Dry Needling · Evolutio Sports Physio Richmond
Trigger points released. Pain understood.
Dry needling by qualified physiotherapists in Richmond. Used for muscle trigger points, sports injuries, chronic pain and tension headaches. Always part of a comprehensive treatment plan. Never a standalone service.
What dry needling is and is not
Dry needling is a therapeutic technique performed by physiotherapists that targets myofascial trigger points — tight, hypersensitive spots within a muscle that cause local pain and characteristic referred pain patterns. Fine sterile needles are inserted directly into these trigger points to elicit a local twitch response, which resets the muscle's resting tone, improves blood flow and reduces pain.
The name "dry" distinguishes it from "wet" needling, where a substance is injected. Nothing is injected during dry needling. Just the mechanical stimulus of the needle itself produces the therapeutic effect.
At Evolutio, dry needling is used within a broader physiotherapy assessment and treatment plan. It is not offered as a standalone appointment. The reason is clinical: dry needling relieves the muscular guarding and pain that prevents effective manual therapy and exercise. It is a tool that makes the rest of the treatment work better, not a treatment in itself.
All practitioners are AHPRA-registered physiotherapists who have completed additional dry needling training through Australian Physiotherapy Association approved courses.
Dry needling vs acupuncture
Book an appointment
Book a standard initial or follow-up physiotherapy appointment. If dry needling is clinically appropriate for your presentation, it will be incorporated into your session. No separate dry needling booking exists.
Call 03 9100 3798 or WhatsApp +61 430 436 531. Open Mon to Thu until 7:30pm, Fri until 6pm, Sat until 1pm.
What dry needling treats
Dry needling is clinically appropriate for a range of musculoskeletal conditions. In each case it is used alongside, not instead of, manual therapy and targeted exercise.
The upper trapezius, levator scapulae and suboccipital muscles are among the most commonly treated areas with dry needling. Trigger points in these muscles produce classic headache patterns, neck stiffness and shoulder blade pain. Common in desk workers, cyclists and overhead sport athletes.
The erector spinae, quadratus lumborum, multifidus and psoas are frequent sites of trigger point formation in lower back pain presentations. Dry needling reduces the muscular guarding that prevents effective manual therapy and movement retraining. Used alongside our lower back rehabilitation approach.
Trigger points in the gluteus medius, piriformis and tensor fascia latae produce characteristic referred pain into the hip, posterior thigh and lateral leg. Particularly relevant for runners with IT band syndrome and patients with gluteal tendinopathy or hip impingement.
IT band syndrome, calf trigger points contributing to Achilles pain, and hamstring tightness that limits running stride are all commonly treated with dry needling at Evolutio. Used alongside video gait analysis and progressive loading as part of our running injury approach.
Lateral and medial epicondylalgia (tennis and golfer's elbow) involve trigger points in the forearm extensors and flexors respectively. Dry needling of the relevant musculature reduces pain and improves tissue extensibility, allowing progressive tendon loading programmes to proceed more effectively.
Suboccipital trigger points are a significant contributor to cervicogenic headache, where the source of head pain is referred from the upper cervical spine and surrounding musculature. Dry needling of the suboccipitals, upper trapezius and sternocleidomastoid often produces rapid improvement in headache frequency and intensity.
Cycling generates specific trigger point patterns in the hip flexors (from sustained hip flexion on the bike), lumbar extensors, and neck and shoulder muscles from prolonged upper body position. We work with Ciclo Melbourne on complex cycling cases where bike position and physiology both need addressing.
The infraspinatus, supraspinatus and subscapularis are common trigger point sites in shoulder impingement, rotator cuff tears and chronic shoulder pain. Dry needling reduces protective muscular guarding around the shoulder joint and improves range of motion prior to targeted strengthening exercises.
Olympic lifting, CrossFit and powerlifting generate significant muscular demand, particularly in the thoracic erectors, lats, glutes and hip flexors. Trigger point accumulation in these muscles affects movement quality and performance. Dry needling is incorporated into broader sports injury management.
What happens during a session
Dry needling occurs within your physiotherapy appointment. Here is what the process looks like when it is clinically indicated for your presentation.
Your physiotherapist assesses your presentation, identifies relevant trigger points through palpation, and explains the dry needling plan including what to expect and any relevant contraindications. Informed consent is obtained before any needling begins.
Fine sterile single-use needles are inserted into the identified trigger points. Most patients feel minimal discomfort at insertion. When the needle reaches the trigger point, a local twitch response — a brief involuntary muscle contraction lasting one to two seconds — often occurs. This twitch is the target of the technique.
Needles may be left in place for several minutes or manipulated gently to maximise the therapeutic effect. They are then removed and disposed of safely. The area may be gently massaged post-needling. Treatment typically takes 10 to 20 minutes within your overall physio appointment.
Dry needling is followed immediately by manual therapy or exercise prescription to capitalise on the reduced muscle tension. You receive aftercare instructions and specific exercises. Your physiotherapist monitors your response at the next session and adjusts the plan accordingly.
During treatment
After your session
The evidence base
Dry needling has accumulated a meaningful evidence base over the past two decades, particularly for myofascial pain syndrome, trigger point release, and as an adjunct to exercise therapy for musculoskeletal conditions.
At Evolutio, we use dry needling as part of evidence-based treatment plans, not as a primary standalone intervention. This aligns with the consensus from the research: dry needling is most effective when combined with active rehabilitation, not used in isolation.
We follow the Australian Physiotherapy Association guidelines and maintain current certification through APA-approved continuing education.
