Dry Needling on Long Island

Dry needling releases the trigger points and tight bands of muscle driving your pain. Our acupuncturists treat patients across Long Island in Smithtown, East Setauket, Sayville, and Westhampton Beach. We accept most major insurance plans and verify your benefits before your first visit.

Licensed acupuncturist performing dry needling at Thrive Health of LI

Four Locations

East Setauket

Call now to schedule

631-364-9060 Learn more

Sayville

Call now to schedule

631-270-0014 Learn more

Smithtown

Call now to schedule

631-780-6128 Learn more

Westhampton

Call now to schedule

631-998-3151 Learn more

What Is Dry Needling

Dry needling is a precise technique that targets myofascial trigger points, the tight, sensitive knots in muscle that refer pain, limit motion, and slow recovery. A licensed acupuncturist inserts a thin, sterile needle directly into the trigger point to prompt a release, ease tension, and restore range of motion after injury or overuse. Despite the name, it is a safe, well studied treatment, and many patients feel relief quickly.

At our Long Island clinics in Sayville, East Setauket, Westhampton Beach, and Smithtown, our licensed acupuncturists match the technique to the condition in front of them. Although the name might sound intense, dry needling is a safe, well studied treatment that brings relief to many people living with lasting pain and limited movement.

Not sure a trigger point is what you are dealing with, or whether an injection would fit better? Start with our trigger point therapy page. It walks through diagnosis and every treatment option, including physician-delivered trigger point injections.

Conditions Treated With Dry Needling

Musculoskeletal conditions

  • Low back pain and herniated disc pain
  • Neck pain
  • Headaches and migraines
  • Shoulder pain, including rotator cuff issues
  • Wrist pain, including carpal tunnel
  • Hip pain and sciatica
  • Knee pain
  • Ankle pain and plantar fasciitis
  • Muscle strains and overuse injuries
  • Tendonitis and sports injuries

Myofascial and neurological conditions

  • Myofascial trigger points and muscle knots
  • Chronic muscle tension and spasms
  • Nerve-related pain
  • TMJ dysfunction
  • Peripheral nerve entrapment
  • Chronic pain syndromes

What to Expect in Your First Visit

01

Consultation

We begin with a detailed conversation about your concerns, goals, and medical history so treatment targets the right muscles.

02

Treatment

You get hands-on dry needling during that first visit, not just an assessment, with the muscles chosen from what the exam found.

03

Relief

Most patients notice change, less pain, more ease, right away.

04

Follow-Up

You leave with a clear treatment plan and a roadmap for your care going forward.

What to Expect After Dry Needling

It is normal to feel some soreness, mild bruising, or temporary fatigue for a day or two after dry needling. These are common, short-lived responses as the muscle releases, and they usually fade quickly. Our acupuncturists explain exactly what is normal, what to watch for, and how to get the most from your treatment before you leave.

Insurance and Dry Needling

We accept most major insurance plans, including the Empire Plan/NYSHIP, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, Medicare, and UnitedHealthcare, and other plans that have out-of-network coverage. Not every plan covers every service. When dry needling is medically necessary and documented, we verify your benefits before your first visit, submit the claim for you, and you pay your co-insurance.

We are technically out-of-network with these plans, and the visit works the same way an in-network visit would. We confirm benefits, file the claim, and collect only your co-insurance. Coverage varies by plan and by medical necessity, so the simplest first step is to let us check.

Plans we work with

Why Choose Thrive Health for Dry Needling

Dry needling only works when the acupuncturist knows exactly which muscle to target and why. Every treatment here is delivered by a licensed acupuncturist trained in the technique, not squeezed in as a quick add-on between other appointments. We assess before we treat, we go straight to the trigger points driving your pain, and we document the work so it holds up to insurance review when your care is medically necessary.

Patients across Long Island come to us because the results show up fast and the plan is clear. Our acupuncturists treat real conditions, from sciatica and herniated disc pain to tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, and chronic myofascial tension, and they adjust your plan as you progress.

Dry Needling FAQ

Dry needling is an acupuncture technique where a licensed acupuncturist inserts a thin, sterile needle into a myofascial trigger point, the tight knot in a muscle that causes pain and limits movement. The needle prompts the muscle to release, which reduces pain and restores range of motion.

