improve whole-body health.
Key Features:
- Based on balancing Qi (vital energy) throughout the body
- Needles are placed on specific acupuncture points. Points can be local or distant from the site of pain
- Treats not just pain, but also sleep, digestion, stress, hormonal health, and more
What Modern Science Says:
- A 2012 meta-analysis in JAMA Internal Medicine found acupuncture to be more effective than usual care or placebo for chronic pain
- A 2018 study in Journal of Pain showed up to a 30% reduction in chronic pain intensity
Acupuncture also improves nervous system regulation, circulation, and can treat multiple conditions in a single session.
