Dry Needling is just a Nickname of Acupuncture

As an Acupuncturist, I am so happy to see a lot of patients have gotten benefit from so-called "Dry Needling" which no doubt is acupuncture. I believe it is very effective because acupuncture has been practiced in China and the rest of the world for more than two thousand years. In fact, "Dry Needling" is the name of Acupuncture called by nonprofessional people in China long before physical therapists in the US. "Dry Needling" is to differentiate Acupuncture from Wet Needling which indicates injection by syringe.

Different or Not?

If the so-called "Dry Needling" claims different theory from Acupuncture, it is because Acupuncture has not been fully understood by the public or even the professional practitioners.  The point that "The performance of modern dry needling by physical therapists is based on western neuroanatomy and modern scientific study of the musculoskeletal and nervous system." is true but cannot prove that "Physical therapists who perform dry needling do not use traditional acupuncture theories or acupuncture terminology."  The theory of Acupuncture covers the structure and function of the human body even though the language is quite different from the modern biomedical language. The books of Acupuncture which were written more than a thousand years ago, had clearly drafted the structures of the human body as well as the functions. The philosophy of Acupuncture is to find dysfunction and adjust it which is the common philosophy shared by all medical related professionals including physical therapists.

The scientists and medical doctors all around the world never stop researching on Acupuncture and try to explain how it works. The "trigger point" based "intramuscular stimulation" is just a discovery of the physical or pathological phenomenon of musculoskeletal system but not an invention of technique. It is very helpful to understand how Acupuncture treats pain related conditions. In fact, the acupuncturists have applied it into the practice from the very beginning. 

To my understanding, the tool- Needles is same, the theory and philosophy is same, the insertion technique is same and the conditions treated are same as well between so-called “Dry Needling” and Acupuncture.

Same Procedure Same Regulation

"Health care education and practice have developed in such a way that most professions today share some procedures, tools, or interventions with other regulated professions. It is unreasonable to expect a profession to have exclusive domain over an intervention, tool, or modality."

This is true only in a contest of under same education and same regulation. Otherwise, the public will pay for the freedom of selfishness. The medical professionals especially physical therapists are encouraged to practice Acupuncture after training and qualification.

Reference:

1. Chin J Integr Med. 2017 Jan;23(1):3-9. doi: 10.1007/s11655-016-2630-y. Epub 2016 Dec 21.

Evidence and expert opinions: Dry needling versus acupuncture (I): The American Alliance for Professional Acupuncture Safety (AAPAS) White Paper 2016.

2. J Altern Complement Med. 2016 Aug;22(8):591-3. doi: 10.1089/acm.2016.0066.

Evidence That Dry Needling Is the Intent to Bypass Regulation to Practice Acupuncture in the United States.