Dry Needling for Pain Relief
Targeted relief for muscle tension, pain, and performance.
At West End Acupuncture, our licensed acupuncturists in Portland, ME offer dry needling to relieve muscle knots, reduce pain, and restore mobility. This modern technique is ideal for back pain, shoulder tension, sciatica, and sports injuries—all delivered in a safe, supportive clinic setting.
What Is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is a therapeutic technique that uses thin, sterile needles to target myofascial trigger points—tight, sensitive muscle knots that cause pain and limit movement. While similar to acupuncture in its tools, dry needling is often focused on musculoskeletal pain, and is especially effective for athletes or individuals with chronic muscle tension.
At our acupuncture clinic in Portland, Maine, dry needling is offered by licensed acupuncturists with advanced training in orthopedic and sports medicine techniques. We often combine it with acupuncture or cupping for optimal results.
Conditions Treated with Dry Needling
Dry needling helps relieve pain and improve function in areas including:
Back pain and neck stiffness
Shoulder pain and frozen shoulder
Sciatica and piriformis syndrome
Tennis elbow and carpal tunnel
Knee pain and hip tightness
Sports injuries and postural tension
If you're struggling with muscle knots, repetitive strain injuries, or tension from overuse, this technique may provide fast, effective relief.
How It Works
Using a detailed physical assessment, we identify trigger points causing your symptoms. Then, we gently insert hair-thin needles directly into those points to release tightness, improve blood flow, and restore muscle function. Most patients feel a quick twitch or dull ache followed by noticeable relaxation in the area.
Treatments are customized to your comfort level and may include acupuncture, cupping therapy, or red light therapy to complement the dry needling process.
Benefits of Dry Needling
Rapid pain relief without medication
Improved flexibility and mobility
Accelerated injury recovery
Reduced inflammation and muscle tension
Enhanced athletic performance and posture
Dry needling is especially useful for patients who haven't found relief through massage, stretching, or other therapies. It’s a great addition to any wellness or rehab plan.
Book Your Dry Needling Session
If you’re searching for dry needling in Portland, Maine, you’re in expert hands at West End Acupuncture. Book your session online or contact us with questions. Our team will determine whether dry needling, acupuncture, or a combination is best suited to your needs.
Book a session today →
Targeting Specific Pain Points with Dry Needling
Whether you're suffering from sports injuries, chronic pain, or myofascial pain, dry needling can be customized to treat your unique condition. Dry needling for sports injuries, for example, is ideal for addressing common athletic issues such as strains, tendonitis, and ligament injuries. By targeting the affected muscles, dry needling helps to accelerate healing and reduce inflammation, getting you back to your sport faster.
For those experiencing chronic pain, such as that caused by long-term conditions or repetitive strain,dry needling for chronic paincan provide lasting relief. The technique works by stimulating the muscle tissue to release tightness and improve blood flow, thus reducing pain and promoting recovery over time.
Relieving Neck and Back Pain with Precision - Dry needling for neck pain and back pain targets specific muscle groups in the neck and back to relieve pain and tension. By inserting thin needles into tight or knotted muscles, helps release trigger points, reduce inflammation, and promote blood circulation. This results in decreased pain, improved mobility, and faster recovery, providing relief from chronic discomfort and enhancing muscle function in the affected areas.
Alleviating Shoulder Pain and Enhancing Mobility - Shoulder pain can limit your ability to perform everyday activities and cause discomfort. Whether from overuse, injury, or muscle imbalances, this pain often results in stiffness and restricted movement. Dry needling for shoulder pain targets specific muscle fibers and trigger points, increasing blood flow and reducing inflammation. This treatment helps alleviate pain and stiffness, promoting better function and mobility.
Dry Needling for Myofascial Pain: Tackling the Source of Discomfort - Myofascial pain, often caused by muscle imbalances or overuse, can be persistent and difficult to manage. Dry needling for myofascial pain works by targeting the specific muscle fibers that are contributing to the discomfort. This technique helps break up tightness in the fascia, and the connective tissue surrounding muscles, and provides lasting relief.
A Precision Approach to Healing
Dry needling is a therapeutic technique that uses thin, solid needles to target specific areas of muscle tissue that are causing pain. Often referred to as dry needling for trigger points, this process focuses on the identification and treatment of tight knots or "trigger points" within muscles. These knots can cause significant pain and discomfort, limiting your movement and overall quality of life.
When the needles are inserted into the affected muscle, they stimulate the tissue, causing it to relax and release. This process not only alleviates pain but also improves blood flow, speeds up healing, and restores function. Unlike traditional acupuncture, which focuses on the flow of energy (or “qi”) in the body, dry needling directly addresses the physical and structural causes of pain.