Dry Needling in Lebanon, TN
Dry needling is one of the most effective tools we use at Veloce Spine & Sport for muscle tension, movement restriction, and the kind of stubborn tightness that doesn't respond to stretching or foam rolling. It's a modern sports medicine technique used at the professional level and integrated into our care for athletes and active adults across Lebanon, Mt. Juliet, and Wilson County.
If you've been dealing with a recurring issue that hasn't resolved with other approaches, dry needling may be the right next step.
What is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is a manual therapy technique that uses thin filament needles to address muscle trigger points: small, dysfunctional areas of muscle tissue that create tension, restrict movement, and refer pain to other regions of the body.
The technique is called "dry" because nothing is being injected. The needle itself is the tool. When inserted into a trigger point, the muscle often produces a brief twitch response, followed by a release in tension. At Veloce, we typically combine dry needling with electrical stimulation, which enhances the response and produces more complete release of the targeted muscle.
Dry needling is evidence-based and used widely in modern sports medicine, physical therapy, and rehabilitation. Dr. Grimaldi completed advanced training in dry needling techniques and uses them as part of an integrated approach to care, not as a standalone service.
Dry Needling vs. Acupuncture
This is the question we get most often.
Acupuncture comes from traditional Chinese medicine. Practitioners place needles along energy meridians based on a framework that dates back thousands of years.
Dry needling is a Western, evidence-based technique. Practitioners place needles directly into the dysfunctional muscle causing a specific musculoskeletal complaint, based on modern anatomy and muscle physiology.
The needles look similar. The framework, training, and intended outcome are different.
​What a Session at Veloce Looks Like
Assessment first. Before we needle anything, Dr. Grimaldi assesses the area, identifies which muscles are actually contributing to your issue, and decides whether needling is the right tool.
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The treatment. You'll be positioned comfortably. Thin filament needles are placed into specific muscles, typically 4 to 10 needles per session. Most patients describe the sensation as a deep ache, a brief twitch, and then a release. We usually pair this with mild electrical stimulation for a more complete response.
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After. Some soreness in the next 24 to 48 hours is normal, similar to the day after a hard workout. Most patients report meaningful relief within the first 24 hours, though chronic patterns often take 2 to 3 sessions to fully respond.
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Integrated, not isolated. At Veloce, dry needling is rarely a standalone service. It's typically part of a session that also includes chiropractic care, manual therapy, and corrective exercise programming.