Dry Needling | Asheville, NC
Dry needling is one of the most effective tools available for releasing trigger points, restoring range of motion, and addressing musculoskeletal pain at its source. When performed by a provider with advanced orthopedic training, it goes well beyond simple muscle release, targeting the neuromuscular mechanisms that perpetuate pain cycles, restrict movement, and limit athletic performance.
At South Slope Acupuncture & Wellness, we are the only clinic in Asheville with providers who hold extensive training in both Dry Needling and Sports Medicine Acupuncture®. This dual-trained approach means we don't choose between techniques. We integrate them based on what your specific condition requires.
An initial consultation is required to determine whether you are a candidate for dry needling. If you are, your first treatment can take place the same day.
How Dry Needling Works
Dry needling targets myofascial trigger points, which are hyperirritable spots within taut bands of skeletal muscle that generate local pain, referred pain patterns, and restricted range of motion. These trigger points develop in response to injury, overuse, poor posture, repetitive strain, or neurological sensitization.
When a thin filiform needle is inserted directly into a trigger point, it produces a local twitch response, which is an involuntary contraction of the muscle fiber. This twitch response does several things simultaneously:
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Disrupts the trigger point by mechanically releasing the contracted sarcomere cycle sustaining it
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Increases local blood flow, flushing out accumulated metabolic waste products including bradykinin and substance P
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Resets neuromuscular signaling by normalizing the dysfunctional motor endplate activity driving the trigger point
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Reduces central sensitization by decreasing the afferent pain signals that keep the nervous system in a heightened pain state
The result is reduced pain, improved range of motion, and restored neuromuscular function. For acute presentations this often occurs within a single session, and progressively across a treatment course for chronic conditions.
Dry Needling vs. Acupuncture What's the Difference?
This is one of the most common questions we receive, and the answer matters for understanding what kind of care you need.
Dry needling focuses specifically on myofascial trigger points and the local neuromuscular mechanisms driving pain and dysfunction. The assessment is orthopedic and biomechanical, identifying which muscles are involved, what is causing the trigger point pattern, and how to address it structurally.
Acupuncture at South Slope uses a comprehensive whole-body neurological assessment to select needle locations based on referred pain pathways, systemic inflammatory patterns, and broader nervous system regulation. It addresses not just the local tissue but the systemic factors, including hormonal, inflammatory, and neurological influences, that affect how your body heals.
Because our providers are trained in both, we regularly integrate the two approaches in a single treatment session. A patient with chronic low back pain, for example, might receive trigger point dry needling to release specific lumbar and gluteal muscle bands alongside acupuncture points targeting the spinal nerve pathways and central sensitization driving their pain chronicity. This is care that most clinics simply cannot offer.
Not sure which treatment one is the best option for you?
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Dry Needling helps with muscular pains and limitations in range of motion. Get back to moving the way you want to.
Conditions We Treat with
Dry Needling in Asheville
Back and Neck Pain
Chronic low back pain, degenerated and dehydrated discs, spinal stenosis, thoracolumbar junction syndrome, facet pain, arthrosis, sacroiliac joint syndrome, and sciatica
Upper Extremity
Rotator cuff injuries, labrum injury, tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, muscle strains, and ligament sprains
Lower Extremity
Hip, hamstring, and gluteal pain, runner's knee, patellar tendinopathy, Achilles tendinopathy, shin splints, plantar fasciitis and heel spurs, tarsal tunnel syndrome, Morton's neuroma, foot over-pronation, metatarsal stress fractures, and muscular and ligament injuries
Head, Neck and Jaw
Migraines, tension headaches, whiplash, TMJ dysfunction, and post-concussion syndrome
Sports Performance and Recovery
Athletic performance optimization, injury prevention, and return-to-sport protocols for recreational and competitive athletes
Chronic Pain
Fibromyalgia, complex regional pain, and centrally sensitized chronic pain conditions
What to Expect from Dry Needling at South Slope
Your first visit begins with a comprehensive orthopedic assessment. We will identify the specific trigger point patterns contributing to your pain, assess your movement and biomechanics, and explain what we are targeting and why. Your first treatment takes place the same day.
During treatment you may feel a local twitch response when a trigger point is engaged, which is a brief involuntary muscle contraction that signals the release is happening. This can feel like a cramp or deep ache for a moment. Most patients find the sensation manageable and the relief that follows significant.
After treatment mild soreness in the treated area is common for 24 to 48 hours, similar to the feeling after an intense workout. This is a normal physiological response to the local muscle reset. Ice or heat can be applied to the area for comfort.
Treatment frequency varies by condition. Acute presentations often respond in 3 to 6 sessions. Chronic conditions with established trigger point patterns typically require 8 to 12 sessions for full resolution. Your provider will give you a realistic, evidence-based estimate at your initial consultation.
