Dry Needling vs. Acupuncture

What’s the Difference, and Why It Matters

Some questions come up so often in my treatment room that I know they deserve a deeper explanation—and this one is at the top of the list.

What’s the difference between dry needling and acupuncture?

At first glance, they look nearly identical. Both use a solid, thin, dry filament needle. Both involve inserting those needles into the soft tissue. Both can be used to relieve pain, restore function, and promote healing.

What truly distinguishes them is the philosophy behind where we place the needles—and why.

Two Different Languages, One Shared Tool

Dry needling is considered the Western approach to needling. It’s grounded in anatomy, neuroscience, and the musculoskeletal system. The focus is often on muscular trigger points, movement patterns, and neuromuscular dysfunction. I might choose to needle a tight muscle, a motor point, or an area of referred pain to help your body “reset” and find balance again.

Acupuncture, on the other hand, comes from Traditional Chinese Medicine. It’s rooted in a completely different system—an energetic one—based on meridians, organ relationships, and the flow of qi (life energy). Acupuncturists are trained to see the body through this holistic lens, treating not just physical symptoms, but internal imbalances and emotional patterns, too.

In other words: same tool, different language. Both can be powerful, especially when used with intention.

What Training Looks Like

The education paths are very different. Acupuncturists go through a 3–4 year graduate program that covers Chinese medicine, herbology, diagnostics, and hundreds of clinical hours. They’re board-certified and licensed to practice acupuncture in their state.

Dry needling, in contrast, is a technique taught as continuing education to licensed healthcare professionals. You have to already be a PT, chiropractor, or athletic trainer to even qualify. The courses are tiered—you start with foundational skills and move into more advanced applications based on your scope of practice.

I’m certified in dry needling here in the U.S. under my license as an athletic trainer. But my training didn’t stop there.

Where My Work Comes From: East Meets West

I spent nine months training under an acupuncturist in Japan—and that experience changed everything for me.

It showed me how much overlap there really is. It helped me understand how these two systems can coexist—how we can treat the local tissue and support the whole person at the same time.

That time in Japan gave me a deeper respect for acupuncture’s roots and philosophy. And it also made me a better dry needler—because I started thinking beyond just the muscle or the pain. I started listening to the body as a whole system.

Now, when I needle, I’m not just thinking about a tight muscle or a restricted joint. I’m thinking about your stress. Your sleep. Your energy. Your breath. Your story.

Because all of that is part of the healing, too.

Where Integration Happens

Dry needling and acupuncture aren’t opposites—they’re part of a broader, shared landscape of healing. Each has its own strengths, and each offers a different lens through which to understand the body.

When we look for connection instead of separation, we open the door to deeper, more layered care. We can integrate what’s local with what’s global, what’s physical with what’s energetic.

That’s the space I work in every day. A space where both science and intuition matter. Where East and West meet. Where tension starts to unravel and the body begins to trust again.

Want to Know More? Come See for Yourself.

If you’ve been curious about the difference between dry needling and acupuncture, I hope this brought some clarity. But the truth is, the best way to understand it is to feel it for yourself.

If you're wondering how this approach could support you—whether you're dealing with pain, stress, or simply feeling off—I’d love to talk.
Better yet, come experience the difference for yourself.

Because when you lie on the table, you’re not just getting a technique.
You’re getting care that sees you.

With gratitude,

Alicia