As an acupuncturist who graduated from a four year Master’s degree program in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and also took a three day course in “dry needling” out of curiosity, I can tell you that, just as the AMA has stated, they are “indistinguishable”.  “Dry needling is not a well regulated practice, and in many states, this invasive procedure can be practiced by a Physical Therapist after a weekend workshop.  These workshops fail to adequately protect public safety and have produced practitioners that cause many serious and life threatening injuries to patients.  Please see some of these injuries that have been documented at www.acupuncturesafety.org.  I was appalled at the level of training and lack of safety standards at the “dry needling” workshop I attended.  Even MD’s who practice acupuncture do so after 300 hours of additional training only, and they already have routine use of many types of needles in their daily practice as well as extensive training in the contra-indications and dangers of invasive procedures.  I urge you to protect the safety of patients in your state and stop the dangerous practice of “dry needling” from entering the scope of practice of Physical Therapists.