Dry Needling vs Acupuncture: What's the Difference?

Both methods put a fine needle into the skin. The difference lies mainly in the reasoning behind where it goes.

Acupuncture comes from traditional Chinese medicine, with points set along channels called meridians. Dry needling is usually explained in terms of trigger points, which are tender spots in a muscle.

• The Cochrane review of acupuncture for shoulder pain included 9 small trials with more than 500 people in total. Improvements were about the same as with sham acupuncture at 2 to 4 weeks [R24].
• One trial found better function at 4 weeks. The review did not find enough evidence to say that acupuncture works or is harmful, and it noted a possible short-term benefit [R24].
• There isn't strong research on dry needling that we can cite, so we can't rate it. Ask your clinician what evidence sits behind the treatment they offer.
• For shoulder-related pain in general, resisted exercise that progresses over time probably helps more than gentle movement alone [R01].

1. Ask the practitioner what they plan to do and why. A good answer names the goal, the expected timeline and what will be checked along the way.
2. Check their training and registration. Look for a regulated health professional, and ask about their training in the specific method.
3. Get a diagnosis first. A physiotherapist or doctor can assess the shoulder before any needling starts.