Action | Practice of dry needling |
Stage | NOIRA |
Comment Period | Ended on 12/30/2015 |
I have been a licensed acupuncturist since 1990. The use of dry needling by physical therapists poses danger to both the patient and my profession. The patients thatbI know who have received this therapy report it as painful and only minimally useful. When I was an acupuncture student in the 1980's my teachers forbade the use of needles on real patients in until halfway through the second year of a full time program. Before needling we were schooled in energetic anatomy, meridian theory, diagnostics, point energetics as well as chi cultivation. Our work is sacred, not something that can be duplicated in a weekend workshop or as an add on to other therapies. Patients as consumers do not understand the difference in training and delivery. In order to protect them, and our profession I recommend not allowing physical therapists thee inclusion of dry needling in their practice act. Thank you.