Dry Needling Brisbane
Dry needling in Bowen Hills by a registered acupuncturist
Bowen Hills Acupuncture and Remedial Therapies provides dry needling in Bowen Hills, Brisbane, as part of an integrated approach to acupuncture and remedial massage treatment.
Treatment is provided by Ken Haydock, an AHPRA-registered acupuncturist with additional training in trigger point dry needling, motor point acupuncture and modern anatomical approaches to acupuncture.
Rather than requiring patients to choose between dry needling, acupuncture or remedial massage before their appointment, treatment is based on the individual presentation and physical assessment. Depending on what is found, an appointment may incorporate dry needling, acupuncture, remedial massage, electroacupuncture, cupping, joint mobilisation or other appropriate techniques.
What is dry needling?
Dry needling involves inserting fine, sterile, single-use acupuncture needles into muscles and other soft tissues. It is commonly used to target muscular trigger points, which are tight and sensitive areas within muscles that people often describe as “knots”.
The term “dry needling” originates from the distinction between needling without injecting a substance and injection techniques using substances such as local anaesthetic. The needles used for dry needling are fine, solid filiform acupuncture needles and do not contain or inject any substance.
In musculoskeletal treatment, dry needling is commonly directed towards muscles and trigger points identified during physical assessment.
At Bowen Hills Acupuncture and Remedial Therapies, dry needling is not treated as a completely separate therapy from acupuncture. It is one of several needling approaches that may be incorporated into an acupuncture treatment.
Is dry needling the same as acupuncture?
Dry needling can be regarded as a form of acupuncture, but acupuncture encompasses considerably more than dry needling.
The distinction can become particularly blurred because modern dry needling and acupuncture use the same type of needles, can target the same anatomical locations and can employ similar needling techniques.
Dry needling is generally described using contemporary anatomical terminology, with a particular emphasis on muscles, trigger points and musculoskeletal problems.
Acupuncture is a much broader field. In addition to traditional Chinese medicine approaches based on channel theory, modern acupuncture can incorporate anatomical approaches including trigger point acupuncture, motor point acupuncture and electroacupuncture.
This means that the same location may sometimes be described as a trigger point by one practitioner and an acupuncture point by another.
For a more detailed discussion of the terminology, history and overlap between the two approaches, see Dry Needling or Acupuncture: What’s the Difference?
When a trigger point is also an acupuncture point
The overlap between dry needling and acupuncture is particularly apparent when treating trigger points.
For example, a commonly treated trigger point in the upper trapezius lies in the same general region as the traditional acupuncture point 天髎 Tiānliáo (SJ15).
If examination identifies this area as relevant and an acupuncture needle is inserted into it, describing the procedure exclusively as either ‘dry needling’ or ‘acupuncture’ may create a distinction that is not particularly useful clinically.
From a trigger point perspective, the muscle is being dry needled. From an acupuncture perspective, the same location may be a recognised acupuncture point or may be treated as an 阿是 Āshì point, where a tender or reactive area is selected for needling according to what is found on examination.
At Bowen Hills Acupuncture and Remedial Therapies, these are not regarded as mutually exclusive interpretations. Both perspectives can inform the selection and treatment of a needling location.
Trigger point dry needling
Trigger points are sensitive areas within muscles that may be associated with local tenderness, muscle tightness and referred pain that can sometimes be experienced in other parts of the body.
During a physical assessment, muscles around the symptomatic area may be palpated to identify areas of tension and tenderness and determine whether they appear relevant to the patient’s presentation.
Where appropriate, a trigger point may then be treated with an acupuncture needle.
Patients can experience different sensations during trigger point needling. Sometimes stimulation of the muscle produces a brief involuntary twitch known as a twitch response. At other times there may be an aching, heavy or cramping sensation.
Treatment does not need to be aggressive to be useful. The amount of needling and stimulation can be adjusted according to the area being treated, the purpose of treatment and the patient’s response and preferences.
Dry needling by a registered acupuncturist
Treatment at Bowen Hills Acupuncture and Remedial Therapies is provided by an AHPRA-registered acupuncturist.
In addition to his acupuncture training, Ken has undertaken further professional training in trigger point dry needling and motor point acupuncture and has a particular clinical interest in musculoskeletal treatment.