Dry needling is a subset of acupuncture. In New York State, only licensed acupuncturists can perform it, which is why it sits inside our acupuncture service. It focuses on trigger points and tight muscle bands, and your acupuncturist may use it alongside other techniques in the same visit.

Most patients feel a brief twitch or ache when the needle reaches the trigger point, followed by a release. Any discomfort is short-lived. Many patients feel relief during or shortly after the session.

Yes. When performed by a trained, licensed acupuncturist with sterile single-use needles, dry needling is a safe, evidence-based treatment. Your acupuncturist will review your history first to confirm it is right for you.

Mild soreness, minor bruising, or short-term fatigue for a day or two is normal as the muscle releases. These responses fade quickly. Your acupuncturist will explain what is normal and when to call us.

Often, yes. We accept most major plans, including the Empire Plan/NYSHIP, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, Medicare, and UnitedHealthcare, and other plans that have out-of-network coverage. Not every plan covers every service. When dry needling is medically necessary and documented, we verify your benefits, bill for you, and you pay your co-insurance.

It depends on your condition. After your first visit you receive a treatment plan with a recommended number of sessions, and we adjust it as you progress. Many patients feel relief after the first session.

We offer dry needling at our Smithtown, East Setauket, Sayville, and Westhampton Beach locations, serving patients across Suffolk County.

What our patients say

Excellent
Thrive Health of Smithtown4.9
Based on 92 reviews
Mary D.
6 days ago
Love this place
Sheila W.
1 week ago
I love Thrive in Smithtown. The entire team is so professional, wise, kind, and caring! It’s like having an extended family of support for your health. Thank you to Mayra, Stacy, Chris, Monica, Lindsay, Jane, Justin, Carolyn, Jake, Lindsay, Gabby, Sam, Rowland, Gina and if I missed someone it’s because I don’t see them based on my schedule! Even the ultrasound tech’s are the kindest people! The best place for PT, Acupuncture, Massage and so much more!
PhatAndFabulous
2 weeks ago
Thrive gets my back & shoulders feeling better every time.
Audrey A.
2 weeks ago
Chris (massage therapist) and Stacy (acupuncturist) are amazingly skilled practitioners and genuinely just lovely, kind people. I’m currently pregnant and Chris has gone above and beyond be able to continue massaging me safely throughout my pregnancy. Stacy has been so sweet and invested in my journey as well, it really makes this place special. I think check-in has taken a hit since losing Sabrina, she was great. But otherwise this place is awesome.
Cami D.
3 weeks ago
Annamaria I.
4 weeks ago
Professional and kind people who truly care for their patients
Melissa N.
4 weeks ago
Very helpful, clean, organized and friendly staff that are effective with treatment for my sciatic and lower back pain.
Mike K.
4 weeks ago
I am a person that has many physical issues. I found Thrive of Smithtown, on an post that Doreen had put up on Facebook. I figured I would give this physical therapy office a shot. All the folks at this office are professionals and have helped me with all my medical issues. You have to put the time in to feel the results. I like the hands on approach at this PT office. The other PT offices I have used, put some heat and stim on the area of concern, then send you to the equipment and see ya later. If you are looking for a change or if you think you should have better results. Check them out!
Melanie S.
8 months ago
Veronica J.
8 months ago

Start Care at the Location Nearest You

You do not have to build your life around your pain. Call your nearest Thrive Health location or use the Request an Appointment form, and our team will verify your insurance and match you with the right acupuncturist.

Read about dry needling from our blog

Request an Appointment

Fill out our form below and let us know what times work best for you and what services you are interested in, and we will do our best to find a day and time that works for your schedule.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Name(Required)
Email(Required)
Preferred Contact Method(Required)
What Time Slots are best for you?(Required)
What days are best for you?(Required)
What services are you interested in booking?(Required)
Preferred Location(s)(Required)
Texting Consent
By submitting this form and signing up for texts, you consent to receive informational text messages (e.g., appointment notifications) from Thrive Medical at the number provided. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Msg & data rates may apply. Msg frequency varies. Unsubscribe anytime by replying STOP. Reply HELP for help. Privacy and Terms

Request an appointmentCall 631-213-1610