Physical therapist training already undergo extensive training in anatomy and physiology of the neurological and muskuloskeletal systems as part of phsyical therapy training.  This training consists of 3 years of clinical and didactic education. The only skill that needs to be learned in dry needling training is the safe and effective insertion of the needle, a psychometric property that can be safelly trained in the 54 hours that are already prescribed by the Guidance Document. Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy found that 86% of the knowledge and skills required to perform Trigger Point Dry Needling is obtained in the entry level education of Physical Therapists when they graduate from an accredited program. 

In addition, Trigger Point Dry needling is a distinctly different procedure from accupunture with a different clinical reasoning process, treatment technique, and different goal.  The only similarity is the device used to provide the treatment.  The argument that physical therapists should not be able to use a needle to treat muskuloskeletal conditions because accupuncturists also use a needle would be the same as physical therapists arguing  that personal trainers should not be able to use exercise to get people fit because physical therapists use exercise in their practice.  Both a needle and exercise can cause harm if used improperly, but we don't restrict another profession from using exercise because of that.  

A negative effect of preventing physical therapists from performing dry needling is the delay in care that will result from such a decision. Requiring patients to go to another practitioner who is not familiar with the rest of their medical history places an extra hurdle in the process and potentially places them at risk from an accupuncurist who may not understand the compelxities of their medical condition.

In summary, physical therapists have the knowledge, training, and skill set to safely deliver trigger point dry needling to their patients without causing unnecessary delays in care.  

Sincerely,

Andrew Sotirokos PT, OCS, CSCS