Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Health Professions
 
Board
Board of Physical Therapy
 
chapter
Regulations Governing the Practice of Physical Therapy [18 VAC 112 ‑ 20]
Action Practice of dry needling
Stage Proposed
Comment Period Ended on 7/26/2019
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7/23/19  10:11 pm
Commenter: Paul Dolan, Marymount University

Dry Needling is not Acupuncture
 

Trigger point dry needling is a technique physical therapists use for the treatment of pain and movement impairments.   The technique uses a "dry" needle, one without medication or injection, inserted through the skin into areas of the muscle.

Dry Needling is not Acupuncture. Acupuncture is a practice based on traditional Chinese medicine and performed by acupuncturists. Dry needling is a part of modern Western medicine principles, and supported by research done in part by Physical Therapists.

As part of their entry level education, physical therapists are well educated in anatomy and therapeutic treatment of the body. Physical therapists who perform dry needling supplement that knowledge by obtaining specific postgraduate education and training.  

Acupuncture is in the scope of Acupuncturists. Trigger Point Dry Needling is in the scope of practice of Physical Therapists and I support this regulation being approved. 

CommentID: 73961