Dry Needling in Osteopathic Care

At our clinic, Dr Indigo Clyde (Osteopath) offers dry needling as part of her comprehensive, evidence-informed approach to musculoskeletal care. Dry needling involves the insertion of fine, sterile needles into myofascial trigger points – tight, painful knots within muscles or into surrounding tissues to relieve pain, improve mobility and support your recovery.
This technique may assist in improving movement and managing symptoms such as muscle tightness and discomfort. It is typically used in combination with other manual therapy, movement and rehabilitation strategies as part of your care plan.
How Dry Needling Works
Dry needling targets specific areas of muscle tightness or dysfunction. The needle insertion stimulates a local twitch response and may help:
- Reduce muscle tension and spasm
- Improve blood flow and oxygenation
- Decrease pain by modulating the nervous system
- Restore normal movement patterns
You may feel a dull ache, twitch or pressure during treatment, followed by a sense of release. Mild soreness is common but typically short-lived.
Is It Right for You?
Dry needling is not a one-size-fits-all treatment. It works best as part of a tailored plan that includes osteopathic assessment, hands-on treatment, education and active rehabilitation. Dr Indigo Clyde (Osteopath) will assess whether it’s appropriate for your condition, explain the process and guide you through every step to ensure comfort and effectiveness.
Key References
Hu, H., et al. (2018). Dry Needling for Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PubMed
Gattie, E., et al. (2021). Effectiveness of Dry Needling for Musculoskeletal Pain Conditions. PubMed
Boyles, R., et al. (2021). Dry Needling for Myofascial Trigger Points: A Systematic Review. Oxford Academic
Pimenta, R. O., et al. (2022). Dry Needling in the Treatment of Tendinopathy. ScienceDirect
Sánchez Romero, E. A., et al. (2018). Dry Needling + Manual Therapy in Knee OA. Clinical Journal of Pain
Medina-Porqueres, I., et al. (2019). Dry Needling for TMD and Orofacial Pain. PMC