Contact Us

Book Now

Careers

Dry Needling vs Acupuncture

Dry Needling vs Acupuncture: What’s The Difference?

Dry needling or acupuncture? Which therapy should you seek? There’s a ton of mystery floating around the similarities and differences between dry needling and acupuncture to the average person.

In this blog post, we’ll be talking about what exactly these therapy treatments are, their benefits, purpose, and procedures.

By the end of this post, you’ll know the similarities and differences between these two treatments and which one would benefit you the most. Read on.

The History of Dry Needling

Dry needling was inspired by traditional Chinese medicine. But it was adopted by countless physical therapists, chiropractors, and Western medicine doctors.

The art of dry needling originally dates back to the 1940s with Dr. Janet Travell.

She identified the muscular trigger points and referral patterns brought on with “wet needling,” She soon discovered that “dry needling” gave the same results.

The dry needling technique we know today was developed by a Czech physician, Karel Lewit, in 1979.

The History of Acupuncture

Acupuncture, on the other hand, has been around for approximately 3000 years. The first documentation of acupuncture is described as an organized system of diagnosis and treatment is in The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, which dates back to 100 BCE.

What Is Dry Needling?

Dry needling (as the name describes) is a treatment involving dry needles that are performed by qualified, professional physical therapists, chiropractors, and other doctors certified in practicing the technique.

The treatment involves applying sterile, liquidless needles to the affected tension-tight, inflamed areas of the body or trigger points. During dry needling, a practitioner inserts several filiform needles that pierce your skin. No liquids are injected into your body, hence “dry needling.”

What Is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture derives from ancient Chinese medicine, where fine, sharp needles are inserted into your body. It works by triggering the release of your body’s own natural painkillers, known as endorphins. The needles are placed in your skin at various depths.

The Similarities & Differences

Acupuncture and dry needling both use thin, sharp, and stainless steel needles. Both treatments use needles that are inserted into the skin, and both help relieve and treat pain. This is where the similarities end. The techniques are as different as black and white.

Dry Needling

Targets specific muscle groups to pierce and apply intense stimulation, which gets your muscles to spasm or release.

  • Dry needling pierces the skin aiming for particular trigger points within your body to release tension and produce a healing response.
  • This technique concentrates on using intense stimulation on the muscles to get them to release.

Acupuncture

Doesn’t apply strong stimulation. It’s primarily based on channel theory and where the points are and focuses on your body as a whole versus targeting specific areas.

  • Acupuncture targets points along meridian lines, representing bodily organs, to restore balance and proper energy flow to your body.
  • This technique focuses on channel theory and uses points to heal the body naturally.

What are the benefits of acupuncture?

Acupuncture is used to treat and relieve discomfort associated with a handful of distraught pains and conditions such as:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Neck pain
  • Labor pain
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Lower back pain
  • Menstrual cramps
  • Respiratory disorders like allergic rhinitis
  • Headaches such as tension and migraines

What are the benefits of dry needling?

Dry needling is used to treat and relieve things such as:

  • Stiffness
  • Muscular pain
  • Muscle tissue
  • Hip pain
  • Neck pain
  • Knee pain
  • Shoulder pain
  • Lower back pain
  • Myofascial pain
  • Increases blood flow
  • Lowers muscle tension
  • Accelerates your body’s natural healing processes

As we’re sure you’ve noticed, there’s definitely some overlap between the benefits of the two practices. That being said….

Which Treatment Should You Seek?

You should seek acupuncture if…

You’re dealing with the discomfort associated with symptoms of chemotherapy-induced and postoperative nausea and vomiting. As well as other discomforts like dental pain and headaches, like tension headaches and migraines.

You should seek dry needling if…

You want relief specifically for muscular pain and stiffness. Easing the trigger points may improve flexibility and increase the range of motion. This is why the dry needling technique is used more to treat sports injuries, muscle pain, and even fibromyalgia pain which is why athletes have been bringing this method into the spotlight of the mainstream in recent years.

