I am a PT with 40 years of experience and I have been using dry needling effectively for my patients for the past 18 months. It is an excellent adjunct to my practice. When dry needling is used in conjunction with other manual therapies and exercise the results are excellent.  Dry needling is accepted by most states and has shown to be an effective and safe treatment.

Dry needling is a technique physical therapists use for the treatment of pain and movement impairments.   The technique uses a "dry" needle, one without medication or injection, inserted through the skin into areas of the muscle.

Dry needling is not acupuncture, a practice based on traditional Chinese medicine and performed by acupuncturists. Dry needling as performed by physical therapists is a neuromuscular technique used to treat painful trigger points and is in no way related to acupuncture.

As part of the physical therapy entry level education, physical therapists are trained in advanced anatomy and palpation, necessary skills to pursue advanced training in dry needling.

Trigger Point Dry Needling is in the scope of practice of Physical Therapists and I support this regulation being approved. 

Thank you,

Diane T. Stroud, PT, DPT