T.J. Watt's collapsed lung linked to dry needling complication

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt suffered a partially collapsed lung during a dry needling session on Wednesday. The incident led to emergency surgery, but he was discharged from hospital by Friday. Doctors have since confirmed that the dry needling treatment itself may have caused the injury.

Dry needling is a pain-relief technique adapted from acupuncture, targeting tight muscle knots with thin, hair-like needles. A typical insertion depth is around half an inch, though deeper penetration may be needed for larger athletes like Watt. Experts suggest that the provider may have inserted the needle too far, puncturing his lungs.

Licensed acupuncturist Jamie Schlier noted that collapsed lungs from dry needling are rare. While no US-wide database tracks such cases, medical literature records fewer than 10 similar incidents in the past five years. Most occurred during posterior shoulder treatments, often due to clinician error.

Watt underwent surgery to repair and stabilize his lungs. His recovery progress remains under observation, but the team has not yet announced a timeline for his return.

The incident highlights a rare but serious risk of dry needling, particularly for high-performance athletes. Watt's case follows a small number of documented lung injuries linked to the procedure. His medical team will monitor his condition as he recovers from surgery.