I have strong support for athletic trainers to perform dry needling to their patient population. Athletic trainers who are dry needling certified and who want to obtain the certification go through an intensive training program for certification to be able to safety and successfully administer thin monofilament needling to their patients. In addition to the dry needling certification, an athletic trainer needs a 6-year master’s degree to sit for the Board of Certification exam to become certified. I am a firm believer that athletic trainers have the ability to perform this service of dry needling due to their in-depth knowledge of human anatomy and physiology, musculoskeletal injuries, acute care and rehabilitation, extensive modality usage (i.e. electrical stimulation, thermal ultrasound, shockwave therapy, redlight/laser therapy, joint mobilizations, oxygen delivery, and invasive treatment like emergency IV insertion, suturing, and lidocaine injections for wound closure which are already within Virginia’s athletic training regulations. Dry needling would be a profound complimentary tool to an athletic trainer’s toolkit for the continued advancement of healthcare.

Dry needling is used for many musculoskeletal injuries and spams, improving range of motion, pain relief, and recovery enhancement. With appropriate certification, training and physician oversight, athletic trainers are more than capable of demonstrating competence, proficiency, and safety as other healthcare professionals.

Athletic trainers endure extensive education to become certified and licensed, in addition to bi-annually continuing education units to enhance their skills, learn new skills, and maintain knowledge of current, best evidence-based practices. Dry needling has proven to show quality results in their patient populations. Athletic trainers are regulated to perform dry needling technique within other states per their specific state regulations (i.e. Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska, Nevada, North Caroline, Ohio, West Virginia [https://bocatc.org/newsroom/dry-needling-state-regulation-updates/]).

As the healthcare profession continues to evolve, and like any other profession, changing or adding different techniques or pathways is encouraged and essential to continue providing best evidence-based practices. I urge you to support athletic trainers in expanding their toolkit like other states have, to transform the lives within the state of Virginia.

Professionally, 

Sam Compton MS, LAT, ATC