Physical therapists have extensive education regarding musculoskeletal anatomy and the treatment of dysfunction.  It is understandable that acupuncturists would want to make sure that competent medical care is delivered to patients, but the assertion that PT's cannot use acupuncture needles since they have not taken years of acupuncture training is shortsighted.  A needle is a medical tool, and its proper use is determined by the knowledge its user has.  A LPN can use a needle to draw blood, an orthopedic MD can aspirate joint fluid with a needle, a nephrologist can perform a needle biopsy of a kidney, and an accupuncturist can use a needle to affect digestive disorders....all functions of professionals using a needle along their education to help patients. 

Allowing PT's to use needles to treat muscular dysfunctions they can palpate makes sense, as long as they complete additional training to review safe needle handling practices and keep in mind the anatomical knowledge they already spent years learning.  PT's are not asking to treat the meridians of the body to affect infertility/depression/digestion/etc, if we did then we would indeed need the extensive additional acupuncture training needed to master that body of knowledge.  Please allow us to perform dry needling with a simple tool using the medical knowledge we already possess instead of denying patients access to a safe, effective treatment option.