Acupuncture and Dry Needling for Back Pain: What Actually Works?

In this episode, Dr. Ryan Peebles, Doctor of Physical Therapy and founder of Core Balance Training, breaks down acupuncture and dry needling: what they are, how they work, who they help, and where their limitations lie. Drawing from personal experience, clinical knowledge, and years of observing thousands of back-pain cases, he explains why both treatments can feel amazing yet rarely solve chronic back pain at its root. You’ll learn the real difference between acupuncture and dry needling, why both can produce instant relief but not lasting change, and how to think about them inside a long-term healing strategy. Dr. Ryan also dives into the deeper cause of chronic muscle tension, why knots and trigger points keep coming back, and how core stability creates true, lasting change. This episode covers: The difference between acupuncture and dry needling What influences acupuncture results Dry needling: how it releases trigger points instantly Dr. Ryan’s experience with deep hip-flexor dry needling Why muscle knots form Why chronic tension returns unless you fix the underlying imbalance How tight hip flexors, stiff shoulders, and limited rotation relate to core weakness Why deep core activation reduces full-body tension over time How to approach stubborn hip and shoulder limitations safely Q&A: sitting cross-legged, hip rotation, mobility vs. core strength Q&A: tight hip flexors during the bridge and how to get into a true stretch Q&A: how long to hold front anchors and signs you’re ready to progress Watch the free Core Balance Masterclass and start your 7-day free trial to experience the Back Anchor lesson firsthand and begin retraining your movement patterns from the inside out: https://www.corebalancetraining.com/masterclass Disclaimer: All content is for educational purposes only. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before beginning any exercise or rehabilitation program. Episode Chapters: 00:00:00 – Acupuncture for back pain, does it work adn what it acually does 00:01:52 – Dr. Ryan’s experiences with acupuncture 00:04:10 – When acupuncture is helpful 00:07:38 – Introducing dry needling: an orthopedic approach to trigger points 00:08:10 – What trigger points are 00:11:18 – Ryan’s intense hip-flexor dry needling experience 00:14:33 – Q&A: sitting cross-legged, hip rotation, and lifelong mobility limitations 00:17:37 – Why muscles tighten 00:26:49 – Tight shoulders, reasons and what to do 00:29:00 – Back anchor concept explained