Acupuncturists insert monofilaments into meridian lines, this is eastern medicine and is an amazing thing. What PT's do is different. We are not concerned with meridian lines.  Energy points and flow are not in our training and we don't claim it to be. PT's insert monofilaments into a palpable taught band (trigger point) that refers pain to regions outside of its own vicinity. Trigger points are entities that can actually be visualized even through a simple ultrasound. We are trained how to find the trigger points and how to insert the needle safely into this tissue, eliciting a twitch response and thus reducing the inflammatory chemicals in this region and diminishing pain at the trigger point and distal referring areas. We have to prove competency in these techniques. We also have to have a valid and active PT license.  I have had amazing results relieving plantar fascia pain by dry needling gastrocsoleus muscles, decreasing migraine pain dry needling subcranial muscles, reducing leg pain by dry needling gluteal muscles, and the list goes on. Patients of PT generally love the results - decrease pain, improved activation of the muscles. I would never in a million years claim to a patient that I am doing anything remotely similar to acupuncture , the only similarity is the needle. Different tissues are usually targeted and different results are achieved. I practiced 20 years as a PT before becoming certified to dry needle, which took many hours of training and testing, and it is one of the most powerful treatment techniques I utilize. It is not acupuncture.