A dual-database bibliometric analysis on dry needling for pain: Global trends and hotspots from web of science core collection and Scopus (2006–2025)

Objective Dry needling (DN) has been shown to exert beneficial effects in pain management. However, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis specifically examining the relationship between DN and pain has not yet been conducted. This study aims to systematically evaluate the global research landscape and emerging trends in the field of “dry needling and pain” from 2006 to 2025 using bibliometric methods, thereby providing a quantitative foundation and forward-looking guidance for future basic and clinical research. Methods A bibliometric analysis was conducted using literature published between 2006 and 2025, retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) and Scopus databases. Data were analyzed with Bibliometrix (R package), VOSviewer, and CiteSpace software. Results A total of 936 and 1,149 articles were retrieved from the WoSCC and Scopus databases, respectively. Over the past two decades, publication output in this field has steadily increased. The United States and Spain were the leading contributing countries, with Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Spain serving as a central hub within the international collaboration network. Fernández-De-Las-Peñas C. was identified as the most prolific author. Journal analysis showed that the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies published the most articles, whereas the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation received the highest number of citations and acted as a key node in scholarly cooperation. Keyword co-occurrence and clustering analyses revealed four core research themes: evidence-based pain management, pathophysiological mechanisms of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs), clinical efficacy of DN for myofascial pain, and clinical trial design with outcome assessment. Current research hotspots focus on clinical effectiveness, mechanistic studies, refinement of trial methodologies, standardization of outcomes, and risk management in clinical practice. Conclusion The application of DN in pain management has garnered increasing global attention and is poised to become a major focus within the field. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the current research status and emerging themes, offering valuable insights for future investigations.