ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — About 51 million people suffer from chronic pain in the US, according to the CDC, and 20 million people have pain so bad that it affects their daily activities. However, an acupuncture-like treatment called Dry Needling is offering a solution.
Achy back. Sore knees. Stiff shoulders and neck.
Jonathan Kukor, Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, AP says, “So many people are in pain all the time.”
Whether it’s from an injury, overuse, or stress … Kukor says, “Around 75 … 70 percent I’d say, of pain, there is a musculoskeletal component. And that’s where Dry Needling shines, is working on that musculoskeletal tissue.”
Dry Needling is a type of therapy that inserts thin needles into trigger points, or knots and bands in your muscle, causing your muscle to contract or twitch.
“The practice of it is inserting the needle into that band to release it and basically restore the function, release the muscle …,” explains Kukor.
And reduce the pain while improving blood flow to the area. Athletes like Travis Kelce and Caitlin Clark have had success using the therapy for recovery and maintenance of their muscles, but others have had major adverse events. For instance, TJ Watts suffered a collapsed lung after a dry needling session. However, experts say the practice is generally safe.
Kukor told Ivanhoe, “Sometimes accidents do happen, but research shows that there’s a very, very small incidence of things like that happening.”
Experts say to reduce the chance of suffering a negative effect of dry needling, look for a trained professional. Ask them where they did their training and how long they have been practicing. Also read reviews from their clients. In addition, you should avoid dry needling if you are pregnant, are on blood thinners, recently had surgery, have a compromised immune system, or are afraid of needles.
Dry Needling is different from acupuncture since dry needling is based on Western medicine and specifically targets trigger points, while acupuncture is based on traditional Chinese medicine and targets other conditions along with pain. After a dry needling session, experts say you may temporarily experience bruising and soreness.
Contributors to this news report include: Milvionne Chery Copeland, Producer; Chuck Bennethum, Editor.
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/20/well/live/dry-needling-benefits-safety.html
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7215a1.htm
https://www.medpagetoday.com/popmedicine/cultureclinic/119091
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/16542-dry-needling
* For More Information, Contact:
Jonathan (Jon) Kukor, DTCM, AP
Orlando Alternative Health, LLC
info@orlandoalternativehealth.com
407-308-0177
