5 Common Injuries Treated with Dry Needling

Dry needling is a modern physical therapy technique designed to treat muscular pain, stiffness, and movement restrictions by targeting trigger points—tight bands of muscle that can cause discomfort or limit mobility. Using thin, sterile needles, therapists insert directly into these points to stimulate a twitch response and encourage the muscle to relax.

At Next Level PT in Avon, OH, dry needling is often used as part of a broader, personalized recovery plan. It helps reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and relieve pressure caused by muscle tension. This makes it a powerful option for both acute and chronic injuries that haven’t responded to stretching, massage, or exercise alone.

READ: Dry Needling: A Modern Approach to Pain Management

Dry needling is especially effective because it doesn’t just mask pain—it helps reset muscle function at the source. For patients in Avon dealing with injury-related pain, it offers a safe, drug-free way to accelerate healing and get back to daily life with less discomfort.

1. Neck and Shoulder Tension from Poor Posture

If you spend long hours at a desk or looking down at your phone, you’ve probably experienced tightness in your neck and shoulders. This kind of tension is often caused by postural habits that overload certain muscle groups, leading to discomfort, reduced range of motion, and even referred pain into the head or upper back.

Dry needling offers a direct way to release that tension. At Next Level PT in Avon, OH, we often treat these areas by identifying trigger points in the upper traps, levator scapulae, and surrounding muscles. By inserting a fine needle into these knots, we can produce a localized twitch response that helps the muscle relax and reset.

Patients often report immediate relief and improved mobility after treatment. When combined with postural training and corrective exercises, dry needling can be a highly effective tool for addressing chronic neck and shoulder tightness.

2. Lower Back Pain from Muscle Imbalances

Lower back pain is one of the most common complaints we see at Next Level PT, and it’s often the result of muscle imbalances. Whether due to prolonged sitting, poor lifting mechanics, or general deconditioning, these imbalances place excessive stress on the lumbar spine and surrounding structures.

Dry needling allows us to target deep muscle groups—like the quadratus lumborum, multifidus, and gluteal muscles—that may be tight, overactive, or inhibited. By releasing trigger points in these areas, we can restore normal muscle tone, improve joint mobility, and reduce the strain on the spine.

What sets dry needling apart is its ability to access deeper layers of muscle that are difficult to reach with massage or stretching alone. When paired with corrective movement and strength training, it creates a powerful foundation for long-term relief from back pain—without relying on medication or passive rest.

3. Headaches Triggered by Muscle Tension

Many people don’t realize that headaches often have a muscular origin. Tension in the neck, shoulders, and upper back can compress nerves or limit blood flow, leading to what are known as tension-type or cervicogenic headaches. These headaches can feel like a constant ache, often radiating from the base of the skull into the temples or forehead.

At Next Level PT in Avon, OH, we use dry needling to target trigger points in key muscles that contribute to this type of pain—such as the suboccipitals, upper trapezius, and sternocleidomastoid. Releasing these tight areas can reduce headache frequency and intensity, while also improving neck mobility and posture.

Many patients experience relief shortly after treatment, especially when dry needling is paired with education and posture correction strategies. If you're struggling with headaches that seem to stem from muscle tension, dry needling may be the missing piece in your treatment plan.

4. Tendon-Related Injuries Like Golfer’s Elbow or Achilles Tendonitis

Tendon-related injuries—often the result of repetitive motion or overuse—can be frustratingly slow to heal. Conditions like golfer’s elbow, tennis elbow, and Achilles tendonitis involve both inflammation and muscle tightness in the surrounding areas, which can limit mobility and cause lingering pain.

Dry needling offers a targeted way to reduce that muscular tension, allowing the tendon to move more freely and begin healing properly. At Next Level PT in Avon, OH, we often treat these injuries by addressing trigger points in nearby muscle groups—such as the forearm flexors, calf muscles, or hamstrings—depending on the location of the tendon issue.

The result is improved circulation, reduced pain, and a better environment for tissue recovery. When combined with eccentric strengthening and movement retraining, dry needling can help patients recover faster and return to activities with greater confidence.

5. Post-Surgical Muscle Tightness or Scar Tissue

After surgery, it’s common to experience muscle guarding, stiffness, or limited mobility in and around the treated area. These restrictions can slow your recovery and make it harder to return to normal activity—even if the surgery itself was a success.

Dry needling can be a helpful tool for managing these post-surgical challenges. At Next Level PT in Avon, OH, we often use it to release surrounding muscle tension and improve the mobility of soft tissue near surgical sites. By targeting tight or overactive muscles, dry needling helps reduce compensatory patterns and encourages more natural movement.

In some cases, dry needling may also assist in softening adhesions or scar tissue that’s limiting flexibility. When incorporated into a structured rehab plan, this technique can speed up your return to function and help restore comfort and control in the affected area.

Dry Needling at Next Level PT: Personalized Care for Avon Residents

At Next Level PT in Avon, OH, dry needling is more than a technique—it’s part of a personalized, hands-on approach to healing. We take the time to understand your injury, identify the source of your pain, and apply treatments that are specific to your goals and lifestyle.

Whether you're recovering from surgery, managing a repetitive strain injury, or dealing with muscle tightness from daily stress, dry needling can help accelerate your progress. It’s a safe, effective option that fits naturally into our cash-based model—giving you more time, more access, and better results.

If you’re curious whether dry needling is right for your condition, we invite you to connect with our team. We’ll walk you through your options and create a plan that works for you—so you can move better, feel better, and stay active in the Avon community.