Functional Dry Needling: A Precision-Based Approach to Muscular Pain

Release patterns of pain and dysfunction by tapping into the body’s natural healing pathways.

Functional Dry Needling (FDN) is an advanced therapeutic technique used to address myofascial pain, muscle dysfunction, and movement limitations. It involves inserting fine, sterile needles into specific muscle tissue to release myofascial trigger points, improve circulation, and reduce neuromuscular pain.

FDN is grounded in contemporary western medicine, drawing principles in anatomy, neurophysiology, biomechanics, and pain science—not acupuncture theory. Research supports its effectiveness in reducing muscle tension, facilitating circulation, and recalibrating how muscles fire and coordinate. This makes it particularly effective for chronic pain, postural imbalances, and neuromuscular dysfunction.

Dry needling is used as part of a comprehensive, personalized plan of care. It is often paired with manual therapy, Redcord neuromuscular retraining, and targeted exercise to support recovery, restore mobility, and retrain movement patterns so that you not only feel better—but move better.

How It Works: Physiological Mechanisms

Functional Dry Needling affects the body through several interrelated physiological processes:

  • Trigger Point Disruption: Myofascial trigger points are hyperirritable spots within skeletal muscle associated with palpable nodules in taut bands of muscle fibers. These points can cause pain, restrict mobility, and exhibit spontaneous electrical activity due to excessive acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction. Dry needling can disrupt these dysfunctional motor endplates, normalize acetylcholine levels, and decrease spontaneous electrical activity, leading to pain relief and improved muscle function.¹ ²

  • Neuromuscular Reset: The insertion of a needle into a trigger point can elicit a local twitch response—a brief, involuntary contraction of muscle fibers. This response may interrupt the pain-spasm-pain cycle, reduce muscle hypertonicity, and restore normal motor function.³

  • Peripheral and Central Nervous System Effects: Dry needling may activate descending inhibitory pathways in the central nervous system, leading to the release of endogenous opioids and other neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine. This modulation can reduce central sensitization and alter pain perception, providing analgesic effects beyond the local treatment area.⁴

  • Local Circulatory and Inflammatory Effects: Needling can increase local blood flow, reduce hypoxia, and stimulate a mild inflammatory response that promotes tissue remodeling.⁵

  • Energy Flow and Biotensegrity Concepts: While FDN is grounded in Western medical principles, some practitioners consider its effects through the lens of energy flow and biotensegrity. Biotensegrity refers to the body’s structural integrity maintained by a balance between tension and compression elements. Dry needling may influence fascial tension and restore balance within this system, contributing to improved movement and function.⁶

Conditions That May Benefit from Functional Dry Needling

Chronic or acute musculoskeletal pain  • Myofascial pain syndromes  • Tendinopathies (e.g., lateral epicondylitis, Achilles tendinopathy)  • Neck and back pain  • Headaches and TMJ dysfunction  •  Postural dysfunction or muscle imbalances  •  Overuse injuries or sports-related strains

Dry needling is most effective when used in conjunction with movement retraining, Redcord neuromuscular therapy, manual therapy, and individualized home programs.

Evidence and Efficacy

A growing body of research supports the effectiveness of dry needling in reducing pain, improving range of motion, and restoring functional movement—especially when combined with exercise and manual therapy. Meta-analyses and clinical reviews demonstrate consistent benefits in treating myofascial pain, trigger point-related dysfunction, and chronic musculoskeletal conditions.³ ⁴ ⁵

Is It Safe?

When performed by a trained clinician, dry needling is a safe and evidence-informed intervention. Denise has exceeded state requirements for certification in the completion all advanced coursework, and has well over 1,000 hours of direct experience. 

  • Shah JP, Phillips TM, Danoff JV, Gerber LH. An in vivo microanalytical technique for measuring the local biochemical milieu of human skeletal muscle. J Appl Physiol. 2005;99(5):1977–1984.

  • Simons DG. Review of enigmatic MTrPs as a common cause of enigmatic musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2004;14(1):95–107.

  • Dunning J, Butts R, Mourad F, et al. Dry needling: a literature review with implications for clinical practice guidelines. Phys Ther Rev. 2014;19(4):252–265.

  • Kietrys DM, Palombaro KM, Azzaretto E, et al. Effectiveness of dry needling for upper-quarter myofascial pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2013;43(9):620–634.

  • Gattie E, Cleland JA, Snodgrass SJ. The effectiveness of trigger point dry needling for musculoskeletal conditions by physical therapists: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2017;47(3):133–149.

  • Dommerholt J, Fernández-de-las-Peñas C. Trigger Point Dry Needling: An Evidence and Clinical-Based Approach. 2nd ed. Elsevier Health Sciences; 2018.