What is dry needling?
Dry needling uses thin filament needles inserted into specific points in muscle to release trigger points, reduce muscle tone, and restore normal movement. It is not acupuncture — the technique, training, and physiology behind it are different. Dry needling is performed by physical therapists trained and certified in the technique, and it integrates with the rest of your manual therapy and exercise plan rather than being a one-off treatment.
Common conditions we treat
- Persistent neck and upper back tightness
- Tension headaches and cervicogenic headaches
- Low back pain with muscle guarding
- Glute and piriformis pain
- Hamstring and quad tightness
- Calf tightness, Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis
- Shoulder and rotator cuff pain
- TMJ-related muscle tension
What to expect
- We always evaluate first — needling is a tool, not a diagnosis. Your PT will assess what's actually driving your pain.
- If indicated, the actual needling takes a few minutes per area and feels like a brief muscle twitch followed by relief
- We pair needling with hands-on work and movement re-training so the change holds
- Most patients see meaningful changes in 2–4 sessions for the targeted issue
Insurance and payment
We accept most major insurance plans:
- Medicare
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
- Aetna
- UnitedHealthcare
- Tricare
- Self-pay
Call (202) 964-0323 or use the contact form and we'll verify your benefits before your first visit.