I have been in acupuncture clinical practice for 20 years in both private and university settings.  Additionally, I was awarded an NIH fellowship to do my doctorate at the University of Virginia Center for Complementary and Alternative Therapies directed by Dr. Ann Gill Taylor.  Currently, I am adjunct faculty at the  Texas Health Science University and also a national trainer for the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association.  From this background, I am writing to strongly object to PTs doing what they call "dry needling" .  There is no  " dry needling treatment".   What is being done is simply a form of acupuncture without the education or safety.  Additionally, it is being billed fraudulently to insurance companies under a code made up by PTs because insurance companies do not pay PTs to do acupuncture. 

In my practice, on a frequent and regular basis, I have patients who have undergone this "dry neelding treatment" from PTs.  Invariably, they report it is painful and they would not return to the PT again if this "treatment" was tried again because it was not a good experience and it did not work.  Not only are PTs not adequately trained, they are risking patient safety by not understanding the consequences of their acupuncture actions.  The "education" and lack of education and practical experience PTs claim they are getting is woefully inadequate.   One cannot compare a four year legitimate acupuncture education degree with the required national board exams to 20-30 hours of " PT dry-neelding training" and in some cases just a week-end seminar.

From NIH studies on acupuncture, it is now known and acknowledged that  effects can be made on the body at acupuncture sites and this very significant factor has been well documented in the NIH research efforts in the acupuncture arena.  So, PTs needle patients in any area they think might relieve some physical tension without realizing the effect it will have on the entire body. I do not support this dangerous, illegal and potentially life threatening use of acupuncture by PTs. 

Sincerely,

Dr. Virginia Hisghman, PhD, LAc