Adding dry needling to a conventional guideline-based treatment program led to a small reduction in the average 24-h and previous week pain at 1 month post-treatment. On the other hand, there was no difference in disability at 1 month post-treatment.

Given the clinically unimportant pain reduction and the lack of effect on disability, the authors conclude that dry needling should not be added to a conventional guideline-based treatment programme for chronic neck pain.