I have lots of muscle pain from my job (all day sitting and typing) and also from my hobbies (weightlifting, running, cycling, etc). my current regimen is dry needling (by PT) once a week, gua sha/Graston technique about every week or two (for my tendonitis), and Thai massage once a month. i have done a lot of acupuncture in the past, and found that to be helpful as well. Dry needling definitely keeps me more pain-free and limber, so that i can work out as i please. I just did it today, in fact. I have never had the slightest problem with it, although everyone should be aware that it can sting a little bit; that is part of the technique, not a problem with your PT. I am sure that there are incompetent PTs that don't do a good job with dry needling, just as there are incompetent doctors that prescribe you the wrong medicine, or incompetent acupuncturists. The current level of oversight over this technique is sufficient.