I have been a physical therapist for 31 years in private practice.  I began incorporating dry needling into my treatment of Myofascial pain in 2009, and have successfully and safely utilized this very effective technique on hundreds of patients.  It fits very well into the established treatment regimen of any physical therapist and physical therapy treatment program in that it is another tool for addressing the chemical and biomechanical issues brought about by soft tissue overload.  The undergraduate and further post-graduate training of a physical therapist provides a solid basis in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, biomechanics, osteo/arthrokinematics, neurology, differential diagnosis, and clinical reasoning.  This background more than adequately prepares a physical therapist to pursue additional training and successfully incorporate needling into their treatment regimen as another tool for resolving pain, inhibiting abnormal muscle activity, facilitating normal motor control, restoring mobility, and enhancing function.  The recent study by the Federation for the State Boards of Physical Therapy supports this perspective.  I am also privileged to assist in teaching dry needling courses which are attended by a variety of health care providers including physical therapists and acupuncturists.  It has been my experience that the acupuncturists consistently comment how different dry needling is from their practice of acupuncture in terms of rationale, determination of site(s) to be needled, depth of needle insertion, dynamic use of the needle as opposed to static, and utilization of  palpation as well as movement assessment to guide and direct treatment. 

I appreciate being provided the opportunity to comment on this important issue. 

Colleen M. Whiteford, PT, DPT, OCS, CMTPT

Doctor of  Physical Therapy, Board Certified Specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy, Certified Myofascial Trigger Point Therapist/Cert Dry Needling/Intramuscular Manual Therapy