Systematic review found dry needling is effective for reducing trigger point pain intensity and improving pressure pain thresholds compared to sham treatment. jospt.org
Reviews support the use of dry needling combined with exercise as superior to exercise alone for myofascial pain. cochranelibrary.com
Myofascial trigger points are recognised as a significant contributor to both local and referred musculoskeletal pain, supporting targeted intervention. iasp-pain.org
Provides detailed position statements on dry needling safety, education standards and clinical application for registered physiotherapists. australian.physio
Safety and suitability
When performed by qualified physiotherapists using sterile single-use needles, dry needling has a strong safety record. All practitioners at Evolutio have completed additional training through APA-approved courses and maintain current certification.
However, dry needling is not appropriate for everyone. At your initial assessment, your physiotherapist will screen for contraindications before incorporating dry needling into your treatment. The following conditions require special consideration or make dry needling inappropriate.
Pregnancy is not an absolute contraindication but requires modification of treatment areas. Specific points on the legs, lower back and sacrum are avoided during pregnancy. We coordinate with your obstetrician or midwife when treating during pregnancy.
If you have a needle phobia, anxiety around medical procedures, or have had a prior adverse reaction to dry needling or acupuncture, please tell us before your appointment. There are effective alternatives for trigger point release including manual pressure therapy and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilisation.
Who performs dry needling at Evolutio
All four of our physiotherapists are trained in dry needling and incorporate it where clinically appropriate. You book a standard physio appointment with the practitioner whose expertise best matches your condition.
Nine years experience. Uses dry needling regularly for complex lower back presentations, running-related muscle tension, chronic neck pain, and cases where trigger points are limiting rehabilitation progress.
Book with Bayden
Dual Masters from USyd. Incorporates dry needling for strength sport and AFL presentations, particularly thoracic erectors, hip flexors and shoulder girdle tension in Olympic lifting athletes. Saturday mornings only.
Book with Phill
Particularly effective with dry needling for tension headaches, upper trapezius and suboccipital presentations, and running-related gluteal and calf trigger points. Takes a careful, thorough approach to trigger point identification.
Book with Kelsi
Uses dry needling frequently for cycling-related presentations including hip flexor and lumbar trigger points, and for TMJ and masseter tension in jaw pain and tension headache patients. Ironman 70.3 triathlete and bike fitter.
Book with ShirouzNot sure which practitioner is right for your condition?
Read our team profiles in full before booking.
Meet the whole teamCommon questions
Call 03 9100 3798 or WhatsApp +61 430 436 531.
Dry needling is a Western medicine technique performed by physiotherapists targeting myofascial trigger points in specific muscles. It is grounded in anatomy and neuroscience rather than traditional Chinese medicine energy concepts. Both use the same type of fine needle, but the theoretical framework, target points, training pathway and clinical goals are entirely different. Dry needling at Evolutio is always performed by AHPRA-registered physiotherapists with additional dry needling certification.
Needle insertion causes minimal discomfort — most patients describe it as a light pinprick. When the needle reaches a trigger point, a local twitch response occurs: an involuntary brief muscle contraction lasting one to two seconds that feels like a deep cramp. This twitch is a positive sign indicating the correct location has been reached. Post-treatment muscle soreness for 12 to 48 hours is common and typically mild. Most patients find the overall experience far more comfortable than they anticipated.
Because dry needling at Evolutio is incorporated into your broader physiotherapy plan rather than offered as a standalone treatment, the question is better framed as how many physio sessions you will need overall. Most acute trigger point presentations respond within one to three sessions. Chronic or recurring tension patterns require a longer course of treatment that addresses the underlying contributing factors alongside dry needling. Your physiotherapist will give you a specific estimate at your first session.
Dry needling performed by qualified physiotherapists using sterile single-use needles has a strong safety record. The most common side effects are post-treatment muscle soreness and minor bruising, both of which resolve quickly. Serious adverse events are very rare and are far less likely when treatment is performed by a trained, registered practitioner rather than by someone without formal physiotherapy training. All practitioners at Evolutio are AHPRA registered and hold additional dry needling certification through Australian Physiotherapy Association approved courses.
Yes. Dry needling performed within a physiotherapy appointment is typically covered under physiotherapy benefits with most private health funds. At Evolutio, HICAPS processes rebates instantly so you only pay the gap on the day. Dry needling is incorporated into your standard physio appointment with no additional charge. Check your specific fund and level of cover as benefits vary.
No. Evolutio does not offer standalone dry needling appointments. Dry needling is incorporated into standard physiotherapy appointments where it is clinically appropriate. This is a deliberate clinical decision: dry needling is most effective as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes assessment, manual therapy and exercise prescription. Booking it as a standalone service treats the symptom without addressing the cause, which is not how we work. Book a standard initial or follow-up appointment and your physiotherapist will incorporate dry needling if appropriate for your presentation.
Dry needling can be used during pregnancy but requires modification of treatment areas. Specific points on the lower back, legs and sacrum are avoided. Our practitioners will discuss your stage of pregnancy and any relevant considerations before incorporating dry needling, and will coordinate with your obstetrician or midwife if needed. If you prefer to avoid dry needling during pregnancy entirely, manual pressure therapy (trigger point release using thumb pressure) is an effective alternative for most presentations.
Yes. Dry needling is one tool among many, and is never the only way to address trigger points. Manual trigger point pressure therapy using thumb or elbow pressure achieves similar effects for many patients and involves no needles. Tell your physiotherapist before your appointment if you have a needle phobia or significant anxiety about the procedure and they will use alternative techniques without any effect on the quality of your overall treatment.
Ready to book
Book a standard initial or follow-up physiotherapy appointment. No referral needed. If dry needling is the right tool for your presentation, your physiotherapist will incorporate it at no extra cost.
