Physiotherapists Use Dry Needling and Strain Counterstrain to Treat Pain
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On 17 October 2026, the Hong Kong Economic Times Life reported that physiotherapists, besides mechanical therapy and electrical devices, also use techniques such as dry needling and strain counterstrain (SCS) to treat pain. The report noted that dry needling involves needling trigger points and manipulating the needle with lifting, thrusting and twirling to trigger muscle contraction and a relaxation response in the Golgi tendon system; SCS places tightened muscles in a shortened position to release trigger point spindle tension and reset the tension circuit. The report is currently the only one, focusing on explaining the operating principles of the above two techniques, and did not mention other treatment methods, efficacy data or cases.
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- 香港經濟日報·生活Therapist Techniques and Stress Points
Physiotherapists, in addition to mechanical therapy and electrical devices, also use techniques such as dry needling and strain-counterstrain (SCS) to treat pain. Dry needling involves inserting a needle into a stress point and lifting and twisting the needle, triggering muscle contraction and a relaxation response in the Golgi tendon system; SCS places a tightened muscle in a shortened position, releasing stress on the muscle spindle and resetting the tension circuit.
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