Dry needling and acupuncture involve puncturing the skin with thin needles for therapeutic purposes. While a shared aim is to provide relief from pain, the practices are otherwise very different.

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an ancient technique developed in China. Proponents claim that it can relieve stress, pain, and discomfort by opening up a person’s energy flow, or chi. Medical acupuncture involves using long, thin needles to stimulate nerves in the muscles and under the skin. To practice acupuncture, a person needs to be licensed and undergo extensive training. Acupuncture is a well-regulated procedure. Needles are inserted at strategic points to stimulate the flow of energy throughout the body. While some evidence is inconclusive, acupuncture is widely recognized as helpful in treating certain ailments.

Dry needling was developed much more recently. With no formal regulations in place, a person has a much higher risk of experiencing side effects. There has been little research, but some people find that this practice reduces pain.