Dry needling is not acupuncture. Unlike acupuncture dry needling focuses on targeting the specific myofascial restrictions, and often results in immediate palpable changes in myofascial tension and requires extensive education on human anatomy to perform which physical therapists possess. With participation and completion of credentialed continuing education courses for dry needling, a physical therapist (having already completed a 3 year doctorate degree with extensive background on human anatomy/physiology) should be qualified to perform dry needling on patients with written physician referral and signed consent. Just like any other continuing education course, the therapist is obtaining an additional set of skills for which to treat patients.