I am a physician in Georgia and am board certified by both the American Board of Anesthesiology and the American Board of Medical Acupuncture.  I have been practicing medical acupuncture full time for over 15 years.

The practice of dry needling is equivalent in its nature and its risk to acupuncture.  Typically dry needling involves local needling of muscles and tissues surrounding the muscles, whereas acupuncture in its more traditional form may involve distal points—points not in the region of pain.  Nevertheless, the instrument is the same—an acupuncture needle.

In contrast to physicians and acupuncturists, physical therapists’ training does not involve the safe practice of needles that penetrate body tissues, and in the case of dry needling in particular, deep penetration is often used.  To allow physical therapists to practice dry needling with minimal training (or without full training) poses an undue risk to the public.

I have no problem with physical therapists utilizing acupuncture or dry needling in their practice; it is a beautiful medicine.  For the safety of the public, however, the physical therapists should attend medical school and complete a 3 year residency, followed by a 300 hour course specific to acupuncture, or they should attend and graduate from an accredited acupuncture school and become certified though the NCCAOM in order to safely practice acupuncture or dry needling.

Anna Kelly, MD

Vice President, American Academy of Medical Acupuncture