Dry Needling for Knee Pain: Looking Beyond the Joint

When people experience knee pain, they often assume the problem is located in the knee itself. While arthritis, ligament injuries, and meniscus tears can certainly contribute to discomfort, tight and dysfunctional muscles surrounding the knee are frequently overlooked. Dry needling is a technique that uses thin filiform needles to target trigger points and areas of muscle tension, helping reduce pain, improve mobility, and restore more balanced movement patterns. In many cases, addressing the muscles that control the knee can be just as important as treating the knee itself.

One of my favorite areas to dry needle for knee pain is the gluteus medius, often with the addition of electrical stimulation. The gluteus medius is a key stabilizer of the pelvis and plays an important role in external rotation and controlling the position of the leg during walking, running, and climbing stairs. When this muscle becomes inhibited or weak, the knee may collapse inward and the ankle may compensate, creating a chain reaction that contributes to pain and dysfunction further down the leg. By using dry needling and electrical stimulation to improve activation of the gluteus medius, we can often address one of the root causes of knee pain rather than simply chasing symptoms. Combined with corrective exercises and movement retraining, this approach can help create more lasting improvements in both comfort and function.