Dry needling using acupuncture needles and acupuncture techniques is in fact acupuncture.  Most trigger points in the body are acupuncture points that have been in existence for over 3,000 years. Acupunturists have been using these and other points to resolve musculoskeletal imbalances for centuries with no injuries to their patients.  

Acupuncturists have over 2700 hours of training in anatomy, theory, point location, and diagnosis.  In addition 100's of hours are required in the clinic to ensure that needles are placed at the correct depth and angle to make sure there are no injuries or deaths due to incorrect placement.  

In the state of Virginia, allowing physical therapists to practice dry needling is acually allowing them to practice a form of acupuncture without proper licensing or training.  This is an inherent danger to public safety.  There have been many reports over the last several years of physical therapists causing serious injury or death due to improper placement and technique of the needles during dry needling. 

In addition, many Physical Therapists are misleading and/or committing insurance fraud by telling their clients they are billing for dry needling and that their insurance companies are paying for this.  Currently there is no reimbursable billing code listed for dry needling by any practitioner.  They may be using another code to cover the modality and this could be considered insurance fraud.  

I have a great respect for the knowledge and training that Physical Therapist have received.  I gladly refer to a Physical Therapist with many of my clients. Physcial Therapists have skills that acupuncturists and chiropractors do not have that provide their patients with excellent results. However, Physical Therapists wishing to perform dry needling could be more responsible and effective if they actually went back to school and received their certification in acupuncture.