In short..

If you’re seeking relief from a sports-related injury or body pain and stiffness due to sports, dry needling is your best bet.

If you want to seek relief from other things like osteoarthritis, and menstrual cramps, that aren’t necessarily associated with sports, acupuncture is your best bet.

Last thoughts

Now you know what dry needling and acupuncture are, their history, benefits, effects on your body, and how they’re performed.

You should now know if dry needling or acupuncture are treatments worth your time. However, if you’re still unsure whether dry needling or acupuncture is best for you, keep on reading.

Ask Your Doctor

Before you seek acupuncture or dry needling, please be sure to get a second opinion and contact your doctor or physical therapist. This way you’ll know for sure if one of these two methods is something worth pursuing.

Do you want to get in touch with us to know certainly if dry needling will help you?

We don’t offer acupuncture. But we do offer dry needling. If you’re reading this, it’s likely you’re dealing with some sort of body pain or stiffness related to sports and exercise activity and want to know if dry needling is a treatment that’ll surely benefit you.

If that’s the case and you’d like personal 1:1 care or want to learn more, please contact us at (410) 431-2153, or click here. We’ll get you in touch with one of our dedicated professionals.

At True Sports Physical Therapy, your health is always front of mind! It’s our mission to help you get off the sidelines and back on your feet in the fastest and safest way possible.

When Can You Return to Sports After an ACL Injury?

Read more

Shoulder Injuries are Common in Golfers

Read more

3 Common Upper Body Overuse Injuries in Young Athletes and How to Avoid Them

Read more

Knee Weakness: Get Relief + Build Strength with These 3 Home Exercises

Read more

What Can Athletes Do About Quad Shut Down?

Read more

Does Strength Prevent Injury?

Read more

True Sports Coronavirus Response

Read more

Lacrosse Injuries – The 5 Most Common with 7 Tips to Prevent them

Read more

Exercising While Wearing a Mask: Common Misconceptions

Read more

Why Elite Community Servants Need Physical Therapy STAT

Read more

Training with a CrossFit Physical Therapist Helps Avoid Common Injuries

Read more

One Major Tip for Making Your Diet a Success

Read more

The 7 Biggest Benefits of Physical Therapy

Read more

Overtraining: 7 Symptoms and What You Can Do About It Today

Read more

Dry Needling Therapy, Blood Flow Restriction, & Cupping: Does It Work for Athletes?

Read more

Shouldering the Blame for Shoulder Pain: Arthritis or Bursitis?

Read more

Why There is No Such Thing as an Off Season

Read more

Recovering from Spinal Surgery: What You Need to Know

Read more

How to Treat the Most Common Sports-Related Shoulder Injuries

Read more

The Cold Hard Facts About ACL Tear Risk Factors

Read more

Improve Your Running Form with These 8 Tips

Read more

How to Handle a Sports-Related Knee Injury

Read more

What’s Up With Barefoot Running?

Read more

How to Prevent Shoulder Impingement as an Overhead Athlete

Read more

Physical Therapy Guide for Hamstring Injuries

Read more

Knee Injuries from Soccer: Preventing Them with 3 Knee Strengthening Exercises

Read more

Gait Analysis – A Runner’s Secret Weapon Against Injury

Read more

Maximizing Your Post Injury Outcomes

Read more

4 Tips to Avoid Knee Injuries While Skiing

Read more

Don’t Let Lower Back Pain Keep You Off the Links

Read more

The Most Common Lacrosse Injuries

Read more

How Long Will My Physical Therapy Take?

Read more

The Unsung Hero of Pain Management: Nutrition

Read more

Care and Feeding of Pitchers in the Off-Season

Read more

What Can I Expect After Rotator Cuff Surgery?

Read more

3 Ways You Can Prevent Knee Injuries and Weakness

Read more

Experiencing Pain? See a Physical Therapist First

Read more

Can Athletes Benefit from Hip Arthroscopy?

