Dry Needling · Dublin, Ohio
Dry Needling: A targeted approach to stubborn muscle and joint pain.
Dry needling for muscle tension, trigger points, nerve irritation, and injuries that haven’t responded to other approaches, alone or alongside chiropractic care and rehab.
The technique
What is dry needling?
Dry needling places thin, solid monofilament needles into specific areas of muscle, connective tissue, or trigger points. The needle delivers no medication, which is where the word dry comes from.
Your body reads the needle as a signal and responds by sending increased circulation and healing activity to the area, reducing muscle tension, calming overactive tissue, and helping break cycles of chronic pain.
What it treats
What dry needling is often used to treat.
If earlier treatment left something feeling stuck, this is often the missing piece.
- Low back pain and sciatica-type nerve pain
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Migraines and tension headaches
- TMJ discomfort
- Shoulder impingement and rotator cuff irritation
- Hip flexor tightness and hip pain
- Golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow
- IT band syndrome and knee pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Post-surgical scar tissue and restricted tissue mobility
- Chronic trigger points unresponsive to manual treatment alone
A common question
Is dry needling the same as acupuncture?
No. Both use needles, but the similarities end there. Acupuncture is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine and works along meridian pathways. Dry needling is based on Western anatomy and musculoskeletal science: placement comes from a clinical assessment of where tension, trigger points, or nerve irritation actually live. Dr. Mathias applies it as one tool within a broader clinical picture, not as a standalone philosophy.
What to expect
Needling, e-stim, and aftercare.
01 · Needling plus e-stim
A gentle current that helps the muscle let go.
In many sessions, a low-level current runs through the needles to produce a rhythmic muscle contraction, helping the tissue relax more fully and extending the effect of the treatment. The current is adjusted to your comfort; most patients feel a gentle pulsing.
02 · During and after
Relief now, or over a day or two.
A brief twitch when the needle contacts the trigger point is normal and often a good sign. Some people feel immediate relief; others notice improvement over 24 to 48 hours. Mild soreness afterward is common. Water and gentle movement help the area settle.
Dry needling works on its own, or together with adjustments, muscle release therapy, and rehab when that fits what you need.
Your provider
Who performs dry needling here?
Dry needling at Mathias Health + Performance is performed exclusively by Dr. Mathias, DC, serving Dublin and the greater Columbus area. His dry needling training is through Structure and Function Education. His background in chiropractic, SFMA movement assessment, and strength and conditioning means needle placement is always part of a full clinical picture.
Questions, answered
What people ask about dry needling.
Most patients feel a brief dull ache or twitch response when the needle reaches the target tissue. Some describe it as a deep pressure sensation. Significant pain is uncommon. Dr. Mathias adjusts needle depth and placement based on your feedback throughout the session.
Dry needling is commonly used for low back and neck pain, tennis and golfer’s elbow, TMJ discomfort, plantar fasciitis, sciatica-type nerve pain, and tension headaches or migraines. At your first visit we assess whether it fits your specific problem.
It depends on the condition and how long it’s been present. Acute issues often respond within one to three sessions. Chronic problems may take longer. You’ll get an honest assessment at your first visit.
Yes, and it often is. A 30- or 60-minute session can include chiropractic adjustments, dry needling, and rehab exercise at one time-based price. Dr. Mathias determines the best combination based on what you need that day.
It’s a reasonable concern. The needles used in dry needling are very thin, much finer than a typical injection needle, and no fluid is involved. Dr. Mathias always talks through what to expect before starting, and treatment is adjusted based on your comfort level.
Dry needling is included in your session at Mathias Health + Performance under time-based pricing. We don’t bill insurance directly, but we provide a superbill you can submit for possible out-of-network reimbursement. HSA and FSA payments are accepted.
Dry needling is folded into our time-based sessions instead of being billed as its own procedure. Most dry needling visits run $109 for 30 minutes or $200 for 60 minutes, depending on what else your session includes. HSA and FSA cards are accepted.