I have 10+ years of experience in and out of PT treatment for pain associated with lower spine problems.  I am also avid triathlete in VA, and have raced for the USA in international age group competition.  Dry needling, as part of a comprehensive PT program, has been invaluable for me.  By using trigger point dry needing in combination with manipulation, exercises, manual release, etc, my physical therapist was able to keep me competing and delay surgery until it was absolutely required.  Trigger point dry needing is a vital component to a physical therapist’s tool box. Without it, I would have needed surgery much sooner and my quality of life prior to surgery would have been negatively impacted.  Taking trigger point dry needling away from physical therapists would be a detriment to Virginia’s amateur athletes.