Looking for dry needling near you in North Jersey? Holsman Physical Therapy offers dry needling at three clinics: Lyndhurst, Caldwell and Fair Lawn. Every session is done by a Doctor of Physical Therapy certified in dry needling by the American Academy of Manipulative Therapy (AAMT), and always as one part of a full physical therapy plan.
What Is Dry Needling?
Dry needling uses a very thin, solid, single-use needle to reach tight bands and tender knots in muscle, often called trigger points. These spots can cause local pain, stiffness, and pain that spreads to other areas, like a knot in your upper back that sends pain into your head. When the needle reaches the spot, the muscle often gives a quick twitch and then relaxes, which can ease pain and make it easier to move.
It is called “dry” because nothing is injected. The needle looks like an acupuncture needle, but the approach is different: dry needling is based on anatomy and on how muscles and nerves work, and your therapist decides where to place needles from your exam. For a deeper look, read our article Dry Needling in Physical Therapy: What It Is, What It Treats and What to Expect.
Conditions Dry Needling Can Help
Your therapist may suggest dry needling when tight, overactive muscles are part of what is driving your pain. Common examples include:
- Neck pain and tension headaches
- Low back pain
- Buttock and hip pain, including muscle-related sciatica-type symptoms
- Shoulder pain and upper back tightness
- Jaw pain and TMJ-related muscle tension
- Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow
- Knee pain, including runner’s knee
- Calf tightness, Achilles and heel pain
- Sports and overuse injuries that are slow to settle
- Muscle tightness that limits progress after surgery
Always Part of Your Physical Therapy
Dry needling is not a stand-alone fix. It opens a window: once a muscle lets go, exercise, hands-on therapy and better movement habits can make the change last. That’s why at Holsman dry needling is always one part of your physical therapy or sports physical therapy plan, never a separate treatment on its own.
What a Dry Needling Session Feels Like
- Evaluation first. Your therapist examines how you move, finds the muscles involved, reviews your health history and checks that dry needling is safe for you.
- Consent and setup. Your therapist explains the plan and answers your questions. The skin is cleaned and a new, sterile, single-use needle is used every time.
- Needling. Most people barely feel the needle go in. When it reaches a tight spot you may feel a deep ache or a quick twitch or cramp in the muscle, which usually lasts a second or two. The needling itself often takes just a few minutes.
- Move right after. Your therapist then has you stretch, move and exercise to make the most of the change in the muscle, usually in the same visit.
- The next day or two. Soreness, like after a hard workout, is common for 24 to 48 hours. Light activity, water and heat usually help. Small bruises can also happen.
Is Dry Needling Safe?
Serious problems are rare when dry needling is done by a trained, licensed clinician. In New Jersey, only physical therapists who meet state requirements, including 80 hours of dry needling training approved by the State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners, may perform it. Tell your therapist before treatment if you:
- Take blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder
- Are pregnant or may be pregnant
- Have a weakened immune system, an infection, or a skin problem in the area
- Have lymphedema or have had lymph nodes removed
- Have a pacemaker or other implanted device, a metal allergy, or a strong fear of needles
Dry needling is always your choice. If it isn’t right for you, your therapist will use other treatments to reach the same goals.
Insurance and Cost
Dry needling is often not covered by insurance. Medicare does not pay for it, and many commercial plans treat it as non-covered. The rest of your physical therapy visit may still be covered. Our staff will check your benefits and explain any out-of-pocket cost before treatment. See our insurance page for plans we accept.
In New Jersey you can start physical therapy without a referral, though some insurance plans require one for coverage. If a physician referred you to physical therapy, your therapist will contact that physician before starting dry needling, as New Jersey law requires.
