What is Dry Needling?

A Complete Guide to Pain Relief & Recovery from Sport & Spinal Rehab in Jupiter, FL

Ever had a muscle knot so stubborn it feels like it's paying rent in your shoulder? Dry needling might be the eviction notice your body needs.

At Sport & Spinal Rehab in Jupiter, Florida, we offer dry needling as one of our most effective techniques for chronic pain relief, faster recovery, and improved mobility. In this post, we’ll break down everything you need to know—straight from the video with Dr. Brandon Nevel and Dr. Jordan Clark.

Watch the video:
Scroll down to watch our video: “What is Dry Needling? | Complete Guide for Pain Relief & Recovery”

What Is Dry Needling?

Dry needling involves inserting a very thin, solid needle—called a filiform needle—directly into trigger points (aka muscle knots) to release tension, reduce pain, and reset dysfunctional tissue.

Unlike acupuncture, which is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine and energy meridians, dry needling is grounded in Western medicine. It targets the neuromuscular system to restore normal muscle function.

How Does Dry Needling Work?

Dry needling works through a few key mechanisms:

Mechanical Effect – The needle physically disrupts tight muscle fibers, like pressing a reset button.
Neurological Response – It stimulates the nervous system to shut down pain signals.
Chemical Reaction – It can trigger the release of endorphins and reduce local inflammation.

Translation? Your tight, angry muscles finally chill out.

Dry Needling vs. Acupuncture

While they use similar tools, they’re very different approaches:

Dry Needling	Acupuncture
Based on Western science	Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine
Targets trigger points	Targets meridians/energy flow
Treats musculoskeletal pain	Treats a wide variety of issues
Performed by PTs, chiros, MDs	Performed by licensed acupuncturists

“Think of acupuncture as balancing energy, and dry needling as giving your muscle a wake-up slap… lovingly.” – Dr. Nevel

What Conditions Does Dry Needling Treat?

We use dry needling for a wide range of musculoskeletal issues, including:

Neck and back pain
Tennis elbow
Rotator cuff injuries
Sciatica
Plantar fasciitis
Hip and glute pain
Tension headaches
TMJ (jaw dysfunction)

If you’ve tried massage, stretching, or adjustments without lasting relief—dry needling could be the missing link.

What Does Dry Needling Feel Like?

Most people barely feel the needle go in. You might feel a quick local twitch response—a brief muscle spasm—as the trigger point releases. Post-treatment, you may feel a bit sore, like you had a solid workout.

“It’s weird, it’s kind of cool… and it works.” – Dr. Clark

Bonus Benefits of Dry Needling

Takes just 10–15 minutes
Pairs perfectly with chiropractic care and soft tissue therapy
Speeds up healing when combined with rehab exercises
Effective for chronic or stubborn pain cases

Is Dry Needling Safe?

For most people, yes—it’s very safe when performed by trained professionals like our team at Sport & Spinal Rehab. However, we may not recommend it for:

Individuals with bleeding disorders
Severe needle phobia
Certain medical conditions (we’ll screen during your visit)

Dry Needling in Jupiter, FL

At Sport & Spinal Rehab, our chiropractic physicians are trained and certified in dry needling. We customize each treatment to fit your unique injury, condition, or performance goals.

Whether you’re an athlete, a weekend warrior, or dealing with long-term pain—we’re here to help you heal.

Watch the Full Video

Click below to watch Dr. Nevel and Dr. Clark break it all down in our YouTube video:
“What is Dry Needling? | Complete Guide for Pain Relief & Recovery”