To establish a good system to treat musculoskeletal (MSK)diseases involving needling the acupuncture points, we need to define the scope of practice of each practitioner, based on the training of each specialty.  The physical therapists are trained to perform non-invasive manipulation of the musculoskeletal system after the diagnosis is made by physicians.  The acupuncturists are trained to make the traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) diagnosis and perform acupuncture on the patients accordingly. Therefore, the PT is not trained to make diagnosis or perform invasive –natured acupuncture procedures on patients.  Because the TCM system is relatively new in the USA, there are many names or translations are used for acupuncture therapy.  Dry needles are essentially acupuncture needles, and trigger points are essentially acupuncture points.  We should not be confused by the different names or translations used and ignore the true nature of the therapy.

.Acupuncture therapy is part of TCM, any acupuncturist can specialize in MSK system and be the specialist of TCM on MSK system.   Any acupuncturist can work with PT who can perform the non-invasive therapy in order to offer the maximum benefit of care for patients

.PT specialize on non-invasive procedures, if PT start using needles for MSK pain, how can anyone assure PT will not start using needles with some short training course knowledge to start treating patient without formal diagnosis for abdominal pain, headache, neck pain, eye pain, facial pain and so on?

.It is wider recognized that there is useful knowledge from TCM.  We should establish a reliable TCM system, combine with conventional medicine to maximize the benefit of care for patients.  The TCM practitioners are just starting introducing some therapeutic modalities to the western society, it would be to the benefit of the whole health care system to continue nurture their practices and incorporate TCM into the conventional medical system.