Trigger point dry needling is distinctly different from acupuncture as the treatment goal and method is different.  While both practices may use a similar implement or device, the clinical reasoning, technique, and goal of the treatment are different.  Trigger point dry needling specifically addresses hyperirritable loci in the muscle tissue to elicit a physiological response in the muscle tissue to enhance and progress treatments performed by Physical Therapists.  This response is similar to the response elicited by other treatment modalities.

There are tons of personal stories about people who have benefitted from the practice of dry needling. Physical therapist spend the time to really evaluate an individual and do the treatments they feel will get these individuals back on their feet and operating at their post injury level. PTs know what to do to treat a person and not trap them in a dependent weekly ritual of treatments requiring the person to need an intervention for life. By using dry needling when appropriate PTs are able to restore function and eliminate costing these people more time and money. It is up to us to do our best to get these people back to functioning and this sometimes includes the use of dry needling (which we have the education and experience to know how and when to use this).