If you’ve heard of dry needling or acupuncture, you might be wondering—aren’t they basically the same thing? After all, both treatments involve very thin, solid needles being placed into the body. While they may look similar on the surface, the goals, techniques, and philosophies behind these two approaches are quite different.
At Highland Spine and Sport in Roanoke, VA, we often use dry needling as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for pain relief and improved mobility. Here’s how it compares to acupuncture.
AspectAcupunctureDry NeedlingOriginTraditional Chinese MedicineWestern medicine, modern rehabFocusWhole-body energy balance (Qi)Musculoskeletal pain & functionNeedle PlacementAlong mapped meridiansInto trigger points/tight musclesConditions TreatedWide variety (pain, stress, systemic health)Muscle/joint pain, mobility issues
Both dry needling and acupuncture can be effective, but the choice depends on your goals and condition. If you’re looking for help with muscle tightness, sports injuries, or localized pain relief, dry needling may be the better option.
At Highland Spine and Sport, we incorporate dry needling along with chiropractic care, soft tissue therapy, and rehab exercises to create a complete plan that gets you out of pain and back to doing what you love.