I am a licensed acupuncturist specializing in sports medicine- I work with PTs on a daily basis. Albeit PTs are very well trained to use their hands as tools, that does not mean they are equipped to use a needle as a tool. It is an entirely different training process to provide EFFECTIVE AND SAFE treatment with a needle than what is offered in a 50 or 100-hour certificate program. I would never state that joint mobilization is within my scope of practice and perform it, as I did not go to a master's degree program for four years to learn that- PTs are highly skilled for many modalities, but with their hands ONLY, not with a needle. Acupuncture works with the circulatory, endocrine and neurological systems; its purpose within eliminating pain is to bring the body back to homeostasis. This is not done by providing only local needling and causing micro trauma to tissue so it can heal with "dry needling." I have had TWO clients admit to me that they suffered a pneumothorax (punctured lung) from acupuncture needles- in BOTH instances, it was done by a PT. no human can safely learn how to needle in fewer than 100 hands-on, practical hours.