Introduction: Dry needling emerges as a treatment modality based on traditional Chinese acupuncture, in which specific tender points referred to as “ashi” points are punctured. These points are commonly known as myofascial trigger points. A great number of neurophysiological changes in the musculoskeletal system occur following direct puncturing of the myofascial trigger points.
Aim: To trace the historical development of the dry needling method and to investigate the mechanisms of neurophysiological impact on the musculoskeletal system.
Materials and Methods: A search was conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed), the Cochrane Library, and Scopus for English-language articles on the application of dry needling in physiotherapy practice, published in the last 10 years up to April 2025. The following key search phrases were combined to identify potentially relevant articles: (“dry needling” OR “needling” OR “trigger point”) AND (“therapy”) AND (“evolution” OR “development” OR “history”) AND (“physical therapy”) AND (“neurophysiology”). A total of 9,646 results were identified. After reading the titles and abstracts and assessing their eligibility based on the full texts of the articles, 29 articles remained and were included in this review.
Results: Among the 29 selected studies, 10 tracked the historical development and progress of the method as a therapeutic modality, while another 10 studies showed the influence of the method on the musculoskeletal system from a neurophysiological perspective. The remaining 9 studies tracked the therapeutic effects of dry needling.
Conclusion: The studied method is successfully included in the treatment programs of a number of musculoskeletal conditions and has gained particular popularity over the last 20 years. The use of this therapeutic modality in modern physiotherapy practice allows for acceleration of the healing process in a number of musculoskeletal conditions.
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