As a licensed acupuncturist and RN, I combine dry needling with Chinese medicine to treat the cause, not just the knot
At Common Roots, we integrate advanced techniques like dry needling, motor point acupuncture, and electro-acupuncture to deliver effective, results driven pain relief. These methods are especially powerful for treating muscle tension, sports injuries, and chronic pain.
Why Patients Choose Us for Dry Needling
✔ Licensed Acupuncturist (3,000 hour masters program)
✔ 16+ Years Clinical Experience in Tucson, AZ
✔ Advanced Training in Orthopedic Dry Needling
✔ Registered Nurse (RN) providing integrative pain management
Why Choose an Acupuncturist
for Dry Needling?
Many healthcare providers now offer dry needling, but training backgrounds can vary significantly.
Physical therapists may complete post-graduate dry needling certifications ranging from 25–100 hours, while licensed acupuncturists complete graduate-level education involving more than 3,000 hours of anatomy, needling theory, safety training, and supervised clinical experience.
At Common Roots Acupuncture, we combine over 16 years of clinical experience in Tucson, advanced orthopedic needling techniques, and nursing training to provide an integrative approach to pain management.
Dry needling is especially effective for:
- Neck pain and upper trap tension: including tech neck and desk-related stiffness
- Low back pain: acute and chronic, including SI joint and sacral pain
- Shoulder pain: rotator cuff issues, frozen shoulder, impingement
- Headaches and migraines: particularly tension headaches originating in the suboccipital and upper cervical muscles
- Hip flexor and IT band tightness: common in runners and cyclists in Tucson’s active community
- Plantar fasciitis and calf tension: including cramping or stiffness
- TMJ and jaw tension: stress induced or structural issues
- Sports injuries and muscle strains: causing acute or chronic pain, swelling, or inflammation
- Fibromyalgia and widespread myofascial pain: chronic, hard to pinpoint pain and discomfort
- Post-surgical rehabilitation: restoring muscle activation after orthopedic procedures
What is Dry Needling?
Dry needling uses thin, sterile needles inserted directly into myofascial trigger points, the knotted, hyper-irritable muscle fibers most people call “muscle knots.” The needle causes a local twitch response that releases the contracted fibers, restores blood flow to starved tissue, and interrupts the pain-spasm cycle that keeps chronic pain stuck.
Unlike massage or stretching, which work on surface tension, dry needling reaches the deep muscle fibers where knots actually live. Relief can be felt immediately or within a day or two as post-treatment soreness clears.
At our clinic in midtown Tucson, we often combine this with electro-acupuncture (e-stim through the needles) to extend and deepen the results of each session.
As dry needling has increased in popularity, more studies have been done to assess it’s efficacy.
This umbrella review found that musculoskeletal pain responds exceptionally well to dry needling
Dry Needling Frequently Asked Questions
Is dry needling the same as acupuncture?
They use the same type of needle, but the intent and framework are different. Dry needling targets specific myofascial trigger points using Western anatomical landmarks. Acupuncture uses a broader diagnostic framework rooted in Chinese medicine, addressing organ systems, constitutional patterns, and energetic pathways. At Common Roots, we use both frameworks together for best results.
How is dry needling different from trigger point injections?
Trigger point injections use a hypodermic needle to deliver a substance (saline, anesthetic, or corticosteroid) into a muscle. Dry needling uses a much finer needle and delivers no substance. The mechanical stimulation of the needle itself is the treatment.
Does insurance cover dry needling in Arizona?
Coverage varies by plan. Some PPO plans cover dry needling when billed under acupuncture. Contact your insurer to check your specific benefits. Common Roots doesn’t directly bill for dry needling, but we can provide you an insurance superbill to submit for reimbursement.
Is dry needling safe?
Yes, when performed by a qualified provider. At Common Roots, all needles are single-use and sterile, and treatment follows strict safety protocols informed by both acupuncture training, anatomical understanding, and nursing standards.
What Our Patients Say
“I’d been dealing with a frozen shoulder for two years and had tried PT three different times. After four sessions at Common Roots combining dry needling and acupuncture, I had more range of motion than I’d had in years. The difference was actually understanding what was causing it.– Brian, Tucson, AZ
Ready to Relieve Your Pain?
Schedule your consultation today and take the first step towards pain free living.