Why Choose South Slope for Dry Needling in Asheville
Most dry needling providers, that are not Licensed Acupuncturist, in the Asheville area have completed weekend certification courses, typically 27 to 54 hours of training. While this is sufficient for basic trigger point work, it does not provide the orthopedic depth needed to address complex musculoskeletal presentations, nerve entrapment, biomechanical dysfunction, or sports injuries.
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At South Slope, our dry needling providers hold graduate and doctoral-level training in both needling techniques and orthopedic acupuncture. Dr. Autum Kirgan is the only provider in the Asheville area with advanced certification in Sports Medicine Acupuncture®, a post-graduate specialty program requiring hundreds of hours of orthopedic training beyond standard licensure.
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This means when you come to us with a shoulder injury, herniated disc, or partially torn Achilles tendon, you are not getting a trigger point technician. You are getting a clinician who can assess the full biomechanical and neurological picture, integrate multiple evidence-based approaches, and build a treatment plan matched to your specific presentation.
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We can also incorporate complementary modalities alongside dry needling when appropriate, including Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM) to reduce inflammation, PEMF therapy to support cellular recovery, and Sports Medicine Acupuncture® to address the broader neuromuscular patterns that dry needling alone cannot fully resolve.
SUCCESS STORIES
WJ
As a professional athlete & artist, I cannot recommend Autum enough. Professional, kind & caring, extremely knowledgeable & passionate, clean & modern - all words I would use to describe Autum & this clinic. 5 star, 10/10 all around best.
MR
I began treatments with Autum for a shoulder injury that had been causing me pain for years. Western medicine options were surgery or a cortisone injection which was not appealing. After my treatment program my shoulder feels great and has no pain issues even after resuming activities that would normally have caused irritation. Thanks Autum!
JS
I absolutely love Autum! Love the office! They are so nice and she is the only one who has helped me with my herniated disc!! I have recommended so many people already!
CR
After beating my body in the military for over 20 years I had zero ideas of the cumulative damage that I had done. It took partially tearing both Achilles to get me to slow down long enough to let Autum figure it out. A year and a half later the Achilles are a huge improvement from the day I hobbled in, now we are addressing other issues that fell by the wayside. Not only does she treat the physical, but she has also treated the mental aspects and genuinely wants to fix the issues. I am grateful I took a chance and got her help!!
Frequently Asked Questions About Dry Needling
Does dry needling hurt?
Dry needling involves inserting a thin needle directly into a trigger point, which often produces a local twitch response. This is a brief involuntary muscle contraction that can feel like a cramp or deep pressure for a moment. Most patients find the sensation manageable and the relief that follows significant. Post-treatment soreness lasting 24 to 48 hours is common and is a normal sign of the muscle reset process.
What is the difference between dry needling and acupuncture?
Dry needling targets specific myofascial trigger points using an orthopedic assessment model focused on neuromuscular dysfunction. Acupuncture uses a whole-body neurological assessment to address pain pathways, systemic inflammation, and nervous system regulation. At South Slope, our providers are trained in both techniques and regularly integrate them in a single treatment session for superior orthopedic outcomes.
What is the difference between trigger point dry needling and Sports Medicine Acupuncture®?
Trigger point dry needling focuses on releasing specific hyperirritable muscle bands that generate local and referred pain. Sports Medicine Acupuncture® takes a more comprehensive approach, addressing biomechanical dysfunction, joint mobility, nerve entrapment, fascial restrictions, and nervous system dysregulation that contribute to sports injuries and chronic pain. At South Slope, Dr. Autum Kirgan integrates both approaches based on your specific presentation.
How many dry needling sessions will I need?
Acute musculoskeletal conditions often respond in 3 to 6 sessions. Chronic conditions with established trigger point patterns typically require 8 to 12 sessions. Your provider will assess your presentation at the initial consultation and give you a realistic treatment timeline based on clinical evidence.
Who should not get dry needling?
Dry needling is not recommended for people with needle phobias, those taking blood thinners due to increased bruising risk, pregnant women in certain body areas, people with compromised immune systems, or those with active infections at the treatment site. We review your complete medical history during your initial consultation to confirm dry needling is safe and appropriate for you.
Is dry needling covered by insurance in Asheville?
Coverage varies by plan. We accept insurance, HSA, and FSA. Contact our office at (828) 575-5904 to verify your benefits before your first appointment.
If you have been living with trigger point pain, sports injuries, or chronic musculoskeletal dysfunction, dry needling may be the most direct path to resolution you have not tried yet. Our providers will give you an honest orthopedic assessment and a clear picture of what is driving your pain at your first visit.
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