Can Dry Needling Really Help Chronic Joint Pain?
- Dinell Jacobson
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
What a New Study Tells Us—In Plain English
If you live with chronic joint pain, especially knee pain from osteoarthritis, you’ve probably been told the same things over and over: stay active, strengthen the muscles, do your exercises... And while exercise is absolutely important, many people still feel stuck. Even when they’re doing exactly what they’re told.
So a fair question is: what else might help?
A new research study published in Scientific Reports looked at whether adding dry needling to a standard exercise program could improve outcomes for people with knee osteoarthritis. The goal wasn’t to replace exercise, but to see whether combining the two could help people move better, hurt less, and feel more confident using their bodies over time.
What Was This Study Actually Testing?
Researchers followed adults with diagnosed knee osteoarthritis and divided them into two groups:
One group did a therapeutic exercise program only
The other group did the same exercise program plus dry needling
To keep things fair, the exercise-only group received simulated dry needling so participants wouldn’t know which group they were in.
The dry needling focused on a small but important muscle behind the knee called the popliteus, which plays a role in knee stability and movement control.
The active treatment phase lasted three weeks, but participants were followed for six months to see how long the effects lasted.
Researchers measured things that actually matter in daily life, including:
Pain levels
Stiffness
Ability to walk, stand, and move
Strength
Confidence with movement
Fear of pain or reinjury
This wasn’t just about pain scores on paper, it was about real-world function.
What Did the Study Find?
1. People Had Less Pain
Both groups improved, but the group that received dry needling plus exercise had greater pain relief, and the improvement lasted months after treatment ended.
This included not just aching pain, but also nerve-type pain (burning, sensitivity, or discomfort) that feels harder to explain or pin down.
2. People Moved Better in Daily Life
Those who received dry needling walked farther, stood up more easily, and moved with less difficulty than those who did exercise alone.
Tests like “getting up from a chair and walking” or walking for six minutes showed measurable improvement. In practical terms, this means daily activities felt more manageable, not just tolerable.
3. Strength Improved, Not Just Symptoms
The dry needling group showed better improvement in knee strength. This matters because stronger, more coordinated muscles reduce stress on painful joints and help protect against flare-ups.
Pain relief without strength rarely lasts. This study suggests the combination helped both.
4. Fear and Guarding Decreased
One of the most important findings had nothing to do with muscles at all.
People who received dry needling were less afraid of movement and less likely to catastrophize pain. When pain decreases and movement feels safer, the nervous system stops staying on high alert.
This matters because fear and guarding can keep pain going long after tissue damage has stabilized.
5. The Treatment Was Safe
No serious side effects were reported from the dry needling, even though it was performed in a deeper area behind the knee. This supports that, when done by trained clinicians, dry needling can be a low-risk addition to care.
What Does This Mean If You Have Chronic Pain?
This study doesn’t say that dry needling is a cure, and it doesn’t suggest exercise alone is useless. Instead, it supports something many people with chronic pain already sense: one tool is rarely enough.
Exercise helps, but painful, guarded muscles don’t always respond well to strengthening alone. Dry needling can help calm overactive muscle tissue and nervous system input, making movement easier and exercise more effective.
A big win for osteoarthritis which normally is only managed with pain relievers and injections.
The Bigger Takeaway
"My (knees, hips, elbows, fingers...) are bone on bone. There's nothing that can be done for them." We hear this all the time from osteoarthritis sufferers and we do not accept it. OA is a condition of instability. When you stabilize the joint by correcting muscle imbalances, with dry needling for example, and reduce chronic inflammation, which is the primary pain generator, you can reduce pain and even start to reverse the effects of OA.
Just like any chronic pain condition, there is more at play than just physical abnormalities. The research continuously supports the use of physical, biochemical, and mind-body counseling tools when treating any chronic pain condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is dry needling, and how is it different from acupuncture?
Dry needling uses thin, solid needles inserted into muscle trigger points or tight connective tissue to release tension, improve local blood flow, and reduce pain and stiffness. While it may look similar to acupuncture, dry needling is based on modern anatomy and neuromuscular science rather than traditional Chinese medicine meridian theory. The goals and techniques often differ, even though both involve needle work.
Can dry needling actually help chronic joint pain?
Yes — in many cases. Dry needling can reduce muscle tension and improve movement patterns that contribute to joint pain. By releasing tight muscles and improving local circulation, it can decrease stress around the joint, reduce compensatory movement, and help interrupt the pain cycle. It’s most effective when used as part of a comprehensive plan that includes movement retraining and nervous system regulation.
Does dry needling hurt, and is it safe?
Most people feel the tap of the needle being inserted but do not experience any pain. There can be a muscle twitch response which can create a moment of discomfort but that is usually it. Because dry needling targets trigger points, there can be mild soreness afterward, typically resolving within 24–48 hours. When performed by a trained clinician, dry needling is generally safe. Minor side effects like temporary soreness or slight bruising can occur, but serious complications are rare.
How many dry needling treatments will I need to see results?
The number of treatments varies depending on the severity and chronicity of the pain, how long the condition has been present, and how your body responds. Some patients notice improvement after just one session, while others may benefit from a short course of treatments over several weeks. Dry needling works best when integrated with movement therapy, strength work, and lifestyle factors that support long-term pain control.
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