Dry needling is the insertion of a thin, non-medicated (dry), monofilament needle through the skin and into muscle, tendons, ligaments, near peripheral nerves, and swollen areas. Dry needling is NOT Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncture. The goal of dry needling is to normalize the neuromusculoskeletal function. While it may sound scary, dry needling is safe and low risk. Research evaluating 34,000 treatments found no serious adverse events and 43 minor ones. The benefits of dry needling include relief for muscular pain and stiffness, improved flexibility, improved blood flow, and increased range of motion.