What Is Dry Needling? A Practical, Evidence-Informed Option for Athletes

Dry needling is a treatment option commonly used in sports physical therapy, but it’s often misunderstood. Some clinics market it as a cure-all, while others avoid it entirely. At our cash-based sports physical therapy clinic in Pittsburgh, we take a more balanced, evidence-informed approach.

Dry needling is not a standalone solution, and it is not the primary reason athletes get better. Exercise, progressive loading, and sport-specific training drive long-term adaptation. When used appropriately, however, dry needling can be a helpful adjunct that allows athletes to move, train, and load more effectively.

What Is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a technique in which a licensed physical therapist (or other healthcare provider) inserts a very thin, sterile filament needle into specific muscle tissue. The goal is not to “release toxins” or permanently change tissue, but to influence the nervous system’s response to pain, tone, and movement.

In athletes, dry needling is commonly used to:

• Reduce short-term muscle guarding or excessive tone

• Improve temporary range of motion

• Decrease pain sensitivity in irritated areas

• Allow improved movement quality during exercise

  
  

These effects are typically temporary, lasting hours to a few days, which is why dry needling alone does not create lasting improvement.

What Dry Needling Does—and What It Does Not Do

Dry needling can help change symptoms, but it does not build strength, improve tissue capacity, or prevent injury on its own. The strongest evidence in physical therapy consistently shows that exercise is the primary driver of long-term outcomes—especially for athletes.

At our Cranberry Township physical therapy clinic we use dry needling in the following ways:

• Dry needling is used to support movement and training, not replace it

• Understand that any symptom relief is immediately followed by active exercise

• Strength, loading tolerance, and performance are always the focus

  
  

Think of dry needling as something that may help an athlete train better that day, not something that fixes the problem by itself.

How We Use Dry Needling With Athletes

We use dry needling selectively, not automatically. It may be considered when:

• Muscle tone or pain is limiting movement quality

• An athlete is having difficulty tolerating necessary loading

• Short-term symptom reduction improves exercise performance

  
  

Even then, it is only one piece of a broader plan that includes:

• Progressive strength training

• Sport-specific movement work

• Gradual return-to-play loading strategies

  
  

This approach aligns with current evidence and keeps the focus on long-term results rather than short-term relief.

Is Dry Needling Safe?

When performed by a properly trained physical therapist, dry needling is considered low risk. At our clinic, dry needling is performed by Dr. Paula, who has been using this technique with athletes for several years without complications.

We follow strict safety standards, including:

• Single-use, sterile needles

• Thorough screening and anatomical assessment

• Clear explanation and informed consent

  
  

Some athletes experience mild soreness after treatment, which typically resolves within 24–48 hours.

Why Insurance Coverage Is Changing

Many insurance companies no longer reimburse for dry needling, often labeling it as a non-covered or add-on service. In traditional insurance-based clinics, this frequently leads to:

• Additional out-of-pocket fees per session

• Inconsistent access depending on the plan

• Treatment decisions influenced by billing rules

  
  

As a cash-based physical therapy clinic, we don’t base care decisions on insurance reimbursement. When dry needling is appropriate, it is included in your session, not charged separately.

Our Philosophy on Dry Needling

Dry needling is a tool, not a solution. It may help create short-term changes that allow better movement or higher-quality training, but exercise is what drives adaptation, resilience, and performance.

That philosophy guides how we work with athletes throughout Cranberry Township, Wexford, and the surrounding North Hills communities—from recreational lifters to competitive athletes.