Physical therapists have a lot of tools for aiding recovery, relieving pain, and improving strength and mobility. But the technique of dry needling isn’t as widely known as treatments like massage and acupuncture. Also, it may not be clear what makes dry needling different from something like acupuncture.

For an expert explanation of dry needling, we invited physical therapists Melanie Kraushaar and Chad Fait onto the For Health’s Sake podcast. They went into detail about the how, the what, and the why of dry needling, covering topics like:

  • Dry needling versus acupuncture
  • How dry needling works
  • What kinds of conditions dry needling can help treat
  • What dry needling feels like

Find out if dry needling is for you

Dry needling isn’t typically a standalone treatment. As Melanie noted, “Dry needling is really a piece of the puzzle, so your therapist will most likely include other techniques, exercises and education to complement it.”

What that complete puzzle looks like depends on you – physical therapists make treatment plans that are completely personalized to your needs, goals and abilities.