Most common response I have found:

• Dry needling is acupuncture and it isn't fair/ dangerous because PT’s only have to take a “minimal” amount of training to become certified, whereas acupuncturists go through years of training.

My response: Dry needling is NOT the same thing as acupuncture, and is in fact based on empirical evidence instead of eastern medicinal folklore. Saying that PT’s don’t go through the same amount of training and only take a few weeks or less of training is misleading and intellectually dishonest. PT’s are highly trained, in fact, experts of the human body and receive a number of intensive years of training on the human body and all its systems.

I am not opposed to Physical Therapists performing dry needling. It is crucial that training, and hours of supervision be established to standardize the practice and minimize health risks though. My home state allows it, and has provided numerous benefits to the patient population under the care of PT’s qualified to perform this modality.