Dry Needling in Dieppe

When Tight Muscles Won't Let Go

Maybe it's the knot between your shoulder blades that flares after a long day at a desk. Maybe it's the calf that tightens every time you push your run a little further, or a low back that never quite settles. You've stretched it, rolled it and rested it, and it keeps coming back.

Muscles that stay tight and tender often contain small, sensitive bands called trigger points. They can send pain to other areas, limit how far a joint moves, and make strength work feel harder than it should. Stretching and pressure don't always reach them.

Dry needling is one way our physiotherapists in Dieppe get to those deeper layers. At Sportmed Max it is one tool inside a physiotherapy plan that also looks at how you move, load and recover.

What Is Dry Needling?

Dry needling uses a very thin, sterile, single-use needle to reach a trigger point or tight band in a muscle. "Dry" simply means nothing is injected. The aim is to ease pain and muscle tension so the muscle can work normally again and you can get more out of your exercise program.

It differs from traditional acupuncture, which follows meridian theory. Dry needling is guided by your physiotherapy assessment: muscle anatomy, how you move, and where your pain is coming from. Physiotherapists commonly use it for neck and shoulder tension, low back pain, tension-type headaches, tennis elbow, hip and knee pain, and muscle strains from sport.

Dry Needling at Sportmed Max

Four of our physiotherapists offer dry needling within their physiotherapy treatment.

Danielle Johnstone Allen PT has been a Certified Sports Physiotherapist since 2013 (MSc Physiotherapy, University of Ottawa) and has completed postgraduate training in dry needling. She currently works with Soccer NB.
Julie Richard PT (MSc Physiotherapy, Dalhousie University) has trained in DNS, SFMA, acupuncture, and the Mulligan and McKenzie methods.
Renee Leger PT and Gabriel Doucet PT both hold Master's degrees in physiotherapy. Renee has treated sports injuries in Greater Moncton since 2012, and Gabriel brings training in persistent pain and McKenzie back care.

Every needling session starts with an assessment and is paired with exercise, manual therapy or movement work. Learn more about physiotherapy at Sportmed Max or meet the full team.

What to Expect at Your Dry Needling Appointment

Step 1: Assessment

Your physiotherapist asks about your pain, checks how you move, and confirms whether dry needling suits your injury and health history. You'll know the plan before anything starts.

Step 2: Needling

Thin, single-use needles are placed in the target muscles, usually for a few seconds to a few minutes. You may feel a brief ache or a small twitch in the muscle, which usually passes quickly.

Step 3: Movement and Follow-Up

Needling is followed by exercise or manual therapy to build on the change. Some soreness for 24 to 48 hours is common, and your physio adjusts the plan at each visit.

What Dry Needling Can Help You Get Back To

When it fits your injury, dry needling can ease pain and muscle tension, which often makes it easier to move through a fuller range. That opens the door to the strengthening and mobility work that helps keep the problem from returning.

For athletes, that can mean getting back to practice sooner and with more confidence. For desk workers and parents, it can mean checking your blind spot or lifting a toddler without bracing for the pain. Results vary from person to person, and your physiotherapist will be straight with you about what to expect for your injury.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Dry Needling

Does dry needling hurt?

Most people feel very little as the needle goes in, because the needles are much thinner than the ones used for injections. When the needle reaches a tight spot, you may feel a deep ache or a quick muscle twitch. Mild soreness for a day or two afterward is common.

What is the difference between dry needling and acupuncture?

Both use similar thin needles, but the reasoning behind them differs. Traditional acupuncture follows meridian theory, while dry needling targets specific muscles and trigger points found during your physiotherapy assessment. At Sportmed Max, dry needling is always part of a broader physiotherapy plan.

How many sessions will I need?

It depends on your injury and how long you've had it. Some people notice a change after one or two sessions, while longer-standing problems usually take more. Your physiotherapist will review your progress at each visit.

Is dry needling safe? Who shouldn't have it?

Performed by a trained physiotherapist, dry needling is considered low risk, and sterile single-use needles are used every time. Before treating you, your physiotherapist screens for precautions such as needle anxiety, bleeding disorders or blood thinners, pregnancy, and infection near the treatment area.

Do I need a referral, and is it covered by insurance?

No referral is needed to see a physiotherapist in New Brunswick. Dry needling is done during a physiotherapy visit, so many extended health plans cover it under physiotherapy. Check your plan's details to be sure.

Ready to Move Without That Nagging Tightness?

If a tight, painful muscle has been holding you back, an assessment with one of our physiotherapists will show whether dry needling belongs in your plan. Sportmed Max is a bilingual clinic on Champlain Street in Dieppe, right off the highway, serving Moncton, Riverview, Shediac and Greater Moncton.

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