The practitioner feels for trigger points with their hands or with a trigger point map, which shows common areas on the body where trigger points are likely to develop. Once they locate a trigger point, they insert a needle directly into it, through your skin.

Dry needling is considered very safe, with very little risk of complications. You might feel some stiffness, soreness or bruising at or around the area of your trigger points. In rare cases, you could experience bleeding or infection.