Dry Needling
A thin filiform needle releases tight tissue and reaches myofascial trigger points your therapist's hands can't — to relieve pain and reactivate muscles. Not acupuncture.
One-on-one with your doctor
Always — never shared
Years of experience
Cities served across NV
Reach what hands alone can’t
Dry needling is a technique physical therapists use with a thin filiform needle. The needle penetrates the tissue and stimulates underlying myofascial trigger points — knots and tight bands within the muscle that a therapist may not be able to reach with their hands alone.
The result: tight tissues release, immobile muscles are reactivated, and pain is reduced — often quickly.
Dry needling is not acupuncture
This is the most common question we hear. Acupuncture is rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine and works with meridian-energy theory. Dry needling is different — it’s a Western, evidence-based technique focused directly on the muscle and trigger points driving your pain.
How it fits your plan
Dry needling is rarely used alone. It’s typically combined with manual therapy and targeted exercise so the release lasts and your movement keeps improving.
What to expect at Healing Hands
Reach out
Call, text, or email to schedule. We'll listen, answer your questions, and explain how concierge PT works — no pressure.
Root-cause evaluation
Your doctor analyzes your gait, posture, and mobility to find what is actually driving your pain — not just where it hurts.
Hands-on treatment
A full hour of hands-on manual therapy and targeted modalities, tailored to you — in clinic or at your home in the Reno-Sparks area.
Back to what you love
We focus on lasting relief and give you simple home exercises so you keep your gains and reduce the risk of re-injury.
We look for the root cause of your pain, not just the symptoms — a full hour of hands-on care that gets to the real issue, so you can get back to doing what you love.
Frequently asked questions
Is dry needling the same as acupuncture?+
No. Dry needling is a Western, evidence-based technique that uses a thin filiform needle to release tight tissue and reach myofascial trigger points within the muscle. Acupuncture is based in Traditional Chinese Medicine and uses meridian-energy techniques. The needles look similar, but the philosophy and goals are completely different.
Does dry needling hurt?+
Most people feel a brief local twitch or a dull ache as the trigger point releases. The needle is very thin, and any discomfort is usually short-lived and followed by relief.
What does dry needling treat?+
It's used to release tight tissues, reactivate immobile muscles, and relieve pain — often as part of a broader manual-therapy plan for back, neck, shoulder, hip, and other musculoskeletal pain.
Who performs dry needling here?+
Dry needling is performed by Dr. Jamie Pribyl, a doctor of physical therapy with a Manual Therapy Certification and dry-needling training.
Explore more of how we help
CranioSacral Therapy (CST)
A gentle, light-touch therapy that assists the movement of cerebrospinal fluid to relieve tension in the central nervous system, ease pain, and support whole-body healing.
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Cupping
Suction cups lift and gently drag the tissue to release restrictions, improve circulation, and help the body clear tension.
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Muscle Energy Technique
A gentle approach using just ~2 lbs of your own muscle force to mobilize joint restrictions, balance muscle tone, and reduce pain.
Learn more →Let's get to the root of your pain.
A full hour of hands-on, one-on-one care — in Reno, Sparks, Carson City & Incline Village.