Dry needling uses fine filament needles to target muscle knots, or trigger points, that cause pain and stiffness. It’s often part of a broader plan that also includes manual therapy, exercise, and postural changes to address the underlying cause of your discomfort, and it’s frequently used to relieve headaches that originate in a few very specific muscles.
Upper trapezius
The upper trapezius is a large muscle crossing the shoulders that helps elevate, extend, tilt, and rotate the neck. It’s also a common source of myofascial trigger points that refer pain elsewhere in the body, including up into the head. If your headache seems to originate in this region, dry needling can target those tight bands of muscle fiber directly.
Suboccipital muscles
A group of muscles at the base of the skull, the suboccipitals, is another frequent headache source. When tense, they can cause pain at the back of the head and behind the eyes, sometimes wrapping around the head in a pattern that makes turning your head uncomfortable. This is sometimes called a “ghost headache,” and it can be genuinely painful. Dry needling of this region can bring relief fairly quickly for the right candidate, determined through a physical exam and a conversation about your symptoms.
Sternocleidomastoid (SCM)
The SCM is one of the largest, most superficial muscles in the neck, running from behind the ear down to the collarbone, and it plays a role in head rotation and breathing. When tight, it can cause pain through the neck, shoulders, upper back, and arms. Dry needling the SCM, especially combined with joint manipulation, has been shown to help with cervicogenic headaches (headaches that originate from the neck) and improve self-reported pain and disability.
Trigger points and referred pain
Trigger points form when blood flow to a muscle is restricted and metabolic waste isn’t properly cleared, which over time can lead to chronic pain in that area. That pain can also refer to other parts of the body, including the head, contributing to migraines or tension-type headaches. Dry needling directly targets these trigger points to release them and restore normal blood flow.
If you’re dealing with headaches and think dry needling might help, we’d be glad to talk through whether it’s a good fit for you.