I am in favor of continued dry needling by PTs. When performed by skilled and trained physical therapists, it is an extremely safe, effective and efficient method for resolving pain, inhibiting abnormal muscle activity, facilitating normal motor control, restoring mobility, and enhancing function. I have had great success in using dry needling as an adjunct to treating my patients. I have had more than one patient comment on how dry needling has been more effective and longer lasting at reducing their pain and restoring their function than any injection (steroid, trigger point, facet, epidural) that their doctor has given them. The techniques used by physical therapists are much different than those used by acupuncturists.

It would be a great disservice to our patients to not allow PTs to perform dry needling.

Jessica M. Stewart, PT, DPT, CMTPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy, Certified Myofascial Trigger Point Therapist