Dry needling is different to acupuncture. So what’s involved? And is it effective?

Anna Savina/Getty Images Physiotherapists, chiropractors and osteopaths commonly use dry needling to treat neck, shoulder, back and other types of muscle pain. It involves inserting thin needles into sensitive parts of a person’s muscle, often termed “myofascial trigger points”. The needles remain in the muscle for a few minutes and can be gently moved to create a twitch response in the muscle. This therapy is thought to relax the muscle, reduce inflammation, promote healing and reduce pain.…