I am a patient who has benefited from Dry Needling with my Physical Therapist.  I used to live with chronic back pain.  For 8 years I tried a handful of doctors, and a couple of chiropractors who all told me there wasn't much I could do.  I tried everything they recommended with no relief. I finally found a doctor who recommended a physical therapist who was extensively knowledgeable.  We agreed to try dry needling and because of it I have been able to go weeks and then months at a time with no back pain.  I can finally enjoy my youth and do the things I could never do because of my back pain.  I don't wake up everyday wondering when my pain will hit me.

Dry Needling is not being taught to random people with no existing knowledge.  Physical therapist who have gone to school, graduated, received education and practiced their profession are taught to do this.  If this were to ban unexperienced people from being able to perform dry needling I would oppose, but this is NOT case.  I would trust any of the Physical therapists at the location I am a patient with.  It should not be banned.  It is up to the patient to become educated in the difference and with the help of their PT, decide what would be best for their care.  PTs are not forcing patients to get dry needling, they are recommending.  If patients aren't able to decide for themselves what they want to get done, that's another problem entirely.  

DO NOT BAN PHYSICAL THERAPIST FROM PRACTICING DRY NEEDLING.  They could be the ones to bring relief to the people who suffer everyday.  

1.   Physical Therapists are highly educated and trained Medical Professionals who specialize in treating the Neurological, Muscular and Skeletal movement systems via many modalities and Dry Needling is one such modality.  Physical Therapists possess the anatomical, physiological and clinical knowledge to perform Trigger point Dry needling safely and effectively. PTs have several thousand hours of training in anatomy compared to a few hundred by acupuncturists.

2.   A recent study by the 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.  The post graduate training that is required fulfills the remaining education needed to obtain certification and practice safely and effectively.  Currently, 54 additional training hours are needed in addition to the training and education to become a Physical Therapist which is typically 3 years of didactic and clinical education culminating in a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree after obtaining a Bachelor's degree in a related undergraduate field of study.

3.   Trigger point Dry Needling is distinctly different from acupuncture as the treatment goal and method is different.  While they may use a similar implement or device, the clinical reasoning, technique, and goal of the treatment are different.  Trigger point Dry Needling specifically addresses hyperirritable loci in the muscle tissue to elicit a physiological response directly in the target muscle tissue to enhance and progress treatments performed by the Physical Therapists.  This response is similar to the response elicited by other treatment modalities frequently utilized by Physical Therapists.

4.   Dry needling is SAFE!! There is no evidence indicating that patients have been injured by physical therapists performing dry needling. There is, however, significant research and evidence regarding the therapeutic benefits of TDN

5.   One profession cannot own a technique or intervention. Both PTs and chiropractors can perform manipulation. Both physicians and physical therapists use stethoscopes and measure blood pressure. PTs and acupuncturists are both allowed to perform dry needling.