My interest in dry needling is more than professional—it’s personal.

I had two ACL surgeries on the same knee, one during high school and another during college. My second reconstruction used a hamstring autograft, meaning a portion of my own semitendinosus tendon was harvested and used to create the new ACL.

The surgery itself was successful, but afterward I developed a significant restriction throughout the back of my thigh and knee. I had difficulty fully extending my knee, bending forward toward my toes, and achieving a normal stride when running. Over time, I also noticed that certain activities would contribute to intermittent low back discomfort on the same side.

The restriction followed me into the gym as well. Squats, Romanian deadlifts (RDLs), and even something as simple as using the knee extension machine could be limited by the sensation of tightness and pulling through the back of my thigh.

I adapted to it.

For nearly 10 years, this was simply something I had learned to work around.

Then, several years into my professional career, I attended a trigger point dry needling course. During the course, the instructor asked for a volunteer for a demonstration involving the hamstring muscles.

I volunteered.

I explained my history, and the instructor assessed my movement and range of motion before proceeding with the demonstration. He then performed targeted dry needling to my hamstring muscles.

What happened next genuinely surprised me.

Immediately after the treatment, I noticed a dramatic change in my movement.

I was able to bend forward and touch the floor. I could fully extend my knee from a seated position. Most noticeably, the pulling and tearing sensation I had experienced in the back of my thigh when extending my knee was no longer there.

After living with that restriction for nearly a decade, experiencing that change in a matter of minutes was incredible.

That experience completely changed the way I viewed dry needling.

As someone who had already spent years learning anatomy, movement, rehabilitation, and human performance, I understood the theory behind what was being demonstrated. But experiencing it firsthand gave me an entirely different perspective.

It showed me how powerful a targeted approach can be when we take the time to understand the individual, identify areas of restriction, and address the tissues contributing to how someone moves.

That personal experience is a big part of why I started Bittner Physio.

I know what it is like to have a restriction that becomes so familiar that you eventually stop expecting it to change. I also know how meaningful it can be when you finally experience movement that feels different.

Dry needling isn't a magic fix, and everyone's experience is different. But for me, it was a technique that made a profound difference—and one that I continue to value both personally and professionally.