If you’ve been dealing with stubborn muscle pain, tightness, or recurring injuries that just won’t respond to traditional treatment, you may have heard the term “dry needling” come up. At Healing Star Physical Therapy and Wellness, we’re excited to now offer dry needling at both our Eatontown and Freehold, NJ locations — and in this post, we want to break down exactly what it is, how it works, and who can benefit.

What Is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a technique used by trained physical therapists to treat musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. A thin, sterile needle — the same type used in acupuncture — is inserted directly into a “trigger point,” which is a tight, irritable knot within a muscle.
The word “dry” simply means no medication is injected. The needle itself does all the work by stimulating the muscle tissue, releasing the trigger point, and encouraging the body’s natural healing response.

How Is It Different From Acupuncture?

This is one of the most common questions we get. While both practices use similar needles, they come from very different traditions and have different goals.
Acupuncture is rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine and focuses on restoring the flow of energy (qi) along pathways called meridians. Dry needling, by contrast, is grounded in Western anatomy and neuroscience. Physical therapists use dry needling specifically to target dysfunctional muscle tissue, reduce pain, and restore movement — and it’s always integrated into a broader rehabilitation plan.

What Does Dry Needling Treat?

Dry needling can be highly effective for a wide range of conditions, including:

  • Neck and shoulder pain — especially tension-related tightness and headaches
  • Low back pain — one of the most common reasons patients seek PT care
  • Plantar fasciitis — stubborn heel pain that hasn’t responded to stretching alone
  • Hip and knee pain — including IT band syndrome and muscle imbalances
  • Sports injuries — muscle strains, overuse injuries, and performance limitations
  • Chronic pain conditions — fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome
  • Post-surgical tightness and scar tissue — restoring range of motion after procedures

What Should I Expect During a Session?

When you arrive for dry needling at Healing Star PT, your therapist will first perform a thorough evaluation to identify areas of restriction and trigger points. The needles are very thin — most patients describe the insertion as a mild pinch, if anything at all.

When a needle reaches an active trigger point, you may feel a brief muscle twitch or ache. This is a good sign — it means the trigger point has been engaged and is releasing. The sensation typically passes quickly.

Sessions usually last 20–30 minutes and are often combined with other treatments like manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, or our Class IV B laser therapy for a comprehensive approach to healing.

Dry needling is also frequently paired with electrical stimulation — where low-level electrical current is applied through the needle to further relax the muscle, enhance trigger point release, and reduce post-treatment soreness.

Is Dry Needling Safe?

Yes. When performed by a licensed, trained physical therapist, dry needling is a safe and well-tolerated procedure. At Healing Star PT, only our credentialed clinicians who have completed specialized dry needling training will perform the technique.
As with any treatment, mild soreness in the treated area for 24–48 hours afterward is normal and expected — similar to how you might feel after a deep tissue massage.

Is It Right for Me?

Dry needling isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. During your evaluation, your Healing Star PT therapist will determine whether it’s an appropriate part of your treatment plan based on your diagnosis, medical history, and goals.
If you’ve been living with pain that hasn’t responded to other treatments, dry needling may be the missing piece.

Ready to Learn More?

We now offer dry needling at both of our New Jersey locations:

Eatontown, NJ: 145 Wyckoff Rd, Suite 102 — (848) 208-2721
Freehold, NJ: 501 Iron Bridge Road, Suite 2 — (732) 272-1438

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