06/01/2026
🪡 Dry Needling vs Acupuncture — What’s the Difference?
You’ve probably heard the terms dry needling and acupuncture — but they’re not the same thing 👇
🧠 Acupuncture
✔ Rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine
✔ Practised for over 4,000 years
✔ Focuses on restoring balance of energy (“chi”)
✔ Uses specific points along meridian lines
✔ Often used for systemic conditions
💪 Dry Needling
✔ A modern, evidence-based treatment
✔ Targets muscles, tendons, ligaments & joints
✔ Focuses on myofascial trigger points (tight, painful knots in muscle)
✔ Uses a fine “hair-line” needle — no injections
✔ Widely used by physiotherapists worldwide (including at 4Lane Physiotherapy)
Dry needling aims to reduce pain, improve movement, and restore normal muscle function by influencing both local tissue chemistry and the nervous system.
🔬 Why Does It Work?
Research shows dry needling can:
✔ Increase blood flow to deep tissues
✔ Reduce inflammation
✔ Activate the body’s natural pain-relief (opioids)
✔ Calm over-sensitive pain pathways
✔ Improve muscle activation and movement patterns
One study found 74% of chronic pain patients experienced relief lasting weeks or longer after just one session.
Importantly, dry needling is a valuable adjunct to other treatment modalities, such as hands-on treatment for pain relief, reassurance, education, and a tailored exercise prescription.
🏃♂️ Common Conditions that may benefit from Dry Needling:
• Neck & shoulder pain
• Tennis elbow
• Headaches
• Low back pain
• Knee pain
• Plantar fasciitis
• Ligament & tendon pain
⚠️ Is It Safe?
Yes. Dry needling is considered very safe when performed by trained professionals. Some people may experience mild soreness, fatigue, or small bruising — all normal and temporary.
📞 Ready to Book?
If you’re dealing with acute or ongoing musculoskeletal pain, our Physio team can help with:
✔ Hands-on treatment
✔ Education & reassurance
✔ Tailored exercise programs
✔ Dry needling (when appropriate)
📱 Call 9756 7424 or book online at www.4lane.com.au
