Canberra Dry Needling for Pain Relief & Better Movement
Personalised Care That Helps You Feel at Ease in Your Body
At The Body Lab, we know pain isn’t just physical—it can affect your energy, sleep, work, and quality of life. That’s why our dry needling sessions are designed around you—your story, your symptoms, your goals.
Whether you’re dealing with stubborn neck tightness, tension headaches, a recurring sports injury, or just can’t get your body to “move right,” dry needling offers a research-backed way to reduce pain and restore ease of movement.
What Is Dry Needling?
Dry needling uses ultra-fine, sterile needles to release myofascial trigger points—those “knots” in your muscles that never seem to let go. But unlike passive therapy, this technique works deep in the tissue to retrain the way your body holds tension, especially when paired with movement therapy.
✅ Based on Western anatomy and neuroscience
✅ Targets muscles, fascia, and neuromuscular patterns
✅ Not the same as acupuncture (but we offer that too!)
“Trigger point dry needling shows significant pain reduction and functional improvement in musculoskeletal conditions” (Kietrys et al., 2013)
Conditions Dry Needling Can Help
Clients seek dry needling for many reasons, including:
❌ Tight shoulders from long hours at the desk
❌ Jaw clenching (TMJ) or teeth grinding
❌ Chronic lower back or neck pain
❌ Headaches that start in the base of the skull
❌ Sciatic-type symptoms or glute pain
❌ Plantar fasciitis, shin splints, or calf tightness
❌ Sports injuries or poor recovery after training
Studies show dry needling improves range of motion and decreases pain in conditions such as tension headaches, plantar fasciitis, and chronic low back pain.
(Gattie et al., 2017; Dunning et al., 2014; Cotchett et al., 2014)
What Makes Our Approach Different?
At The Body Lab, your session isn’t a cookie-cutter protocol. It’s a complete movement and nervous system reset.
Here’s how it works:
Whole-Body Assessment
We start with how you move—walking, standing, turning—and identify what’s out of sync. Where’s the tension? What isn’t firing?
Targeted Dry Needling
Using your unique pattern, we apply needling to restore mobility and release dysfunctional areas—without overloading your system.
Movement-Based Rehab
Once the “knot” is gone, we re-train the brain–body connection with specific exercises so the pain doesn’t come back.
You’re Involved Every Step
We explain what we’re doing and why. You’ll leave knowing what your body needs next—and how to help it heal.
What to Expect in a Session
✔️ You’ll lie comfortably in a quiet space. Most people describe the sensation as a light twitch or dull ache.
✔️ Sessions are tailored to your nervous system’s readiness. We’re not here to poke for the sake of it.
✔️ Expect a gentle reset—not a “beat up and send off.”
✔️ Post-needling, we’ll give you simple, specific movement cues to support what we released.
“Dry needling combined with manual therapy and motor control retraining provides superior outcomes compared to needling alone.”
(Cagnie et al., 2015)
Why Choose The Body Lab?
🧠 Deep Understanding of Human Movement
Riccardo combines dry needling with advanced movement therapy, functional biomechanics, and strength & conditioning.
👐 Hands-On, Evidence-Informed Practice
We use clinical research, but we also listen to your lived experience—and adjust accordingly.
🧘 Holistic, Not Just Symptomatic
We treat the reason your muscle is tight, not just the tightness itself. That includes posture, gait, breath, and stress
Real Results, Real Relief
Clients often report:
✅ Relief from pain within hours or days
✅ Clearer head, less tension
✅ More ease in movement—especially walking or lifting
✅ Increased performance and confidence at work or training
✅ Better sleep and reduced anxiety
FAQ
Will dry needling hurt?
Most people say it’s less painful than expected. Some feel a mild twitch or ache, but it passes quickly. You may feel tired after, which is a good sign your nervous system is adjusting.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on your goal. Acute pain might resolve in 1–2 sessions. Chronic or complex patterns (like TMJ, sciatica, or postural dysfunction) benefit from 3–6 sessions and movement therapy.
Is this the same as acupuncture?
No. Dry needling is anatomy-based, targeting neuromuscular dysfunction. We do offer acupuncture too, which is excellent for regulating stress, hormones, and systemic patterns.
Book a Session
Whether you’re frustrated by stubborn pain, tired of being told it’s “just tight muscles,” or ready to move better again—dry needling can be a game-changer.
📍 The Body Lab – 21 Chisholm Street, Ainslie ACT
📞 Call Riccardo on 0432 785 135
Key Research ReferencesKietrys DM, Palombaro KM, Azzaretto E, et al. Effectiveness of dry needling for upper-quarter myofascial pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2013;43(9):620–34.Gattie E, Cleland JA, Snodgrass SJ. The effectiveness of trigger point dry needling for musculoskeletal conditions by physical therapists: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2017;47(3):133–49.Dunning JR, Butts R, Perreault T, et al. Dry needling: a literature review with implications for clinical practice guidelines. Phys Ther Rev. 2014;19(4):252–65.Cotchett MP, Landorf KB, Munteanu SE. Effectiveness of dry needling for plantar heel pain: a randomized controlled trial. Phys Ther. 2014;94(8):1083–94.Cagnie B, Dewitte V, Barbe T, Timmermans F, Delrue N, Meeus M. Physiologic effects of dry needling. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2013;17(8):348.