This allows treatment to draw on several approaches rather than requiring every needle location to be classified exclusively as an acupuncture point, trigger point, motor point or dry needling point.
The terminology is ultimately less important than the assessment, the anatomy involved and choosing an appropriate treatment technique for the individual patient.
What is the difference in practical needling training?
One important difference between acupuncture training and many dry needling courses is the amount of supervised practical experience with needles before a practitioner begins treating patients independently.
Registered acupuncturists undertake extensive practical needling training as part of their professional education. Students practise a range of needling techniques during practical classes and then gain further experience treating members of the public in supervised student clinics. Previous Australian accreditation standards for acupuncture programs specified 500 to 800 hours of supervised practical clinical training, depending on the scope of the qualification.
Dry needling is often taught quite differently. Practitioners usually already hold a qualification in another health or manual therapy profession and undertake dry needling as additional professional development. Their existing qualification may provide substantial education in anatomy, physiology, assessment and musculoskeletal treatment, but the amount of training specifically involving the practical use of needles can be considerably shorter.
Some Australian dry needling courses allow practitioners to begin incorporating dry needling into clinical practice after as little as 24 hours of practical training. Other courses provide more extensive training or additional levels, and practitioners may go on to develop considerable needling experience over subsequent years of clinical practice.
Ken completed a four-year degree in acupuncture and Chinese medicine, with practical needling training throughout the course and supervised clinical experience before qualification. He has subsequently undertaken additional training in trigger point dry needling, motor point acupuncture and other anatomical approaches to needling.
Trigger point dry needling
Trigger points are sensitive areas within muscles that may be associated with local tenderness, muscle tightness and referred pain that can sometimes be experienced in other parts of the body.
During a physical assessment, muscles around the symptomatic area may be palpated to identify areas of tension and tenderness and determine whether they appear relevant to the patient’s presentation.
Where appropriate, a trigger point may then be treated with an acupuncture needle.
Patients can experience different sensations during trigger point needling. Sometimes stimulation of the muscle produces a brief involuntary twitch known as a twitch response. At other times there may be an aching, heavy or cramping sensation.
Treatment does not need to be aggressive to be useful. The amount of needling and stimulation can be adjusted according to the area being treated, the purpose of treatment and the patient’s response and preferences.
Motor point acupuncture
Motor point acupuncture is another anatomical needling approach used at Bowen Hills Acupuncture and Remedial Therapies.
Motor points are specific locations associated with the nerve supply and activation of muscles. These locations can be needled manually or used in combination with electrical stimulation.
As with trigger points, there can be overlap between motor points and traditional acupuncture points. These systems can therefore be viewed as different frameworks for understanding and selecting useful needling locations rather than as completely separate treatments.
Electroacupuncture and electrical stimulation
Electrical stimulation may also be connected to acupuncture needles where appropriate.
This is commonly known as electroacupuncture. Depending on the technique and clinical context, related approaches may also be described as intramuscular electrical stimulation (IMES) or percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS).
A controlled electrical current is passed between selected needles, producing stimulation of the targeted area. The intensity is adjustable and can be altered throughout treatment according to the patient’s comfort and the treatment objective.
Electroacupuncture can be combined with trigger point or motor point approaches where appropriate.
What do people seek dry needling for?
People commonly seek dry needling when experiencing muscular pain, tightness, trigger points or restricted movement.
Depending on the individual assessment, dry needling may be incorporated into treatment of musculoskeletal presentations involving areas such as the:
- neck and upper trapezius
- shoulders
- upper and lower back
- hips and gluteal muscles
- thighs and hamstrings
- calves
- elbows and forearms
- muscles affected by sport, gym or strength training
Dry needling is not automatically appropriate simply because an area is painful or tender. Assessment is used to determine whether needling a particular muscle or location is appropriate and whether other treatment approaches should also be considered.
What does the research say about dry needling?
Research into dry needling for musculoskeletal pain has reported short-term reductions in pain across a range of conditions. A 2023 umbrella review found that dry needling generally performed better than sham, placebo or no treatment for short-term pain reduction, although it was not consistently superior to other active treatments.
A more recent 2026 umbrella review found that most systematic reviews reported results favouring dry needling, including most of the reviews judged to have a low risk of bias. However, the authors cautioned that the overall evidence remains limited by methodological problems and substantial variation between studies.
