If you’ve been dealing with stubborn muscle pain, tension headaches, or a nagging shoulder that just won’t loosen up, you’ve probably tried a few things already. Stretching, ice packs, maybe even a round of over-the-counter painkillers. At Martens Chiropractic in Casper, Wyoming, one of the most effective treatments we offer for this kind of persistent musculoskeletal pain is dry needling. It’s a therapy that often surprises people, both in how it works and how quickly it can produce results.
But dry needling also raises a lot of questions. Is it the same as acupuncture? Does it hurt? What kinds of conditions respond to it? These are reasonable things to wonder about before booking an appointment, and they deserve clear answers.
How Dry Needling Actually Works
Dry needling targets myofascial trigger points, which are those tight, irritable knots that form in overworked or injured muscles. You’ve probably felt one before: a hard little spot in your upper back or the base of your skull that sends pain radiating outward when you press on it. These trigger points develop when muscle fibers get locked in a contracted state, often due to repetitive strain, poor posture, acute injury, or stress.
During a dry needling session, a trained practitioner inserts a thin, sterile, monofilament needle directly into the trigger point. The needle is called “dry” because there’s no medication or injection involved. When the needle reaches the trigger point, it often produces a brief involuntary twitch in the muscle, known as a local twitch response. That twitch is actually a good sign. It means the muscle is releasing its sustained contraction, which allows fresh blood flow to reach the area and begins the process of reducing both local and referred pain.
The needles used are extremely thin, much thinner than a hypodermic needle you’d encounter during a blood draw. Most patients describe the sensation as a deep ache or brief cramping rather than a sharp sting. Soreness afterward is common, similar to what you’d feel after an intense workout, and it typically resolves within 24 to 48 hours.
Dry Needling vs. Acupuncture: They’re Not the Same Thing
This is probably the most common misconception. While both therapies use thin needles, the similarities largely end there. Traditional acupuncture is rooted in Chinese medicine and aims to restore energy flow along meridian pathways in the body. Dry needling, by contrast, is grounded in Western anatomy and neurophysiology. Needle placement is based on palpation of specific muscular trigger points and an understanding of referred pain patterns, not meridian charts.
At Martens Chiropractic, we actually offer both dry needling and several forms of acupuncture, including battlefield acupuncture and trigger point (ASCI) acupuncture. Each has its own clinical applications, and the right choice depends on the nature of your condition. Your provider will walk you through the options after a hands-on evaluation.
Conditions That Respond Well to Dry Needling at Martens Chiropractic
Dry needling isn’t a cure-all, but for certain types of pain, it can be remarkably effective. The conditions we treat most frequently with this technique at our Casper clinic include:
Chronic neck and upper back tension, especially in patients who work at desks or spend long hours driving. Rotator cuff injuries and shoulder impingement, where trigger points in the surrounding musculature contribute to restricted range of motion. Tension-type headaches and cervicogenic headaches, which originate from tight muscles in the neck and base of the skull. Low back pain related to muscular dysfunction, particularly when it hasn’t responded well to stretching or standard adjustments alone. Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) and other repetitive strain conditions of the forearm and wrist.
Many of these conditions involve a cycle where pain causes guarding, guarding creates more trigger points, and more trigger points generate more pain. Dry needling is effective because it interrupts that cycle directly at the tissue level.
What to Expect During Your First Session
A first visit at Martens Chiropractic starts with a thorough assessment. Dr. Luke will review your history, identify the areas of concern, and palpate the muscles to locate active trigger points. If dry needling is appropriate for your situation, he’ll explain exactly what’s going to happen before any needle is placed.
Sessions typically last 15 to 30 minutes, depending on how many areas are being treated. Some patients feel relief almost immediately, while others notice the biggest improvement a day or two after the session, once the initial soreness subsides. For chronic issues, a series of treatments spaced about a week apart tends to produce the best outcomes. Acute injuries sometimes respond in just one or two visits.
Dry needling also pairs well with chiropractic adjustments. When a trigger point is deactivated, the surrounding joint often moves more freely, which can make an adjustment more effective and longer-lasting. That’s one of the advantages of receiving both services under the same roof.
Is Dry Needling Safe?
When performed by a qualified practitioner, dry needling carries minimal risk. The most common side effects are temporary soreness at the needle site and occasional light bruising. Serious complications are exceedingly rare. The practitioners at Martens Chiropractic have specific training in dry needling techniques and anatomy, and they follow strict sterilization protocols with single-use, disposable needles.
It’s worth noting that dry needling isn’t appropriate for everyone. Patients with certain bleeding disorders, those on blood-thinning medications, or individuals with a strong needle phobia may be better suited to other therapies. That’s part of why the initial consultation matters; it ensures the treatment plan is tailored to your specific health profile.
Why Patients in Casper Choose Martens Chiropractic for Dry Needling
There’s no shortage of health care providers in the Casper area, but dry needling requires a specific skill set and a thorough understanding of the musculoskeletal system. The team at Martens Chiropractic brings both. Patient reviews consistently mention how quickly they noticed a difference, particularly for shoulder pain and chronic tension that hadn’t responded to other treatments.
What tends to set the experience apart is the level of communication before, during, and after treatment. You’ll know exactly what’s being done and why. There’s no assembly-line approach. Each visit is built around your progress, and your treatment plan adapts as you improve.
Ready to See If Dry Needling Is Right for You?
If you’ve been managing pain that won’t quit, or you’re curious whether dry needling could help with a specific condition, the simplest next step is to schedule a consultation at Martens Chiropractic. You can reach the clinic by phone or through the appointment request form on the Martens Chiropractic website. Whether dry needling turns out to be the right fit or another therapy makes more sense for your situation, you’ll leave with a clear plan for getting better.
