I have been receiving dry needling treatments as part of a physical therapy protocol for over 6 months. Dry needling has been the only treatment that has successfully addressed chronic trigger points and pain. Dry needling fills a vital gap between traditional physical therapy modalities such as active release technique and manual massage, and trigger point injections, which can only be performed by a physician. Dry needling is low risk and highly effective. 

On another note, the differences between dry needling and acupuncture are so basic and obvious that I have a hard time understanding the arguments being put forth that PTs should le required to have an acupuncture license in order to dry needle. Nor should acupuncturists feel threatened by the emergence of dry needling as a common physical therapy modality. These are 2 separate and very different treatments, both of which are effective methods to improve one's wellbeing.