VPTA sent a mass email this morning calling for public comment on the regulations of dry needling use by PTs in the state. Comments close on Friday, 7/26. There are many acupuncturists and Chinese medicine practitioners who have commented against our ability to dry needle. Unfortunately, they currently out weight the PTs who have commented in favor. I am placing a copy of the email below for anyone who would like to make a comment in favor of its use. There is a link and several talking points. Please help us out! Thanks! — Kaitlin Dodi-Monk, PT, DPT
Currently the Virginia Board of Physical Therapy is in the process of accepting Public comment on the newly written trigger point dry needling regulations. There have been many comments from acupuncturists speaking against the regulation and we need PT and PTA to comment for the regulation.
Talking points:
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, 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.
Trigger Point Dry Needling is in the scope of practice of Physical Therapists and We support this regulation being approved.
Please follow this link to comment by Friday 7/26/2019.
Thank you,
Tom Bohanon, PT, DPT, OCS
VPTA Legislative Chair
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