Action | Practice of dry needling |
Stage | Proposed |
Comment Period | Ended on 7/26/2019 |
Dry needling is a very beneficial 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 drastically different from acupuncture. While similar gauge needles are used, the clinical reasoning by the use and the treatment technique are drastically different. Dry needling is a part of modern Western medicine principles, and supported by research done in part by Physical Therapists.
As part of their entry level education, physical therapists are well educated in anatomy and therapeutic treatment of the body. Physical therapists who perform dry needling supplement that knowledge by obtaining specific rigorous postgraduate education and training in order to obtain certification to perform dry needling.
Trigger Point Dry Needling is in the scope of practice of Physical Therapists as much as soft tissue mobilization for the treatment of myofascial restrictions and trigger points. I support this regulation being approved.