How does dry needling work?

The concept underlying techniques like dry needling involves the interaction between different nerve fibers and their effect on pain management, as explained by Andrew Huberman. These methods can provide relief by activating different nerve pathways. When pain occurs, people might instinctively rub the area, which can actually inhibit pain signals. This occurs because rubbing activates larger nerve fibers (A fibers) that inhibit the smaller nerve fibers (C fibers) responsible for transmitting pain signals.

This process involves the release of GABA, a neurotransmitter that quiets the activity of pain neurons, serving as a natural form of analgesia. This mechanism is part of what is known as the gate theory of pain, which demonstrates how certain nerve activations can mitigate pain by affecting how it's processed in the nervous system. Thus, dry needling and similar techniques may provide pain relief by exploiting these neural interactions through targeted stimulation or pressure along the body's nerve pathways 1.