Dry Needling for Neck Pain Hype or Helpful?
This week I’ve been up in Warwick on a course with a brilliant bunch of business owners a nationwide bakery, a financial planning firm, and a fulfilment company. It was interesting to chat with them about what’s working (and what’s not) in totally different industries.
Always refreshing to see how similar challenges show up in completely different ways whether it’s croissants, capital gains, or courier vans!
I had to turn my focus to a much more important task yesterday – figuring out how I was going to watch the British & Irish Lions match whilst managing three kids. The plan was to have it on quietly in the background while “making breakfast” (aka sneakily watching in between toast duty and spills). You can imagine how that worked out.
Let’s talk dry needling specifically for neck pain.
It’s a treatment we get asked about more and more. Some people swear by it, others are unsure, and a few wince at the thought. So I’ve had a dig into the latest research to see what the evidence actually says and the results are surprisingly solid.
Dry Needling: What the Science Says
? 2025 Meta-Analysis
A review of 15 randomised controlled trials with over 800 patients found that dry needling reduced pain and improved function in people with chronic mechanical neck pain. The results held up well in the short to mid-term (think several weeks to a few months) (Hernandez-Secorun et al., 2025).
? 2024 Systematic Review
Another large review looked at nine RCTs and found that dry needling:
- Increased pressure pain thresholds (so you’re less sensitive to touch or movement)
- Improved Neck Disability Index scores (a key measure for function)
- Enhanced neck flexion and rotation, particularly to the right side (Martin-Sacristan et al., 2022)
So if your neck feels tight, stuck, or sore when you turn or bend this could be useful.
Is It Better Than Other Treatments?
Here’s where it gets a bit more nuanced.
A 2021 study (Gattie et al) said, other studies have shown better results when dry needling is combined with exercise or manual therapy, like chiropractic adjustments or soft tissue work. So it might not be a miracle on its own but it’s a powerful support tool when part of a bigger plan.
What About Trigger Points?
This is where dry needling tends to shine.
Many studies target specific trigger points like the upper traps, levator scapulae, and scalenes the areas that get sore from stress, posture, or screen time.
Needling these spots can:
- Reduce local pain sensitivity immediately
- Improve range of motion for up to a month
- Support longer-term gains when combined with rehab
And interestingly, one study found that you don’t always need to feel a big twitch or muscle jump (known as the “local twitch response”) for it to work.
Should You Try Dry Needling?
Dry needling may be worth exploring if:
- You’ve got persistent neck pain or stiffness
- You feel tight knots or trigger points that just won’t shift
- You want to speed up recovery alongside chiropractic or physio care
But it’s not magic. It works best when part of a bigger picture posture correction, rehab exercises, stress management, and hands-on care.
We offer dry needling in the clinic so let us know next time if you would like us to try it. Not all the practitioners do it, but Jenna, Bobbie, Mike and Charlie do. You can book in with them here
Dry needling isn’t for everyone but the research does back it as a legitimate tool for managing neck pain, especially when used with other treatments.
If you’re fed up with a stiff neck or headaches from tension, it could be a good conversation to have with your chiropractor or physio. Just don’t expect it to do all the heavy lifting alone.
References
Hernandez-Secorun et al., 2025-Effectiveness of Dry Needling in Improving Pain and Function in Comparison with Other Techniques in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Martin-Sacristan et al., 2022-Dry needling in active or latent trigger point in patients with neck pain: a randomized clinical trial
If you are wanting to chat more about the information above then why not book a call with me and we can go into more detail? Click here to book or if you want to get an assessment then Book a consultation with a Chiropractor here
If you do know someone who wants more advice, please send them our details. You can send them this assessment as well to diagnose their back pain. It is a great tool to understand where your back pain is coming from, it is free and takes 60 seconds. Click here for assessment
