Dry Needling in Concussion Rehab: A High-Impact Skill for Clinicians
Concussion care is evolving, and clinicians need tools that keep pace. One increasingly effective, evidence-informed intervention making waves in concussion management is dry needling. Once seen as a niche modality, dry needling in concussion is now emerging as a frontline technique for addressing neuromuscular dysfunction in patients recovering from mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).
For providers managing the complexity of post-concussion syndrome — from headaches and dizziness to cervical spine restrictions and muscle tension — dry needling in concussion offers a targeted, neurophysiologically driven solution that can accelerate recovery and improve patient outcomes.
Why Dry Needling Matters in Concussion Rehab
Concussion symptoms are rarely isolated to the brain. The neck and upper cervical musculature often play a critical role in persistent post-concussive symptoms, especially when headaches, dizziness, visual instability, and neck pain are present.
Dry needling can help by:
- Reducing tension and hypertonicity in the suboccipital, cervical, and upper trapezius muscles
- Improving cervical range of motion, which is often limited post-concussion
- Desensitizing myofascial trigger points that perpetuate nociceptive input
- Restoring neurodynamic mobility by targeting dysfunctional neuromuscular pathways
- Decreasing central sensitization contributing to headache and dizziness
This makes dry needling a powerful tool not just for pain relief — but for modulating the neuromuscular system in a way that supports broader concussion recovery
What the Research Tells Us About Dry Needling for Concussion
A systematic review and meta-analysis by Pourahmadi et al. (2021) showed that dry needling significantly improves:
- Headache-related disability in both tension-type (TTH) and cervicogenic headaches (CGH)
- Headache frequency and intensity
- Trigger point sensitivity
- Health-related quality of life
- Cervical range of motion
Importantly, the data showed:
- Number Needed to Treat (NNT) for improved disability in TTH = 1
- NNT for reduced headache intensity in TTH = 2
- NNT for CGH disability = 3; for headache relief = 4
While these studies focused on TTH and CGH, the overlap in symptom presentation with post-concussion headaches is clinically significant. Many patients post-mTBI experience secondary headache types that respond well to dry needling.
Clinically speaking: if your patient has a concussion and a neck — dry needling is an option for treatment.
Why You Should Consider Getting Certified in Dry Needling
As a clinician treating concussion, adding dry needling to your skill set allows you to:
- Directly address cervicogenic and myofascial sources of symptoms
- Accelerate recovery timelines in complex concussion cases
- Expand your treatment toolbox beyond passive modalities and manual therapy
- Attract more referrals by offering advanced, evidence-informed care
Plus, dry needling training sharpens your palpation, anatomy, and neurophysiological understanding, making you a more precise and confident provider across multiple patient populations.
Standing Out in a Crowded Field
In today’s competitive rehab landscape, clinicians who integrate specialized techniques like dry needling are better positioned to attract referrals and improve patient satisfaction. As concussion care becomes more multidisciplinary, therapists with dry needling certification can offer targeted solutions that bridge the gap between symptom management and functional restoration. This not only enhances your clinical impact but also differentiates your practice as a leader in evidence-based neurological and musculoskeletal care. By investing in dry needling, you’re not just expanding your skill set, you’re elevating your role in a patient’s recovery journey.
If you’re a clinician working with concussion patients — whether in sports medicine, neuro rehab, or orthopedics — dry needling is no longer optional. It’s a clinically impactful, research-supported skill that can change the trajectory of your patients’ recovery.
Now is the time to invest in training. Your patients will feel the difference, and so will your outcomes.
To learn Dry Needling for Concussion, and for other conditions, visit www.structureandfunction.net/courses
References
- IPourahmadi M, Dommerholt J, Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C, et al. Dry Needling for the Treatment of Tension-Type, Cervicogenic, or Migraine Headaches: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Phys Ther. 2021;101(5):pzab068. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzab068
