Dry needling is the practice of inserting solid filiform needles into the body for therapeutic purposes.  this is the legal definition of acupuncture in the united states.  acupuncture is regulated such that four years of graduate school and at least 800 clinic hours are required to become licensed in this modality.  physical therapists train for an insignificant amount of time compared to this and are therefore grossly underqualified to practice acupuncture and technically cannot legally practice acupuncture.  this is a matter of public safety.  dry needling is one style of acupuncture and must be practiced by trained acupuncturists from a four year program and who have been licensed as such.