Action | Practice of dry needling |
Stage | Proposed |
Comment Period | Ended on 2/24/2017 |
![]() |
1. WHO has clear definition that dry needling is acupuncture. Labeling 'Dry needling' on Triger point acupuncture and try to by-passed the training requirement on Acupunture is not a correct behavior.
Medical doctors need minimal 300 hours training in acupuncture/needling in order to practice acupuncture or use so-called dry needling. Acupuncturist need 3000 hours training in order to practice Trigger point acupuncture or other methods of Acupuncture. How can a PT with 80 or less hours of training put Acupuncture needles into patients.
Trigger point acupuncture is good for the patients. But this is not the reason for PT, nurses or sports trainers to insert the Acupuncture needles into patients. Yes PT has training on Anatomy, but Surgury is good for some patients and why PT could not do it? Beneficial to patients is not a reason for PT to perform it. You need a proper license!
2. Acupunctue needle is a surgical device and FDA clearly said it is allowed only by people who has Acupuncture license. How dare PTs use these needles without FDA's approval?
3. Dry needling is outside the legal scope of practice for physical therapy as defined by Virginia's General Assembly. There is nothing to support that the General Assembly ever intended to allow physical therapists to insert acupuncture needles into patients absent the same level of training required for licensed acupuncturists.
Stop use dry needles! Because of you guys, now nurses and sports trainers are using them as well. Everybody call it 'Dry Needling'. It seems 'dry needling' could be performed by anyone now. Is it really good for our patients?