Read more

High School Sports After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Returning Safely to the Game

Read more

Dry Needling: 6 Benefits To Help You Relieve Body Pain & Soreness In 1-2 Days

Read more

The Importance of a Strong Core

Read more

Golf Injuries – The 5 Most Common with 3 Tips & Stretches

Read more

Why Do We Need Sleep? (And More to the Point — How Do We Get It?)

Read more

What Athletes Need for the Ultimate Sports PT Facility

Read more

How You Can Avoid Germs at the Gym

Read more

An Awesome Inforgraphic About Lower Back Pain and Sports

Read more

How Common are Shoulder Injuries in Athletics?

Read more

Cupping Therapy: 4 Benefits & How It Can Relieve Pain Within 48 Hours

Read more

Strengthen Your Biceps With These 5 Home Workouts

Read more

7 Workout Mistakes Your Physical Therapist Doesn’t Want You to Make

Read more

Why You Should Go to Physical Therapy

Read more

Why True Sports Physical Therapy is Right For You

Read more

Is It An Ache or Am I Injured?

Read more

Groin Strains Symptoms and Treatments

Read more

Are You Ready for Golf Season?

Read more

How Athletes Avoid Knee Injuries When Competing, Practicing, Training or Working Out

Read more

How to Relieve Lower Back Pain as an Athlete

Read more

Quick Tips for Staying Motivated

Read more

Relieve Muscle Soreness With These 5 Tips

Read more

How Baseball Players Can Reduce Their Risk of UCL Injury

Read more

Cupping Therapy Relieves Pain and Encourages Healing

Read more

Physical Therapist vs Chiropractor: What's the Difference?

Read more

Some Thoughts Before Football Season

Read more

High School Sports Injuries

Read more

Is Blood Flow Restriction Training Right for You?

Read more

Staying Limber During Your Internship

Read more

What Athletes Should Know About Tendinopathy In the Shoulder

Read more

Meal Planning Tips for High School Athletes

Read more

Dry Needling vs Acupuncture: What’s The Difference?

Read more

What are Achilles Tendon Conditions Signs and Symptoms?

Read more

How to Relieve Sciatica Pain with Physical Therapy

Read more

How to Deadlift and Squat without Risking Lower Back Injury

Read more

Preventing the Most Common Lacrosse Injuries

Read more

Graston Technique 101

Read more

Is Stress Causing Your Lower Back Pain?

Read more

Get Knee Pain Relief With These 3 Stretches

Read more

Advice You Need to Train for a Marathon in 2021

Read more

Impact of Correct Posture on Sports Performance

Read more

The Risks of a Sedentary Lifestyle – Enough To Get You Moving

Read more

Make Your Outpatient Rehab Count

Read more

Relieve Back Pain Fast In 5 Ways

Read more

5 Tips to Improve & Maximize Your Athletic Performance

Read more

Physical Therapy: Why It’s Important Both Before and After Surgery

Read more

Is Elbow Arthritis Ruining Your Game?

Read more

Working from Home Shouldn’t Be a Pain in the Neck — or Back

Read more

Dry Needling Can Accelerate Recovery for Athletes

Read more

Join Volo City & Build Community Through Your Favorite Sport

Read more

Tips for Avoiding Running Injuries

Read more

6 Ways a Physical Therapist Can Enhance Your Running Performance

Read more

Attending Physical Therapy During COVID-19: Is It Safe?

Read more

Resistance Training is Important

Read more

Benefits of Sport Specific Rehabilitation

Read more

Benefits of Training with a Strength Coach

Read more

5 Tips for Preventing Wrestling Injuries

Read more

Non-Surgical Injury Treatment Options for Athletes

Read more

Sign up to our Newsletter

Get appointment updates, practical and actionable health + fitness tips, blog news, and True Sports announcements delivered straight to your inbox. No spam.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.