Overall, the research suggests that dry needling may provide short-term pain relief for some musculoskeletal presentations, while evidence for improvements in function and longer-term outcomes is less consistent.
Dry needling for sports and strength training
Musculoskeletal and sports-related treatment is a particular area of interest at Bowen Hills Acupuncture and Remedial Therapies.
Ken has extensive personal experience in strength sports and powerlifting and holds national bench press records. This provides practical familiarity with strength training and the stresses that heavy training can place on the shoulders, pectoral muscles, elbows, upper back and surrounding musculature.
This can be particularly useful when treating people who want to continue training rather than simply being advised to avoid every movement that produces symptoms.
Where appropriate, treatment can incorporate dry needling or other acupuncture techniques alongside remedial massage, joint mobilisation and discussion of the movements or training loads associated with the problem.
What happens at a dry needling appointment?
An initial appointment begins with a consultation and physical assessment.
The consultation considers the presenting problem, how long it has been present, which movements or activities affect it and what the patient hopes to achieve from treatment.
Physical assessment is then used to help identify the muscles, joints and other structures that appear relevant and determine an appropriate treatment approach.
If dry needling appears appropriate, the proposed needling is discussed before treatment begins.
The appointment is not restricted to dry needling. Depending on the findings and the patient’s preferences, treatment may incorporate:
- dry needling
- traditional or anatomical acupuncture
- trigger point acupuncture
- motor point acupuncture
- electroacupuncture
- remedial massage
- trigger point therapy
- cupping
- joint mobilisation
This is why appointments are listed in the online booking system as Acupuncture/Remedial Massage, rather than requiring patients to diagnose their own problem or select a particular technique before being assessed.
Does dry needling hurt?
People vary considerably in how they experience dry needling.
Insertion of a fine acupuncture needle may produce very little sensation. When a trigger point is stimulated, some people experience a brief muscular twitch, while others notice an ache, heaviness or cramping sensation.
Some muscles and areas of the body are naturally more sensitive than others.
Patients who are apprehensive about needles or prefer gentler treatment should mention this. The number of needles and intensity of stimulation can be adjusted according to individual preference.
Dry needling is also optional. Booking an appointment does not mean that dry needling has to be performed.
Is dry needling better than acupuncture?
At Bowen Hills Acupuncture and Remedial Therapies, dry needling and acupuncture are not regarded as competing treatments that require a patient to choose one or the other.
Dry needling represents one approach to acupuncture, particularly focused on muscles, trigger points and musculoskeletal presentations. Acupuncture provides a broader range of possible needling strategies.
For a musculoskeletal problem, treatment may therefore look very similar to what many people call dry needling, particularly when trigger points or motor points are being treated.
In other situations, a different acupuncture approach may be considered more appropriate.
The practical question is therefore not necessarily whether dry needling or acupuncture is ‘better’, but which treatment approach is most appropriate for the individual presentation.
Can an appointment be booked specifically for dry needling?
Yes.
Patients specifically looking for dry needling do not need to find a separate dry needling appointment in the online booking system.
Simply book an Acupuncture/Remedial Massage appointment and mention that dry needling is being sought. This can also be added to the booking notes.
The presenting problem will still be assessed before treatment, and the proposed approach can then be discussed.
Dry needling in Bowen Hills, Brisbane
Bowen Hills Acupuncture and Remedial Therapies provides dry needling, acupuncture and remedial massage at 22 Campbell Street, Bowen Hills QLD 4006, close to Brisbane’s inner city.
Treatment is provided by an AHPRA-registered acupuncturist and can incorporate trigger point dry needling, motor point acupuncture, electroacupuncture, remedial massage and other techniques according to the individual assessment.
Patients specifically seeking dry needling can book an Acupuncture/Remedial Massage appointment without having to determine beforehand which particular needling technique they require.
Bowen Hills is in the centre of Brisbane and can easily be accessed from the neighbouring suburbs Fortitude Valley, CBD, Newstead, Albion, Teneriffe, Newfarm, Herston, Windsor, Wilston, Lutwyche and Woolowin.
Off-street parking is available.
Public transportation: Bowen Hills train station is less than a 5 min walk away.