Dry Needling or Triggerpoint Dry Needling (TDN) is an intramuscular soft tissue technique utilized by physical therapists, chiropractors and physicians within the constructs of a neuromusculoskeletal evaluation, diagnosis and treatment plan. Combining the educational backgrounds and specialized training for DN, this technique is safe and effective for many neuromusculoskeletal diagnoses.
Recent efforts by groups and individuals within the acupuncture community accuse DN professionals to be illegally practicing acupuncture or that the procedure is unsafe to the public. These allegations are not only false, but a disservice to a significant population of patients who have benefitted from DN. They claim to be concerned for the safety of the public or that dry needling is acupuncture. Research and empirical data finds that the risk of adverse events from dry needling are <.04%, which is significantly less than the risk of chronic NSAID use or spinal manipulation. Both of which are deemed safe for the public.
It is also untrue that acupuncture and dry needling performed by PTs are the same. Acupuncture is an Eastern or Oriental medicine technique with evaluation, technique execution, intended response and practitioner education all very different from TDN. Triggerpoint Dry Needling is a treatment modality utilized within the context of a neuromusculoskeletal evaluation and treatment plan by qualified and licensed PTs, chiropractors and physicians. Advanced training is required for TDN, but the educational background of physical therapists allows this intramuscular technique to be performed safely and effectively.
In October 2014, a county court ruling in the State of Washington ruled that Kinetacore (a Colorado-based dry needling education organization) and Salmon Bay Physical Therapy could no longer teach or perform the service of dry-needling as a part of physical therapy care in the State of Washington. If you are a clinician who utilizes DN or an individual who has benefitted from this technique, please help us keep dry needling within the scope of physical therapy practice.
UPDATE - As of June 2016, PTWA has requested a Department of Health Sunrise Review to determine whether dry needling is within the scope of PT practice. This petition will be filed as part of written testimony in SUPPORT of dry needling by physical therapists in WA, but please feel free to submit written testimony directly to [email protected].
By signing this petition, I am stating that I am a member of the public who feels strongly that dry needling should be within the scope of physical therapist practice based on safety and efficacy.
Updates
August 6, 2016
The petition has reached five hundred signatures. This level of participation demonstrates a clear recognition of the importance of maintaining proper access to this treatment modality.
Reached 500 supporters
August 3, 2016
August 1, 2016
The momentum surrounding our effort to protect dry needling as a standard physical therapy practice continues to build. We are approaching the five hundred signature milestone and reaching this target will significantly strengthen our position when we address the opposition. Please encourage your professional colleagues to review the data and add their names to this collective effort.
Reached 100 supporters
November 18, 2014
130 Comments
As a PT, I utilize Dry Needling every day working in a rural outpatient clinic. Dry Needling has been an effective treatment for many of my patients providing a means to reduce pain and help in correcting dysfunctional movement patterns.
The only similarity between dry needling and acupuncture is the needle itself. PT's use a completly different roadmap for treatment of MSK conditions than acupuncturists use for general health maladies.
I have used TDN safely for the past 6 years without 1 adverse reaction from a patient. I have taken courses with and treated acupuncturist who have agreed that our Trigger Point Model of dry needling is NOTHING like acupuncture.
Dry needling saved me from having shoulder surgery, help both of my children who are high level athletes remain healthy (pro active treatment) and got them back on the pitch faster after injuries. Can't say enough about it!
As a Physical Therapist, I never purport to be practicing acupuncture and quickly correct my patients if they misspeak. This treatment has added so much benefit to my patients! Let's keep pace with other countries of the world (Australia, UK, Canada) and fight for this important and beneficial treatment!
I have to say that the wording of this petition is very misleading to the general public. Dry needling is not in the scope of PT's in Washington State. That's the whole issue. You can not try to keep something in your scope if it's not there already. Practitioners are putting needles in patients and they are not licensed to do it. Please don't use Acupuncturist's as your scape goat for being called out on practicing outside of the law. There is a process for expanding a professions scope of practice. Follow that process. If the Department of Health and the state legislature deny DN in a PT's scope of practice they must have their reasons. Don't blame Acupuncturist's if your PT colleagues did not follow the department of health rules. Full disclosure here folks: I am an Acupuncturist in Washington State. I have a number of close friends who are PT's and we talk about this issue often. I also refer back and forth with PT's regularly. Definitely not against PT's. I'm against being vilified for people not following state law and then blaming others when they don't get their way.
Keep dry needling!
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Dry Needling or Triggerpoint Dry Needling (TDN) is an intramuscular soft tissue technique utilized by physical therapists, chiropractors and physicians within the constructs of a neuromusculoskeletal evaluation, diagnosis and treatment plan. Combining the educational backgrounds and specialized training for DN, this technique is safe and effective for many neuromusculoskeletal diagnoses.
