Dry Needling in Sports and Sport Recovery: A Systematic Review with an Evidence Gap Map

As athletes continuously push their physical limits, effective recovery strategies are essential for maintaining performance and reducing injury risk. Among various recovery techniques, dry needling has gained popularity for its potential to relieve muscle pain and stiffness. Despite its widespread use, questions remain about its overall effectiveness, particularly in enhancing athletic performance beyond pain management. While some studies support its role in reducing discomfort and aiding recovery, evidence on its impact on strength, power, and long-term performance remains inconsistent. Given these uncertainties, further research is needed to establish clear protocols, assess its benefits for elite and Paralympic athletes, and explore its long-term efficacy. The following key points provide an overview of the current findings and highlight critical areas for future investigation.

Effectiveness of Dry Needling in Sports Recovery:

• Dry needling is widely used for pain relief and muscle stiffness reduction in athletes.
• Studies suggest its effectiveness in short-term pain management, but its impact on performance enhancement is less clear.

Limited Impact on Athletic Performance:

• While dry needling helps with muscle recovery and relaxation, it does not consistently improve strength, power, or functional performance.
• Most studies focused on pain reduction rather than performance-related outcomes.

Research Gaps and Inconsistencies:

• There is a lack of high-quality, long-term studies evaluating the sustained effects of dry needling on athletic performance.
• Many studies fail to specify dosage, needle depth, and frequency, making comparisons difficult.
• Elite and Paralympic athletes are underrepresented in the research.

Safety and Practical Applications:

• Dry needling appears to be a generally safe intervention, with few adverse effects reported.
• The hamstrings and lower limbs are the most commonly treated areas, highlighting a need for research on other muscle groups.
• More studies are needed to determine individualized treatment protocols for different sports and training regimens.