How Can Dry Needling Help My Tennis Elbow?

How Can Dry Needling Help My Tennis Elbow?

By: Hannah Burnett, Andy Park DC, DNSP


Have you noticed persistent pain/stiffness in your elbow or wrist that won’t go away? Maybe you’ve found that your grip seems weaker or it’s more difficult to lift objects? You might be suffering from “tennis elbow”, also known as lateral epicondylitis. This condition occurs when repeated motions involving the arm and wrist lead to overuse or injury of the muscles and tendons located in the elbow area. You don’t have to play tennis to have this issue as repetitive movements that cause tennis elbow are often found to affect office workers, gym goers, and even painters. Treatment options can vary for this condition, but one effective option for helping those suffering from tennis elbow is a technique called dry needling.


What is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a treatment option we provide that can work in conjunction with chiropractic adjustments, soft-tissue therapy, and exercise-based rehab to help relieve those issues and improve your movement. This evidence-based technique is used to release trigger points, otherwise known as “muscle knots”. These are tight, overactive areas within a muscle that can cause pain and restrict movement. Using a thin, sterile filament needle, we target these highly specific trigger points to create a quick “reset” or “muscle twitch” in the muscle, helping it relax and function more efficiently.


Does It Relieve Muscle Tension?

As mentioned before, dry needling targets specific myofascial trigger points (areas of muscular distress). When the needle is inserted, a brief “twitch” response occurs where the muscle fibers involuntarily contract. After some time and increase of blood flow to the area, there will be a decrease in pain/soreness and release of tension from the muscles. This process works to restore normal muscular function and improve the muscles’ movement/flexibility. 


How Does Dry Needling Help With Tennis Elbow?

The muscular tension and tendon inflammation from tennis elbow is directly addressed by dry needling. Here are the specifics:


  1. It focuses on trigger points/muscle knots. By pin-pointing spots in the forearm extensor muscles, the needles produce the twitch response which allows the muscles to relax (decreasing any tension).

  2. Blood flow is improved. The injured tendon area receives additional oxygen and nutrients from the increased circulation brought on from the dry needles.


  1. Pain is reduced. The nervous system is stimulated during dry needling and thus pain signals are interrupted (resulting in reduction of pain from the injury).

  2. It promotes faster tissue repair. This technique triggers the body’s natural healing response by stimulating collagen production in the damaged tendons.

  3. Mobility and function of the affected area is enhanced. After sessions of dry needling, patients often find the following outcomes:

    1. Reduction in pain

    2. Increased grip strength

    3. Less muscular stiffness

    4. Better range of motion


What Other Conditions Can Be Effectively Treated? 

In addition to tennis elbow, here are some other conditions that would benefit from dry needling treatment:

  • Chronic back pain

  • Tension headaches and migraines

  • Shoulder pain

  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

  • Plantar Fasciitis

  • Sciatica 

  • Fibromyalgia

  • Athletic injuries

  • Post-surgical pain


If you are struggling with tennis elbow (or one of the other conditions listed above), dry needling is a highly recommended treatment option. It is especially effective when combined with strengthening and mobility exercises, and these are completed during active care appointments here at Northcenter Healthcare. If you are curious about trying a dry needling session or have more questions, feel free to bring it up at your next appointment!


References:

  1. Joint Health Guide. Dry needling. Accessed August 5, 2026. https://jointhealthguide.com/dry-needling/ 

  2. Swastya Physio. How effective is dry needling for tennis elbow? Accessed August 5, 2026. https://swastyaphysio.com/blog/how-effective-is-dry-needling-for-tennis-elbow/ 

  3. Biology Insights. What does dry needling do to your muscles? Accessed August 5, 2026. https://biologyinsights.com/what-does-dry-needling-do-to-your-muscles/ 

  4. Physical Therapy Zone. Conditions that dry needling can help: A comprehensive guide. Accessed August 5, 2026. https://physicaltherapyzone.com/conditions-that-dry-needling-can-help-a-comprehensive-guide/ 

  5. Mayo Clinic Staff. Tennis elbow: Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. Updated April 29, 2025. Accessed August 5, 2026. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tennis-elbow/symptoms-causes/syc-20351987 

Andy Park