Action | Practice of dry needling |
Stage | NOIRA |
Comment Period | Ended on 12/30/2015 |
As a licensed physical therapist, I support dry needling to be performed by physical therapists. I encourage all interested parties to read the respective literature on this topic as well as similarities and differences between professions' scope of practice in relationship to acupuncture. We should be focused on our patients and what we can provide as health practitioners to improve their health and well-being, not focusing on exclusive domains of practice. Physical therapists are qualified health professionals who have extensive knowledge of the musculoskeletal and the neuromuscular assessment and treatment of the human body. Dry needling is an advanced skill and is not taken lightly within our practice. With the additional training, course work, and practice required for physical therapists to obtain Dry Needling certification as well as physician referral requirement and clear disclosure to patients on the differences between dry needling and acupuncture, we can develop clear and comprehensive regulations of practuce and be sure to provide our patients with a safe and effective intervention.