Dry Needling For Rotator Cuff Injuries
If you’re dealing with rotator cuff pain, you know how frustrating and limiting it can be—whether it’s reaching overhead, lifting objects, or even sleeping on your side. At The Physiotherapy Place, we offer a highly effective, evidence-based combination of physiotherapy and dry needling to relieve pain, restore shoulder mobility, and get you back to doing what you love.
What Is the Rotator Cuff?
The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and tendons that stabilise your shoulder joint and allow for smooth arm movement. Injuries can occur suddenly or develop over time from overuse, poor posture, or repetitive strain.
Common rotator cuff conditions include:
Rotator cuff tendinitis (inflammation or irritation of the tendons)
Shoulder impingement syndrome
Partial rotator cuff tears
Chronic shoulder pain with muscular tightness
How Physiotherapy Helps Rotator Cuff Injuries
At The Physiotherapy Place, our first step is a detailed assessment to identify the root cause of your pain and tailor a personalised rehab program.
Your treatment may include:
Manual therapy to improve joint mobility
Targeted strengthening of rotator cuff and scapular muscles
Shockwave or ultrasound to optimise tissue healing
Postural correction and movement retraining
Education to prevent recurrence and manage load
With consistent physiotherapy, most rotator cuff injuries can heal without the need for injections or surgery.
What Is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is a technique where very fine, sterile needles are inserted into trigger points—tight or irritated areas within muscles. It’s used to relieve myofascial pain, release tension, and improve local blood flow and tissue healing.
Dry needling is particularly effective when rotator cuff injuries are accompanied by:
Muscle spasms
Referred pain patterns
Persistent shoulder stiffness or tightness
Overactive upper traps or posterior shoulder muscles
Benefits of Dry Needling for Rotator Cuff Injuries
Combining dry needling with physiotherapy provides a powerful one-two punch to address both muscular and mechanical sources of shoulder pain.
Dry needling can help:
Reduce muscle tension in the upper traps, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and deltoids
Improve range of motion and reduce shoulder stiffness
Alleviate referred pain (e.g. pain down the arm)
Accelerate recovery when combined with exercise-based rehab
Who Can Benefit?
Dry needling is suitable for clients with:
Rotator cuff tendinitis or tears
Chronic shoulder pain or tightness
Shoulder impingement syndrome
Postural overload and muscular imbalance
Pain not resolving with exercise alone
Why Choose The Physiotherapy Place?
At our clinics in Musselburgh and Portobello, we integrate dry needling into a full treatment plan designed specifically for your needs. Every session is backed by clinical reasoning, experience, and a commitment to getting you back to pain-free function.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you’re looking for rotator cuff physiotherapy or dry needling in Musselburgh or Portobello, we’re here to help. Contact us today to book an appointment and begin your recovery.