The difference between dry needling and Chinese acupuncture

Many people ask about the difference between dry needling and Chinese acupuncture. It's actually one of my most common questions that I get asked.

When clients hear the word "needling," it’s common for confusion to arise — especially when deciding between dry needling and acupuncture. Both use very fine needles. Both involve inserting them into the body. But that’s about where the similarities end.

In this post, we’ll unpack:

• What dry needling is

• How it works from a Western medical perspective

• What happens inside the body after treatment

• What to expect after a session

• How dry needling differs from traditional acupuncture

By the end, you’ll have a solid understanding of how dry needling can support muscle recovery, reduce pain, and promote healing — and whether it’s right for you.

What Is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a modern technique developed by Western medicine practitioners, particularly physiotherapists and remedial therapists, to treat muscle pain and dysfunction. It focuses on the musculoskeletal system — specifically, muscles, fascia, and connective tissue.

A very thin, sterile needle (the same type used in acupuncture) is inserted into trigger points — tight, knotted areas in a muscle that can cause pain locally or refer pain to other parts of the body. These knots are often called "muscle knots," and they’re a common source of pain in people with tension headaches, back pain, shoulder stiffness, or sports-related injuries.

Despite using the same tools as acupuncture, dry needling is based on anatomy, not energy. It is not rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. Instead, it's grounded in science and modern understanding of muscle physiology, biomechanics, and the nervous system.

What Happens When the Needle Goes In?

When a needle is inserted into a trigger point or tight band of muscle, a few key things happen inside the body:

1. Stimulation of an Immune Response

The body perceives the needle as a tiny puncture wound, which triggers a very mild local immune response. This sounds intense, but it's actually a controlled and safe way to kickstart the body’s natural healing process.

• Blood vessels constrict at the moment of the puncture — this is the body's way of reducing the chance of bleeding.

• Very quickly after, the vessels dilate and platelets rush to the area, forming a clot that seals off the small “injury” created by the needle.

• This acts like a reset button for that specific patch of muscle, forcing the body to pay attention to an area it may have ignored for too long.

2. Activation of White Blood Cells

Your immune system sends white blood cells to the area. These cells:

• Clean out damaged muscle fibres and cellular waste

• Help reduce inflammation

• Promote new tissue growth

If the tissue has been tight, starved of blood flow, or overused, this mini healing response can refresh the area and bring in the nutrients and oxygen it needs.

3. Breakdown of Tight Muscle Tissue

The physical insertion of the needle often disrupts the tight muscle band. You might even feel the muscle twitch or “jump” — a sign that the trigger point is reacting to the needle.

That twitch response is considered a positive sign: it usually means the tight knot is releasing and relaxing. In most cases, the tightness reduces significantly over the next 24–48 hours.

What Does Dry Needling Feel Like?

Most clients describe dry needling as a mild to moderate discomfort, rather than sharp pain. You may feel:

• A quick pinch or sting during insertion

• A dull ache or deep pressure as the needle hits the trigger point

• A muscle twitch or cramp, which quickly subsides

After treatment, it’s common to feel a sore or bruised sensation at the site for 1–3 days. This is completely normal and is actually a sign the body is repairing the tissue. Mild swelling, redness, and tenderness may also occur.

Applying heat, staying hydrated, and gently stretching the area can help the recovery process.

How Long Does Healing Take?

Healing from a dry needling session is relatively quick. Most of the initial immune response resolves in 2 to 3 days, and that’s when many clients report a noticeable reduction in pain, stiffness, or mobility restrictions.

That said, if the issue has been chronic, it may take a few sessions to get long-lasting relief. Your therapist can guide you on what’s realistic for your specific condition.

difference between dry needling and Chinese acupuncture

Here’s where things get interesting. While dry needling and acupuncture both use fine needles, the origin, philosophy, and intent of the two practices are quite different.

Dry Needling

• Based on Western medicine and anatomy

• Focuses on muscle knots, tightness, and movement dysfunction

• Treats local muscular pain and tension

• Involves assessment and muscle testing to find trigger points

• Often used by physiotherapists, remedial massage therapists, and sports rehab professionals

Acupuncture

• Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

• Believes in the flow of energy or “Qi” (pronounced “chee”) through meridian lines

• Inserts needles into energy points, often far from the site of pain (e.g., hands, face, feet)

• Used to balance the body’s energy, support internal organs, or treat systemic conditions

• Can address pain but also treats digestive issues, fertility, anxiety, and more

In Summary:

Feature	Dry Needling	Acupuncture
Philosophy	Western science and anatomy	Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Focus Area	Muscles, trigger points, soft tissue	Energy pathways (meridians)
Technique	Targets knots and pain sources directly	Targets energy points, sometimes distant
Used For	Pain, tight muscles, sports rehab	Pain, anxiety, digestion, internal balance
Tools	Same sterile, single-use fine needles	Same
Practitioner	Physios, massage therapists, sports pros	Acupuncturists trained in TCM

Why Choose Dry Needling?

Dry needling is ideal for people who:

• Have chronic pain or tightness that doesn’t release with regular massage

• Experience headaches, back pain, or joint restriction due to muscular issues

• Want a clinical, evidence-based approach to relieving pain

• Want to avoid medications or more invasive treatments

It’s especially useful for:

• Athletes

• Office workers with neck and shoulder tension

• People with limited range of motion

• Post-surgery or injury rehab patients

Can Dry Needling Be Combined with Other Treatments?

Yes — and in many cases, that’s where it works best.

At Remedial2You, we often combine dry needling with:

• Remedial massage to release tight tissue around the area

• Stretching and mobility work to maintain improvements

• Postural correction and education to prevent recurrence

This holistic approach ensures we’re not just treating the symptom — we’re helping correct the cause.

Final personal Thoughts

Dry needling is a powerful, modern therapy that taps into the body’s natural healing response to relieve muscle pain, reduce tension, and restore movement. While it shares some surface-level similarities with acupuncture, it’s grounded in very different principles and used for very different goals.

Understanding the difference helps you make informed decisions about your care. If you’re struggling with persistent tightness, soreness, or muscular pain that isn’t improving with massage alone, dry needling could be the missing link in your recovery. Remember I am not a acupuncturist myself but I have been dry needling clients for the past decade with great results.

Remember, if you’re in areas like Tuggeranong, woden valley or queanbeyan region. You don’t have to worry about paying the extra travel fee that North Canberra has to pay. I Just thought to mention it as an added perk of being local. Otherwise areas such as Belconnen and the Canberra city have a travel fee added to their massage.

Enough from me. Thanks for reading.

To fast track back to our 4 main pages feel free to click on the links below

Homepage

About us

Book Online

John Power

Soft tissue therapist

Remedial2you