Orthopedic Acupuncture & Dry Needling

Santa Barbara's specialist in sports injuries, musculoskeletal pain, and orthopedic conditions.
20 years of clinical experience.

Welcome to Gallina Acupuncture

For over twenty years, Mario Gallina has built his practice around a simple belief: that people deserve to feel their best, and that the right care can get them there.
Gallina Acupuncture is Santa Barbara’s home for dry needling, sports acupuncture, and integrative pain care. Mario combines exceptional technical skill with the kind of deep listening and genuine attention that’s increasingly rare in medicine. Patients come to him with complex, stubborn conditions and leave with real, lasting relief.
From competitive athletes to office workers, and everyone in between, Mario meets each patient where they are and works with them until the job is done.

“I feel privileged to offer the highest level of care to my patients, devoting myself to working with them to fully address their conditions, resolve their pain, and achieve their goals.”

Mario Gallina, L.Ac., CMTPT

Dry Needling

Dry needling works by addressing the underlying neuromuscular imbalances and dysfunctions that contribute to pain and dysfunction in the body.

Sports Acupuncture

Sports acupuncture is a specialized form of acupuncture that is specifically geared towards athletes and individuals who engage in regular physical activity.

Traditional Acupuncture

Mario Gallina LA.C, CMTPT employs a multidisciplinary approach including the use of traditional techniques to achieve the best outcomes for his patients.

It is difficult to find someone in California that does both dry needling as well as traditional acupuncture.

I have chronic pain and tendinitis and Mario’s dry needling reliably gave me relief

-Andrew G.

“Prior to seeing Mario, I had never done acupuncture before and was skeptical of it, but under Mario’s care, it has truly given me pain relief and become part of my pain care management system—something that I do on a regular basis in addition to physical therapy.”

-Margaret C.

After that one treatment, I can honestly say my pain and range of motion improved 30-35%. After 5-6 more treatments, that number is up to 95%.

I played softball last weekend with no issues whatsoever.”

– James T.

Pain and Dry Needling Specialist

Mario is a Santa Barbara native with over 20 years of clinical experience treating pain at every level, from acute injuries to complex chronic conditions. His integrative approach draws on dry needling, traditional acupuncture, manual therapy, and more, tailored to what each patient actually needs.

Collaborative Pain Specialist

I work closely with physicians, physical therapist, and specialists. If you’re already working with another provider, I’ll connect with them directly so everyone is focused on the same goal.