Dry Needling in Frisco — A Precise Tool for Muscle Pain, Inside a Real Plan
Dry needling is a specialized technique performed by a Doctor of Physical Therapy to release tension in specific muscles and accelerate your recovery. It's a tool — one piece of a complete plan of care. Done well, it can change what you're able to do in the same visit.
Doctor of Physical Therapy–led care.
Boutique practice, smaller caseloads.
In-network with BCBS, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare.
Evidence-based, outcomes-focused.
Doctor of Physical Therapy–led care. Boutique practice, smaller caseloads. In-network with BCBS, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare. Evidence-based, outcomes-focused.
What dry needling is — and what it isn't
Dry needling is a technique in which a trained physical therapist inserts a thin, sterile, solid filament needle into a specific muscle, tendon, or fascia to reduce pain and improve movement. "Dry" means nothing is injected — the needle itself is the intervention.
It's not acupuncture. Dry needling and acupuncture use similar-looking needles, but they are different practices — different theoretical foundations, different training, different regulatory frameworks. Dry needling is performed by physical therapists under the Texas Physical Therapy Practice Act and targets specific neuromusculoskeletal structures based on orthopedic and movement diagnosis. It is not oriented around meridians or traditional Chinese medicine theory.
It's not a stand-alone treatment. Dry needling is a tool inside a broader plan of care. Needling a tight calf without also addressing why the calf is tight — footwear, load, training history, movement pattern, mobility elsewhere — gets you a short-term change. Dry needling combined with movement work, strength, and appropriate manual therapy is how the change sticks.
How we use dry needling
As an accelerator, not a replacement
We use dry needling when it will open a movement, reduce pain enough to load a muscle correctly, or break a cycle of guarding — and we pair it with the active work that locks the change in. We don't use it as a recurring passive treatment indefinitely.
Targeted, not routine
Needle placement is driven by exam findings — tissue palpation, movement testing, and the specific structures implicated in your condition. You get needled where it will matter for your plan, not as a default across the board.
Dosed carefully
Volume and frequency are calibrated to tissue response. Sore for 24–48 hours after a session is normal; debilitating post-treatment pain is not. We adjust dose based on how you respond — more or less needling isn't the point, getting you better is.
Your first dry needling session
Screening and consent
We confirm it's appropriate for your case, screen for contraindications (bleeding disorders, anticoagulation, infection, pregnancy in certain regions, severe needle phobia), and walk through what to expect. You sign informed consent.
Needle placement
Skin is cleaned with an alcohol prep. A single-use, sterile, disposable needle is inserted into the target tissue. You may feel a small pinch, or a brief local twitch/cramp sensation when the needle reaches a taut band. Most placements take under 30 seconds.
Active movement after
We typically pair needling with immediate movement — mobility drills, activation work, or the specific loading pattern your plan calls for. That's where the change gets consolidated.
Post-treatment
Mild soreness for 24–48 hours is common. Expect it. Light activity is fine — usually helpful. We'll tell you if anything looks atypical and what to watch for.
Conditions dry needling is commonly used for
Spine & neck
- Tension-type headaches
- Cervical pain and neck muscle tightness
- Mid-back and scapular pain
- Low back pain with muscular drivers
Extremities
- Shoulder and rotator cuff pain
- Tennis elbow / golfer's elbow (epicondylopathy)
- Hip and gluteal pain
- Hamstring and calf tightness
- Plantar fasciitis and foot muscle issues
- Sports overuse injuries (IT band, quad, hamstring)
Dry needling's usefulness varies case by case. Sometimes it's a small accelerator; sometimes it's a meaningful unlock. You and Dr. Spencer will decide whether it belongs in your plan at your evaluation.
Credentialed. Careful. Sterile.
Dry needling is within the scope of practice for physical therapists in Texas under the Texas Physical Therapy Practice Act, subject to post-graduate training and Board requirements. {VERIFY: confirm the specific dry needling certification(s) Dr. Spencer holds before publishing and list them here — e.g., course name, governing body, completion year.}
Every needle we use is single-use, sterile, and disposed of in a sharps container in accordance with OSHA bloodborne-pathogen standards. Contraindications are screened at every session, not just the first.
Your clinician
Dr. Eric Spencer, PT, DPT
Dr. Spencer is the founding clinician of Forge Physical Therapy. He holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy and is a Certified Vestibular Specialist through the Institute of Advanced Musculoskeletal Treatments.
His practice is built around a simple idea: a boutique, clinician-led clinic where time, attention, and plan design are calibrated to the patient — so treatment is personal, progressive, and actually moves the needle.
Meet Dr. SpencerFAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is dry needling?
Dry needling is a technique in which a physical therapist inserts a thin, sterile, solid filament needle into a specific muscle, tendon, or fascial region to reduce pain and improve movement. "Dry" refers to the fact that nothing is injected. It is a treatment technique within physical therapy, not a stand-alone therapy.
Is dry needling the same as acupuncture?
No. Dry needling and acupuncture use similar needles but are different practices with different theoretical bases, training, and regulation. Dry needling is performed by physical therapists under state practice acts and targets neuromusculoskeletal structures based on orthopedic and movement diagnosis.
Is dry needling legal for physical therapists in Texas?
Yes. Dry needling is within the scope of practice for physical therapists in Texas, subject to Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners rules and required post-graduate training. Your clinician's training and credentials can be verified on request.
Does dry needling hurt?
Most patients describe the needle insertion itself as painless or a small pinch. When the needle reaches a taut band or trigger point, a brief local twitch response or a deep cramp-like sensation can occur; this typically lasts a few seconds. Mild muscle soreness for 24–48 hours afterward is common and expected.
What conditions is dry needling used for?
Dry needling is most commonly used as an adjunct for muscle pain and tension-related conditions: neck and shoulder pain, tension-type headaches, low back pain, hip and glute pain, tennis/golfer's elbow, calf and hamstring tightness, and sports-related muscle injuries. It is one input in a broader plan of care, not a stand-alone treatment.
Who should not receive dry needling?
Dry needling is contraindicated or requires caution in certain situations — including active infection at the site, certain bleeding disorders or anticoagulant regimens, pregnancy in specific regions, severe needle phobia, and immunocompromised states. Your clinician will screen for these at evaluation and will skip the technique when not appropriate.
Think dry needling might help? Let's figure out if it does.
It's one of many tools we use — your evaluation tells us whether it belongs in your plan.
In-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare. Medicare credentialing is in progress — if you have Medicare, request a call back.