I have been both a recipient and practitioner of Dry Needling.  As a thirty five year practitioner of Physical Therapy, all in the Commonwealth of Virginia; I can state that the anatomy knowledge of Physical Therapists is exceptional.  Dry Needling is distinctly different from acupuncture in science, intent, and application.  It is an extremely useful tool to relieve pain and reset the nervous system response to injury.  In the hands of a trained physical therapist, it is an extremely useful component of a rehabilitation program.  As a patient; I can state the dry needling has been highly instrumental in my ongoing recovery from a tendon injury and the associated muscle pain.