Dry Needling (Trigger Point Therapy)

Targeted relief for the tight, stubborn muscle knots that adjustments and stretching alone can't always reach.

Some muscle tension doesn't let go with stretching, foam rolling, or even a great adjustment — it's stuck in a trigger point, a small contracted knot of muscle fiber that keeps referring pain elsewhere in the body. Dry needling targets those spots directly. Both Dr. Derek Ressler and Dr. Trent McCune are trained in trigger point dry needling, and we use it as part of a broader treatment plan, not as a stand-alone gimmick.

What Is Dry Needling?

Dry needling uses a thin, sterile filiform needle inserted directly into a trigger point or tight band of muscle. It's not acupuncture — the needles look similar, but the reasoning behind where and why we place them is based on muscle and nervous system anatomy, not traditional Chinese medicine. The goal is to get the muscle to release, calm the nervous system's response in that area, and improve blood flow to help the tissue recover.

Many patients feel a brief ache or a quick muscle twitch during treatment — a sign the trigger point is responding — followed by a sense of looser, less guarded muscle afterward.

Conditions MDT Is Commonly Used For:

  • Low back pain, including pain that radiates into the hip or leg

  • Sciatica-type symptoms

  • Disc-related pain

  • Neck pain, including pain that radiates into the shoulder or arm

  • Pain that's been hard to pin down with other approaches

What to Expect

Dry needling here isn't only a standalone service you book on its own — it's often built into your broader visit, usually alongside chiropractic adjustment and other soft tissue work, the same combination we use for every patient (per our philosophy: no single technique does it all). Your provider will identify the specific trigger points contributing to your pain, needle those areas for a short time, and typically follow up with soft tissue work or stretching to reinforce the release.

Some mild soreness for a day afterward is normal, similar to how a deep massage can feel the next day.

Why Ressler Spine and Rehab

Dr. Ressler has completed 200+ hours of advanced training that includes trigger point dry needling, and Dr. McCune brings the same certification alongside with MDT, DNS, and functional movement training. Dry needling here is one tool inside a bigger plan built around restoring motion, stabilizing the area, and retraining the movement pattern that got you hurt in the first place — not a quick fix in isolation.

Have a knot that won't quit? [Schedule Online] or call or text (330) 749-9161.

Dry needling FAQs

  • Most patients feel a brief ache, pressure, or a quick twitch when the needle hits a trigger point — it's momentary, not sharp or lasting pain.

  • No. The needles are similar, but dry needling is based on muscle and nerve anatomy, targeting trigger points directly, rather than the meridian system used in traditional acupuncture.

  • It varies by how long you've had the tightness and how your body responds. We reassess at every visit so your plan reflects your actual progress.