In short, the answer is yes, dry needling can help to relieve the symptoms of migraines.
“Scientific studies on dry needling are limited, though the body of research is growing. So far, some research has been positive. A study published in 2013 showed that dry needling was more effective than a placebo treatment.” – Medical News Today
Although there have not been many studies on the effects of dry needling in the treatment of 
migraines – there is no lack of testimonials from our patients on the topic.
“I hold tension in my neck and shoulders so for a while I was experiencing frequent headaches and shoulder/neck pain. I decided to try Dry-Needling because I had heard of the many benefits and my experience was fantastic! The needles we’re small and John was very gentle when applying them, to the point that I couldn’t tell where they were in some places. I believe there were some in my neck, shoulders and even my head! I was sore that evening and for a bit the next day but I could tell, just by my posture, that the tension in my neck and shoulders had subsided. Best of all, I did not experience the headaches again for weeks! I highly recommend Dry-Needling to anyone who holds muscular tension anywhere in his or her body. ” – S. Roberts
Dry Needling For Migraine Headaches
Although there is no known cause for migraine headaches – there are certain “triggers” that can bring on these debilitating headaches.
- For women – hormonal changes and birth control medications can trigger a migraine
- Stress, depression and anxiety are known to contribute
- Muscle tension due to poor posture, lack of sleep, etc.
- Low blood sugar
- Jet lag
- Alcohol and caffeine
- For some individuals, visual, auditory and olfactory stimulation can trigger migraines. Things like flickering computer, tv or movie screens, second hand smoke, loud noises, bright lights just to name a few.
Since dry needling works on myofascial muscles, the types of triggers that this treatment technique works best on are those involving tense muscles (which could be due to stress, depression, anxiety, physical exertions, etc.)
Some of our patients report relief after one session, whereas others require several sessions to get full relief.
Does Dry Needling Really Work?
Although there are no scientific studies that clearly show WHY dry needling works, there is a significant amount of data on patient testimonials that it works for a variety of myofascial type of injuries and pain.
Some patients will experience pain during the session – it depends on each individual person and how tight the muscles that we are working on are.
“Okay, I admit – when John told me that he wanted to try dry needling for my pain – I was a bit nervous. Needles? Lots of needles? Well, I was in enough pain that I overcame my hesitation and let him try. I’m so glad I did! It took a few sessions but my pain has significantly decreased and the procedure didn’t hurt at all! Thank you so much John! – ECKane
Can Dry Needling Make Things Worse?
Some of our patients have experienced some muscle soreness after a treatment session but they report that the soreness is minor compared to the migraine headache they were experiencing prior to the treatment.
How Long Does Dry Needling Take To Work?
The amount of time it takes for the dry needling treatment to take effect varies from person to person.
We have witnessed patients who found varying levels of relief during the dry needling session and others who report relief within 24 – 48 hours. So, the results will simply depend on each individual case.
Here, at ABove Physical Therapy – we provide 1:1 physical therapy treatment sessions to all our patients. Our dry needling sessions are typically 55 minutes (which is the normal amount of time we give to each of our patients).
Is There A Difference Between Dry Needling And Acupuncture?
Although both dry needling and acupuncture use the same types of needles and both procedures look the same, there are some slight differences.
The main difference between these two is the placement of the needles on the body.
In dry needling – the needles are placed in positions meant to activate myofascial trigger points (muscles) that are causing the pain and/or problem being treated. For this reason, dry needling is sometimes referred to as trigger point dry needling.
Dry needling started around 1979 and was based on a study by a Czech physician, Karel Lewit.
In acupuncture, the needles are placed in positions meant to open up the patient’s “energy flow or chi”.
Acupuncture has been successfully used since 6000 BCE and originated in China. It is still widely used today throughout the world.
In our experience, the dry needling treatments we provide have been extremely useful and effective for migraine headaches.
If you have any questions about Dry Needling for Migraines or would like to schedule an appointment, call us at ABove Physical therapy today at 770-904-2332.
