I am a Licensed Acupuncturist. I have been in practice for twelve years. During my clinical training I learned a wide variety of acupuncture techniques. In my practice I use all these tecniques. One tecnique uses palpation to locate restricted and painful tissue and then to use a lift and thrust mehtod of needle manipulation until there is a twitch response. This technique is being called "dry needling." The fact of the matter is, Columbus did not discover america, and Physical Therapists did not develop a new physical therapy technique. Dry needling is in fact acupuncture. However, some of the "dry needling" I have seen demonstrated and photograped by Physical Therapist posted on the internet is frightening. As an acupuncturist it displays poor needle tecnique, poor judgement on needle length which increases the possibility of injury, and unfortunately, a cavalier spirit on the part of the Physical Therapist. When you stick a metal object 1.5 inches into a person, you'd better be trained. When you allow someone to stick a metal object 1.5 inches into your body, you want someone properly trained. Physicsl Therapists are not Acupunctrists.