As a healthcare professional, I support the amendment proposed by the VATA to formally include dry needling within the scope of practice for licensed athletic trainers in Virginia.

Athletic trainers (ATs) are highly educated professionals, required to hold an undergraduate degree and a graduate degree from a CAATE-accredited program. These programs include extensive training in anatomy, physiology, and clinical decision-making, preparing ATs to evaluate and treat neuromusculoskeletal injuries with a variety of therapeutic interventions.

Our education already includes instruction in invasive procedures such as suturing, administering IVs, and using lidocaine for wound closure—procedures that are recognized in current Virginia regulations. In comparison, dry needling is a minimally invasive technique that, when performed by a trained provider, presents a low risk to patients.

It's also important to distinguish dry needling from acupuncture. While both use similar tools, dry needling is based on Western medical principles and targets myofascial trigger points to relieve pain and improve function. This is a different theoretical framework and application than acupuncture, which is rooted in Eastern medicine and focuses on energy meridians.

Other states have already acknowledged dry needling within the scope of athletic training practice, reflecting a growing recognition of the safety and effectiveness of this technique when performed by qualified professionals.

Given our rigorous education, clinical training, and required continuing education, athletic trainers are well-prepared to safely and effectively perform dry needling. I strongly support this amendment and urge the Board of Medicine to approve it.