The sports world was rocked this week by an unusual incident at the Pittsburgh Steelers facility. TJ Watt, the 31-year-old star and NFL star, suffered a partial lung collapse after dry needlinga treatment commonly used by athletes to relieve muscle pain.
Update on #Steelers LB TJ Watt: pic.twitter.com/ngNBnwhBAK
— Burt Lauten (@SteelersPRBurt) December 11, 2025
The player was taken to hospital as an emergency, underwent surgery and was released within a few days.but his return to the field remains questionable for the coming weeks, according to reports from his family and the team.
Dry needling, known in English as “Dry needling”is a therapy technique that has gained popularity among professional athletes in recent years. Fine, solid needles are inserted into muscle trigger points to relieve tension and improve mobility without the need to inject substances..
Although it is similar to acupuncture, The focus is on muscular and myofascial problems and is carried out by professionals such as physiotherapists or certified trainers.. In Watt’s case, Wednesday’s session took place at the Steelers facility, but an error in insertion depth led to a rare complication: a partial pneumothorax.
Dry needling Thin, hair-like needles are inserted into narrow strands of muscle tissue called trigger points.which can result in pain, limited mobility or weakness due to injury, overuse or poor posture. By penetrating the skin and stimulating the muscle, It causes a local contraction or spasm that helps relax the area and promotes natural healing.
This process, which takes a few minutes per session, It is particularly useful for athletes like Watt who struggle with shoulder pain, chest pain, tendonitis or plantar fasciitis.. Its benefits include rapid pain relief, improved range of motion, and a non-drug alternative to injections or medications, which is why it is often used in the NFL to treat general psoriasis or minor injuries.
Although Dry needling is considered safe When carried out by trained personnel, this is not without risks. Common side effects are mild, such as: Minimal bleeding, bruising, or residual pain at the injection site. However, a rare but serious complication is pneumothorax, or lung collapse, which occurs when the needle penetrates too deeply into areas such as the chest or upper back and punctures the lung.
TJ Watt’s wife with an IG update on TJ Watt #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/mctCYCQ2rP
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) December 12, 2025
In the Watt incident, Wednesday’s session resulted in immediate discomfort, which led to his hospitalization on Thursday. Experts like Dr. Sue Falsone emphasize that this risk exists “very strange” According to the scientific literature, athletes with larger muscle mass like Watt may require deeper insertions, increasing the likelihood of errors. This case is reminiscent of a similar incident in 2020 with Tyrod Taylor, but it involved a painkiller injection.
After successful surgery to repair and stabilize the lungs on Thursday According to his brother JJ Watt, TJ Watt was released on Fridaywho shared this on social networks “Everything went well” and expressed gratitude for the support, even though the recovery time remains undetermined.
Yesterday, TJ had successful surgery to stabilize and repair a partially collapsed lung he suffered on Wednesday following dry needling treatment at the facility.
The timeline for recovery has not yet been determined, but everything went well and he will be released from the hospital today.
He and his…
– JJ Watt (@JJWatt) December 12, 2025
Experts estimate that with a young and healthy athlete like him Full healing could take 7-10 days and have no long-term effects, but Watt will miss at least Monday’s game against the Miami Dolphins and possibly more, which will impact the Steelers in their playoff push.. Coach Mike Tomlin confirmed the absence without further details as the NFL Players Association prioritizes his health. This episode highlights the need for strict protocols in routine treatment, although the Steelers have not officially commented on the cause.
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