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Dry Needling in Portland, Maine

If you're dealing with stubborn muscle tightness, pain that won’t quit, or recovery that’s slower than it should be—you’re in the right place. At Steady State Health, we use dry needling as part of a holistic, strength-forward approach to help runners and active adults feel stronger, move better, and get back to training without setbacks.

A Portland Maine Physical Therapist performing dry needling on a runner.

Dry needling is a contemporary physical therapy technique used to treat musculoskeletal pain. It involves inserting fine needles into specific trigger points in the muscles. These points are often areas of knotted or hard muscle, and the goal of dry needling is to release tension in these spots, alleviate pain, and improve mobility.

While evidence suggests dry needling can be effective for short-term pain relief and muscle function improvement, its long-term effectiveness is still being explored in ongoing research.

When indicated and agreed upon by the client, we use dry needling in conjunction with manual therapy, education, and exercise to take a holistic approach to your rehab.

Is Dry Needling Right for You?

We work with runners and athletes across all levels who experience:

  • Persistent tightness in the calves, quads, hamstrings, hips, or back
  • Nagging muscle pain that isn’t resolving with stretching or foam rolling
  • Recurring pain patterns that show up mid-run or post-workout
  • Plateaus in recovery after injury or surgery

If that sounds like you—dry needling may be a game-changer.

What to Expect in a Session

Every session starts with movement analysis and hands-on assessment. From there, we use dry needling to target specific muscle dysfunctions—trigger points, tension, or overactive patterns—while integrating movement, loading, and strength strategies that reinforce long-term change.

Dry Needling Can Help You:

  • Relieve pain without relying on rest or medication
  • Unlock mobility and range of motion
  • Improve performance through better muscle activation
  • Recover faster between sessions, runs, or races

Why Steady State Is Different

We’re not here to chase symptoms. We’re here to solve problems for good. Our physical therapists are runners, movement nerds, and clinicians who bring a depth of experience to every session. We blend dry needling with progressive rehab strategies, strength work, and athlete education that sticks.

No one-size-fits-all plans. No passive treatments in isolation. Just clear care that builds toward performance and resilience.

Serving the Greater Portland Area

Our clinic is conveniently located in Portland, Maine—easily accessible from South Portland, Falmouth, Scarborough, and local running routes like Back Cove, the Eastern Trail, and Route 88. We’re part of the running and active community here, and we know how important it is to keep moving, pain-free.

You don’t need to stop training. You don’t need to “just deal with it.” Dry needling at Steady State Health is one part of a comprehensive plan designed to support real recovery and smarter performance.

Ready to finally get rid of your pain? Start with a Free Discovery Call

Want to Learn More About Dry Needling?

Check out these articles for more about dry needling:

  • Dr. Ashten with her 2 dogs, Jasper and Opal
  • Dr. Ashten doing wall balls at Misfit Crossfit
  • Dr. Ashten hiking with her son, Calix.
  • Dr. Ashten sprinting at the America East Conference Championships in 2014.