Dry Needling in Mackay

What Is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a type of therapy that involves the insertion of fine needles into the skin. The needles are used to stimulate trigger points, which are areas of muscle tension that can cause pain and other problems.

At My Chiropractor Mackay City, we use dry needling as part of our chiropractic treatment plans. Our chiropractors are trained in this technique and can use it to help relieve pain, improve range of motion and speed up the healing process.

If you'd like to try dry needling, book an assessment with us and we'll identify if it could help you as part of a wider treatment plan. Call our Mackay Clinic on (07) 4953 1622 today.

The Dry Needling Process

Dry needling at our Mackay clinic follows four stages, from assessment through to aftercare, so you know exactly what to expect before a single needle goes near your skin. Our dry needling is delivered by Dr Marti Harris, an ACA (Australian Chiropractors Association) member, as part of a supervised clinical assessment.

Stage 1: Initial Assessment

Your chiropractor examines the affected muscle group and palpates the area to locate active trigger points before any needle is used. This step confirms dry needling is appropriate for your condition and rules out any contraindications. You'll be told exactly which muscles are being targeted and why.

Stage 2: Needle Insertion

A sterile, single-use needle is inserted through the skin to a depth of just a few millimetres, directly into the identified trigger point. Most patients feel a brief pinprick on entry, which settles quickly. The needle's fine gauge means far less tissue disruption than a standard injection.

Stage 3: During the Session

Once the needle is in place, your chiropractor manipulates it gently to elicit a local twitch response, a brief muscle contraction that signals the trigger point releasing. You may feel a dull ache, tingling or a spasm-like sensation as tension leaves the muscle. Sessions typically run 10 to 20 minutes depending on how many points are treated.

Stage 4: After the Session

Most patients notice looser, less painful muscles within a few hours, though mild soreness or small bruising can appear over the next day or two. We recommend staying hydrated and keeping movement gentle for the rest of the day. Your chiropractor will advise whether follow-up sessions are needed to build on the result.

Benefits Of Dry Needling

Beyond treating a specific injury, dry needling delivers a set of outcomes our Mackay patients notice within days of starting treatment.

Faster Pain Relief

Because the needle targets the trigger point directly, many patients feel reduced pain during or immediately after the first session, faster than the gradual relief typically seen with massage or stretching alone.

Improved Range of Motion

Releasing a tight trigger point allows the surrounding muscle fibres to lengthen properly again. Patients often notice they can turn their neck, reach overhead or bend further within one or two sessions.

Reduced Muscle Tension & Stiffness

The local twitch response interrupts the tight muscle band causing ongoing stiffness, making everyday movements, sitting at a desk, driving, lifting, feel less restricted.

Supports Recovery From Injury

Dry needling is often used alongside chiropractic adjustments and rehabilitation exercises to speed up how a muscle heals after strain or overuse, making it a useful add-on when returning to work, sport or training.

Fewer Headaches & Referred Pain

Trigger points in the neck and shoulders commonly refer pain up into the head, jaw or down the arm. Treating these points directly can reduce both the frequency and intensity of this referred pain.

Drug-Free Pain Management

For patients who'd rather manage pain without relying on medication, dry needling offers a physical, hands-on alternative that's often combined with chiropractic care as part of a broader, medication-free treatment plan.

Who Is Dry Needling Suitable For?

Dry needling suits a wide range of Mackay locals, not just elite athletes. Office workers dealing with the neck and shoulder tension of long desk hours, mining and trades workers carrying the physical strain of shift work and manual labour and local sports people playing rugby, touch footy, golf or swimming all come through our door for trigger point treatment.



Older residents managing chronic musculoskeletal conditions benefit too, particularly when stiffness limits everyday movement. In each case, we tailor the number of points treated and the depth of needling to the person's condition, fitness and pain tolerance.

Lower Back Pain

Trigger points in the lower back and glutes are a common source of chronic ache, especially after long shifts standing or driving. Dry needling releases these points to reduce pain and ease pressure on the surrounding spinal joints.

Neck Pain & Stiffness

Desk-based and screen-heavy work tightens the muscles running up the back of the neck. Needling these points restores movement and reduces the stiffness that builds up by the end of a workday.

Shoulder Pain & Frozen Shoulder

Tight trigger points in the rotator cuff and surrounding muscles restrict shoulder movement and can contribute to frozen shoulder. Dry needling helps loosen these muscles so the joint can move through its full range again.

Headaches & Migraines

Many tension headaches and migraines originate from trigger points in the neck and base of the skull. Treating these points directly can reduce how often headaches occur and how intense they feel.

Sciatica

When tight gluteal or piriformis muscles compress the sciatic nerve, pain can radiate down the leg. Dry needling targets these muscles to ease the compression and reduce nerve-related pain.

Hip Pain

Hip pain from tight hip flexors or glute muscles is common in workers who spend long hours driving or operating machinery. Needling these muscles improves hip mobility and reduces the ache that builds up over a shift.

Plantar Fasciitis

Tight calf muscles often contribute to the heel pain associated with plantar fasciitis. Releasing trigger points in the calf can ease tension through the plantar fascia and reduce heel pain with each step.

TMJ / Jaw Pain

Trigger points in the jaw and temple muscles are a common cause of clicking, tightness and pain around the jaw joint. Dry needling can relax these muscles and ease the discomfort of clenching or grinding.

Muscle Tightness

General muscle tightness, whether from training, manual labour or poor posture, responds well to trigger point release. Dry needling addresses the tight band directly rather than just the surface symptom.



Every patient who comes through our Mackay clinic for dry needling receives a full assessment first, so treatment is matched to what's actually causing the pain rather than applied as a blanket approach.

Why Choose My Chiropractor Mackay City For Dry Needling?

My Chiropractor Mackay City has treated Mackay locals for more than 20 years, with over 15,000 patients through our doors in that time. Our chiropractors are fully qualified and specifically trained in dry needling, so it's delivered as part of a supervised clinical assessment rather than a standalone add-on. The clinic sits centrally at 157 Victoria Street, Mackay City, making it an easy stop before or after work.



Every treatment plan is personalised and holistic, built around your specific trigger points, work demands and recovery goals rather than a one-size-fits-all protocol. We also accept Medicare, DVA and HICAPS, which covers a large share of our regular patients. Dry needling treatment is provided by Dr Marti Harris, an ACA (Australian Chiropractors Association) member, bringing hands-on clinical experience to every session at our Mackay clinic.