I am writing to express my support for amending current regulations to allow certified, Virginia-licensed, and American Medical Association (AMA)-recognized athletic trainers to perform the modality of dry needling.

At present, the Commonwealth lacks a standardized definition of dry needling. However, two widely accepted interpretations classify it either as a mechanical or invasive modality. Athletic trainers are qualified under both interpretations.

The athletic training practice act permits the use of mechanical modalities when the provider is trained or certified in the modality and operates under the direction of a physician. Since dry needling is often categorized as a mechanical modality, it appropriately falls within the scope of practice for athletic trainers.

Moreover, dry needling is also classified by some as an invasive procedure. Accredited athletic training programs—governed by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)—already require training in invasive techniques such as emergency IV access, lidocaine injections, and wound closure using staples or sutures. These competencies demonstrate the rigorous clinical preparation athletic trainers receive.