Dry Needling: The Evidence-Based "Reset Button" for Fort Worth Athletes
If you spend your weekends at Ridglea Country Club or training for your next 5k on Camp Bowie, you know how frustrating a "muscle knot" can be. Whether it’s a nagging calf strain or "pickleball elbow," sometimes stretching and rest aren't enough.
At our clinic, we offer Dry Needling—a modern, western-medical technique designed to target the root cause of muscle pain. Unlike traditional therapies that only treat the surface, dry needling allows us to reach deep into the tissue to reset the "pain-spasm cycle."
What Exactly is Dry Needling?
Despite using similar thin needles, dry needling is not acupuncture. While acupuncture is based on traditional Chinese medicine and energy flow (Qi), dry needling is a neurophysiological intervention rooted in modern anatomy [4.1, 4.3].
The term "dry" simply means we aren't injecting any medication (like a steroid). Instead, the needle itself is the treatment. We use it to stimulate Myofascial Trigger Points—hyper-irritable spots in your muscle that cause local pain and even "referred pain" elsewhere in your body [1.1, 2.2].
How it Works: The Science of the "Twitch"
When a thin needle is inserted into a trigger point, it often elicits a Local Twitch Response (LTR). Research shows that this reflex is a key sign the treatment is working [2.1, 2.3]. This twitch helps:
Release Biochemicals: Studies show that needling a trigger point immediately lowers the levels of inflammatory chemicals (like bradykinin and substance P) that cause pain [2.1, 3.1].
Improve Blood Flow: The needle creates a tiny "micro-lesion" that tells your body to send fresh, oxygen-rich blood to the area to start the healing process [2.1, 3.1].
Desensitize the Nervous System: By stimulating specific nerve endings, dry needling can "interrupt" the pain signals being sent to your brain, providing a window of relief so you can get back to moving [2.2, 2.3].
Is it Effective? (What the Research Says)
We are an evidence-based practice, which means we don't just use tools because they're trendy—we use them because they work. Recent clinical reviews confirm that dry needling is highly effective for:
Mechanical Neck & Back Pain: A major 2025 systematic review found significant short-term improvements in pain sensitivity and function for chronic neck pain [1.3].
Tennis & Pickleball Elbow: Research indicates dry needling is effective at reducing the excitability of the central nervous system associated with these chronic tendon issues [2.2, 2.3].
Shoulder Dysfunction: A 2024 feasibility study provided evidence that dry needling can increase muscle excitability and reduce pain sensitivity in chronic shoulder conditions [2.5].
The Evidence-Based Approach: Research consistently shows that dry needling is most effective when it is part of a complete plan. We use it to "quiet the pain" so we can follow up with the rehab and strength work that keeps the pain from coming back [1.3, 3.1, 4.3].
Other Conditions Dry Needling Can Treat
TMJ / Jaw Pain: Research shows needling the masseter and lateral pterygoid muscles can significantly reduce jaw pain and improve opening range [1, 5].
Hip Bursitis (Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome): Effective for releasing tension in the gluteal muscles that often mimics or aggravates hip bursitis [6].
Rotator Cuff Tendonopathy: Helps "reset" the shoulder stabilizers to improve overhead reach and reduce night pain [3, 4].
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Used as an adjunct therapy to reduce forearm muscle pressure on the median nerve [6].
Knee Osteoarthritis: While it doesn't "cure" arthritis, it significantly reduces the compensatory muscle pain in the quads and hamstrings [1, 2].
Headaches (Tension & Migraine): Targets trigger points in the upper trapezius and suboccipitals that are frequent "drivers" of chronic headaches [1, 3].
Fibromyalgia: Shown to help reduce the overall "pain wind-up" and sensitivity in centralized pain patients [1, 6].
Chronic Pelvic Pain: Increasingly used to treat pelvic floor tension and associated hip/low back pain [6].
Iliotibial (IT) Band Syndrome: Targets the Tensor Fasciae Latae (TFL) and gluteals to reduce tension along the lateral knee [2, 4].
Shin Splints (Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome): Helps release the deep posterior compartment muscles that pull on the bone during running [4].
Patellofemoral Pain (Runner's Knee): Used to balance muscle pull around the kneecap by treating the quadriceps [2].
Post-Surgical Scar Tissue: Helps improve the mobility of tissue around surgical sites (once fully healed) to restore normal movement [4].
What to Expect During Your Session
Most of our patients are surprised by how little they feel the needle itself. You might feel a dull ache or a quick "cramp" during the twitch response, but this usually lasts only a second [1.1, 4.2]. While some temporary soreness is common (reported by about 52% of patients), most people feel a significant "lightness" or improved mobility shortly after [1.1, 4.5]. Sometimes the use of shockwave therapy can be used in combination with dry needling for even faster and higher impact results.
Ready to Get Back in the Game?
If you're an active adult in Fort Worth tired of playing through the pain, dry needling might be the missing piece of your recovery. Located right off Camp Bowie, we specialize in helping athletes and professionals stay mobile without surgery or injections.
Clinical Research & References
Clinical Effectiveness of Dry Needling for Musculoskeletal Pain: An Umbrella Review. Journal of Clinical Medicine (2024).
Dry Needling for Lower Extremity Myofascial Trigger Points: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Physical Therapy in Sport (2025).
The Effect of Dry Needling on Pain and Quality of Life in Patients with Cervicogenic Headaches. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies (2024).
Dry Needling for Sports Injuries: Current Clinical Practice Guidelines. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy (2024).
Effectiveness of Dry Needling in Temporomandibular Disorders: A Systematic Review. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation (2025).
Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines for Myofascial Trigger Point Dry Needling. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy (JOSPT) (Updated 2024).
Dr. Ballmann, D.C.