Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Health Professions
 
Board
Board of Medicine
 
chapter
Regulations Governing the Licensure of Athletic Trainers [18 VAC 85 ‑ 120]
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5/1/25  11:03 am
Commenter: Dr. Krystal Couture DPT, LAc

Strong Opposition
 

I strongly oppose athletic trainers being about to utilize dry needling. As both a PT and an acu, I have a unique perspective in that I learned dry needling in the 2000s before it was main stream and also before it was a simple weekend course. A weekend course is no where near enough training for any medical professional to be able to provide needling services. This is a highly skilled technique. Research shows adverse effects among PTs dry needling are at 36% whereas among acupuncturists they are at 9.6%. It should also be considered that dry needling IS acupuncture. It is a type of acupuncture called muscle specific Ashi Point needling. Thus it should be provided by practitioners of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture. 

CommentID: 234106