As a dual credentialed athletic trainer and physical therapist who dry needles patients daily, I can say that the education that athletic trainers receive is enough to qualify them to dry needle their patient population. Athletic trainers are licensed healthcare providers who have spent significant education hours on human anatomy, kinesiology, biomechanics, and modalities. Athletic training programs require at least 8 credit hours of anatomy and physiology, giving students knowledge of the musculoskeletal system, nervous system, cardiovascular system, respiratory system, etc. making them more than capable of identifying the affected muscle/tissue that they are palpating and knowing what nerves, vascular tissue, or organs are in the surrounding area that must be avoided.

Dry needling is unsafe when the practitioner does not understand the anatomy of the above systems or when proper techniques and precautions are not implemented. Athletic trainers have a strong understanding of anatomy and physiology and with proper training in dry needling techniques through a certified dry needling course, athletic trainers are equipped to safely and effectively perform dry needling, and they should be allowed to do so.