Support in favor of allowing Dry Needling for Physical Therapists
Physical Therapists are highly educated and trained Medical Professionals who specialize in treating the Neurological, Muscular and Skeletal movement systems via many modalities and Dry Needling is one such modality. Physical Therapists possess the anatomical, physiological and clinical knowledge to perform Trigger point Dry needling safely and effectively. PTs have several thousand hours of training in anatomy, including palpation skills practice, compared to a few hundred by acupuncturists.
Trigger point Dry Needling is distinctly different from acupuncture as the treatment goal and method is different. While they 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 directly in the target muscle tissue to enhance and progress treatments performed by the Physical Therapists. This response is similar to the response elicited by other treatment modalities frequently utilized by Physical Therapists.
Dry needling is SAFE!! There is no evidence indicating that patients have been injured by physical therapists performing dry needling. There is, however, significant research and evidence regarding the therapeutic benefits of TDN.
