If you’re an active adult, athlete, or weekend warrior in Portland, Maine dealing with stubborn muscle tightness, nagging pain, or a sports injury that just won’t heal, you may have heard about dry needling as a treatment option. It’s becoming a go-to tool in sports physical therapy—and research supports its benefits when used as part of a complete rehab plan.
Dry needling is a physical therapy technique where a licensed clinician inserts a thin, sterile needle into specific muscle or connective tissue areas to create a local physiological response.
Rather than focusing on “trigger points,” current evidence suggests that dry needling works by influencing the nervous system, modulating pain, improving local circulation, and reducing muscle guarding. The goal is to help restore normal movement patterns and allow for more effective strength and mobility training.
Pain Relief
Studies show dry needling can help decrease pain by altering pain signaling pathways, reducing protective muscle tone, and improving tissue health—making it a useful adjunct in both acute and chronic conditions.
Improved Mobility
By decreasing excessive muscle tension and improving tissue extensibility, dry needling can help restore normal range of motion for both sports performance and daily activities.
Faster Recovery from Injury
When combined with progressive loading, mobility work, and sport-specific rehab, dry needling can help you move with less discomfort, allowing you to train and recover more effectively.
Helps a Wide Range of Conditions
Dry needling is used in Portland sports PT clinics for:
Muscle strains
Tendinopathies (e.g., tennis elbow, Achilles tendinopathy)
Low back and neck pain
Shoulder pain
Plantar fasciitis
A focused movement and tissue assessment to identify contributing factors to your pain or limitation
Insertion of thin, solid needles into targeted muscles or connective tissues (you might feel a quick twitch, mild ache, or pressure)
Possible mild soreness for 24–48 hours afterward, followed by improved mobility and pain reduction
At Engine Room Performance Physical Therapy, we integrate dry needling into a broader sports rehab approach—combining it with evidence-based strength training, mobility drills, and movement coaching. This ensures you’re not just reducing pain, but also improving performance and preventing future injury.
Dry needling isn’t a magic bullet—but when used alongside a comprehensive sports physical therapy plan, it’s a powerful tool for overcoming pain, speeding recovery, and getting back to doing what you love.
Ready to see if dry needling could help you?
Book a Free Discovery Call with our Portland, Maine physical therapy clinic to schedule your evaluation today.