How Massage and Dry Needling Relieve Persistent Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek help. It affects more than 80% of adults at some point and is a leading cause of time off work. For many, it becomes a cycle of painkillers, stretches and short-term fixes that never quite last.

At my studio in Sissinghurst, I see this every week. Clients come in frustrated, tense and tired of trying everything. Massage and dry needling can break that pattern by targeting both the physical and neurological roots of pain.

What actually causes lower back pain

Most cases come from a mix of muscle tension, fascial tightness and poor movement habits. Sitting for long periods shortens the hip flexors and weakens the glutes. The body compensates, and the lower back ends up carrying more load than it should. Over time, that creates stiffness, fatigue and sometimes nerve irritation.

When fascia, the connective tissue surrounding muscles, becomes restricted, it limits mobility. The restriction builds like a web of tension through the hips, glutes and spine. Myofascial release and deep-tissue massage loosen these layers, restoring normal movement and blood flow.

Why standard massage isn’t always enough

A light or purely relaxing massage can help you unwind, but it rarely reaches the deeper structures that cause recurring pain. To treat the source, my work focusses on muscle fibres, trigger points and the fascia network.

In practice, this means I might work through the glutes, hips, hamstrings, lumbar fascia and even upper back. Many of my clients are surprised that back pain often starts elsewhere. A tight glute med or restricted thoracolumbar fascia can pull directly on the lumbar spine. Targeting these areas changes how your body moves and supports itself.

Where dry needling fits in

Dry needling, or medical acupuncture, uses fine needles to reach deep muscle trigger points. These are small knots of contracted tissue that don’t release easily through manual pressure alone. Inserting a needle creates a small, controlled micro-trauma that resets the muscle and calms the surrounding nerves.

Research shows that dry needling can reduce pain intensity and improve mobility when used alongside massage therapy. It also activates the body’s natural healing response by improving local blood flow and releasing endorphins.

In my sessions, I often use dry needling in combination with massage. For example, releasing the quadratus lumborum or gluteus medius with needles before hands-on work can speed recovery and improve movement more quickly.

The role of stress and emotion in pain

Physical pain isn’t only physical. Chronic tension and unprocessed emotion can show up in the body. Studies by Bessel van der Kolk and others show how stress responses affect muscle tone, posture and pain perception.

When you’re under pressure, the body often holds itself in a defensive state. Shoulders raise, breath becomes shallow, and the lower back stays tense. Over time, this becomes habitual. Massage helps interrupt that pattern by restoring sensory feedback to the body. Dry needling can also reduce nervous system overactivity, allowing muscles to let go.

I see this often in clients balancing high-stress jobs, caregiving or grief. They arrive with pain that’s both structural and emotional. The aim isn’t to “fix” one thing but to help the body and nervous system find a new baseline of calm.

How a treatment works in practice

Each session starts with a short assessment. I look at posture, movement and where pain appears during basic actions like bending or sitting. From there, treatment may include:

• Myofascial release and deep-tissue massage to free up fascia and tight muscles

• Dry needling of key trigger points in glutes, hips and lumbar area

• Stretching or active release to re-educate movement

• Auricular acupuncture if stress or sleep are part of the picture

• Simple take-home advice like mobility drills, breathing or desk adjustments

A typical plan might involve weekly or bi-weekly sessions for four to six weeks, then a review. Some clients move to monthly maintenance once pain has settled.

What kind of results to expect

Most people notice improvement within two to three sessions. Movement feels freer, and pain often eases before strength work begins. For example, one client with chronic lower-back pain after a long office career saw a 70% reduction in pain days after four treatments and a new desk setup.

The aim is to restore function, not create dependency. My focus is always to get you moving, sleeping and living without that constant awareness of your back.

What makes this treatment different?

I bring together sports massage, dry needling and auricular acupuncture, so each plan fits your body, not a standard protocol. My background in movement and years as a professional dancer mean I look at how your whole body moves, not just where it hurts.

Whether you’re managing chronic tension, recovering from injury or balancing work stress, this approach combines evidence-based techniques with real-world experience.

Take the next step

If you’re dealing with lower-back pain that keeps returning, book a consultation at bodytherapy.health. We’ll look at how you move, what’s causing your pain and plan a treatment that helps you recover and stay that way.