Athletic trainers should not be allowed to perform dry needling. As a licensed acupuncturist, I completed a rigorous four-year Master’s program, passed a Clean Needle Technique (CNT) exam, treated over 250 patients in a supervised clinical setting, and passed three national board exams to ensure I could safely and effectively perform needling procedures on patients.

Dry needling is an invasive procedure that requires a deep understanding of anatomy, physiology, pathology, and clean technique. Acupuncturists are specifically trained in these areas. In contrast, athletic trainers are not educated or clinically trained to perform invasive procedures like dry needling. Their programs do not include training in clean needle technique, nor do they require supervised clinical experience involving at least 250 needling treatments prior to graduating.

Needling without proper education and hands-on experience puts patients at risk for serious complications, including pneumothorax, nerve damage, bleeding, and infection. If another profession wants to perform this type of treatment, they should undergo the same comprehensive education and clinical training that licensed acupuncturists are required to complete. Anything less compromises public safety.