Recent efforts by groups and individuals within the acupuncture community accuse DN professionals to be illegally practicing acupuncture or that the procedure is unsafe to the public. These allegations are not only false, but a disservice to a significant population of patients who have benefitted from DN. They claim to be concerned for the safety of the public or that dry needling is acupuncture. Research and empirical data finds that the risk of adverse events from dry needling are <.04%, which is significantly less than the risk of chronic NSAID use or spinal manipulation. Both of which are deemed safe for the public.
It is also untrue that acupuncture and dry needling performed by PTs are the same. Acupuncture is an Eastern or Oriental medicine technique with evaluation, technique execution, intended response and practitioner education all very different from TDN. Triggerpoint Dry Needling is a treatment modality utilized within the context of a neuromusculoskeletal evaluation and treatment plan by qualified and licensed PTs, chiropractors and physicians. Advanced training is required for TDN, but the educational background of physical therapists allows this intramuscular technique to be performed safely and effectively.
In October 2014, a county court ruling in the State of Washington ruled that Kinetacore (a Colorado-based dry needling education organization) and Salmon Bay Physical Therapy could no longer teach or perform the service of dry-needling as a part of physical therapy care in the State of Washington. If you are a clinician who utilizes DN or an individual who has benefitted from this technique, please help us keep dry needling within the scope of physical therapy practice.
UPDATE - As of June 2016, PTWA has requested a Department of Health Sunrise Review to determine whether dry needling is within the scope of PT practice. This petition will be filed as part of written testimony in SUPPORT of dry needling by physical therapists in WA, but please feel free to submit written testimony directly to [email protected].
By signing this petition, I am stating that I am a member of the public who feels strongly that dry needling should be within the scope of physical therapist practice based on safety and efficacy.
Updates
August 6, 2016
The petition has reached five hundred signatures. This level of participation demonstrates a clear recognition of the importance of maintaining proper access to this treatment modality.
Reached 500 supporters
August 3, 2016
August 1, 2016
The momentum surrounding our effort to protect dry needling as a standard physical therapy practice continues to build. We are approaching the five hundred signature milestone and reaching this target will significantly strengthen our position when we address the opposition. Please encourage your professional colleagues to review the data and add their names to this collective effort.
Reached 100 supporters
November 18, 2014
130 Comments
Physical therapists have the education in the neuromusculoskeletal system to use dry needling safely and effectively. I have 37 years of experience as a PT and have integrated dry needling in my treatments over the past year with good results.
As a PT, I utilize Dry Needling every day working in a rural outpatient clinic. Dry Needling has been an effective treatment for many of my patients providing a means to reduce pain and help in correcting dysfunctional movement patterns.
The only similarity between dry needling and acupuncture is the needle itself. PT's use a completly different roadmap for treatment of MSK conditions than acupuncturists use for general health maladies.
I have used TDN safely for the past 6 years without 1 adverse reaction from a patient. I have taken courses with and treated acupuncturist who have agreed that our Trigger Point Model of dry needling is NOTHING like acupuncture.
Dry needling saved me from having shoulder surgery, help both of my children who are high level athletes remain healthy (pro active treatment) and got them back on the pitch faster after injuries. Can't say enough about it!
As a Physical Therapist, I never purport to be practicing acupuncture and quickly correct my patients if they misspeak. This treatment has added so much benefit to my patients! Let's keep pace with other countries of the world (Australia, UK, Canada) and fight for this important and beneficial treatment!
I have to say that the wording of this petition is very misleading to the general public. Dry needling is not in the scope of PT's in Washington State. That's the whole issue. You can not try to keep something in your scope if it's not there already. Practitioners are putting needles in patients and they are not licensed to do it. Please don't use Acupuncturist's as your scape goat for being called out on practicing outside of the law. There is a process for expanding a professions scope of practice. Follow that process. If the Department of Health and the state legislature deny DN in a PT's scope of practice they must have their reasons. Don't blame Acupuncturist's if your PT colleagues did not follow the department of health rules. Full disclosure here folks: I am an Acupuncturist in Washington State. I have a number of close friends who are PT's and we talk about this issue often. I also refer back and forth with PT's regularly. Definitely not against PT's. I'm against being vilified for people not following state law and then blaming others when they don't get their way.
Keep dry needling!
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Physical therapists have the education in the neuromusculoskeletal system to use dry needling safely and effectively. I have 37 years of experience as a PT and have integrated dry needling in my treatments over the past year with good results.