Thank you for the ability to express my thoughts here on dry needling in VA.  I have been performing intramuscular therap(IMT) for the past 3-4 years or so and have had no incidents whatsoever when performing this procedure.  As anything, if trained correctly and used appropriately, the risks are minimal.  I believe more folks have been injured with thermal burns from hot packs than injuries from IMT.  Physical Therapist are well trained and ready to learn proper techniques and procedure if training is desired using IMT.   in my post study with Myopain, the course material and training was top notch.  At this point in time, I do not believe any PT school in VA teaches this procedure and post grad study is needed to be able to perform.  PT's who are willing to advance their skills, take appropriate courses and pass necessary exams to get credentialed are able to perform IMT and should be able to perform those procedures in this state.

This is obviously a turf battle and some (not all) accupuncturist want to control what is done with a solid filiment needle.  It is a sweeping move across the nation.  Right now there is a lawsuit in NC addressing this very issue with the accupuncurist board and several PT's.  Actually there are many accupuncturist that are taking classes in IMT.  If they were able to perfrom IMT, why would they want to pay the money to become certified as dry needlers?  What we have found from helping teach IMT classes is most accupuncturist have very poor palpation skills and a less than desirable concept of human anatomy.  There is enough work out here for all of us.  It would be nice to have folks focus on the patient that comes in our office and improve one's skills to treat them in the best way possible, be it with a solid filiment needle, exercise, manual therapy or whatever.  If there are problems that have come from PT's perfroming IMT, let's address those.  Otherwise the accupuncturist need to focus on acupuncture and the patients that come in there office.