Dry needling is an invasive and advanced procedure that necessitates specific training not only in biomedicine but acupuncture specific training, clinical hours and third party psychometric testing.

Acupuncturists practice many different styles including orthopedic dry needling and all of them require acupuncturists who practice in Virginia to meet the standards required by the NCCAOM to sit for and pass the required NCCAOM exams to demonstrate competency.

At this writing, there are no independent, agency accredited programs for "dry needling", no standardized curriculum, no means of assessing competence of instructors in the field, and no independently administered competency exams.

Physical therapy entry level training does not include meaningful preparation for the practice of invasive procedures like dry needling that require additional training.  The proposed regulation does not identify specific postgraduate training hours nor specific dry needling continuing education hours nor does it require independent testing to show competency as required by acupuncturists to obtain a license to use a metal needle for therapeutic purpose.

Dry needling is not safe when performed by under trained professionals who have not demonstrated competency and thus have the ability not to harm the public.  Current training and lack of independent testing is inadequate to protect public safety and consumers.  Medical doctors practicing acupuncture must have 300 hours of training to satisfy the minimal standards of training in acupuncture and pass an independent National exam to become members of AAMA, the American Academy of Medical  Acupuncture.  

The AMA, the American Medical Association passed a resolution in June of 2016 stating: "Our AMA recognizes dry needling as an invasive procedure and maintains that dry needling should only be performed by practitioners with standardized training and familiarity with the routine use of needles in their practice such as licensed medical physicians and licensed acupuncturists." We ask that the board a physical therapist hold to this position taken by the AMA
What is not in doubt that inserting a needle for therapeutic purpose helps patients heal and decreases pain.  Whether that method is orthopedic acupuncture, five element theory acupuncture, Dr. Tung or Dr. Tan or biomedical theory or A shi points  or dry needling, I urge you to oppose dry needling by any practitioner not specifically trained, examined and licensed to do so.

This regulation puts an invasive procedure into a scope of practice  without  requiring standardized, advanced, specific training in the classroom, clinic and appropriate third party examination which does not exist.  We urge you to reject this proposed change and not allow dry needling in the scope of practice for physical therapists in Virginia.

Respectfully,

Board, Acupuncture Society of Massachusetts, (ASM)
Formerly Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Society of Massachusetts (AOMSM)

Please note the NJ Attorney General ruled dry needling out of scope last week.