Dry Needling
The basis of Dry Needling (DN) includes extensive knowledge of musculoskeletal anatomy and applying needling techniques to relax tight or bound muscles to reduce pain and biomechanical dysfunction ie changes in structure, function and motion. DN is the marriage of the extensive practice of acupuncture orthopedics and modern physical medicine. DN provided by skilled practitioners can reactivate muscles or turn on muscles that have been inhibited or turned off through the process of injury or movement disorders. This reestablishes normal muscle function - ultimately restoring proper biomechanics.
Why use the term dry needling? Using a solid filiform acupuncture needle instead of the standard use of hollow hypodermic needle for injections of trigger points is a less invasive and less painful treatment - hence the name 'dry needling'. Much of the early research used as evidence for the practice of DN is based on the positive results of acupuncture studies on pain relief.
The practice of DN will differ between providers based on training and experience. Orthopedic Acupuncturist have extensive graduate and post graduate education that is informed not only by modern science but also by the thousands of years that acupuncture has been helping people recover from all types of pain conditions. There is a finesse that comes from extensive training and experience.
Why do people keep saying Dry Needling is not Acupuncture?
The practice of DN allows healthcare professionals to learn and practice this subset of acupuncture without completing a full 4 year master degree in acupuncture. Moreover, when other medical professions gain certification in DN they do not study the extensive medical practice of acupuncture. Since providers do not study acupuncture and since DN is a subset of acupuncture, providers need to clearly differentiate DN from acupuncture. Otherwise the general public could think DN providers were practicing acupuncture outside their legal scope of practice. For example, acupuncture treats digestive issues, anxiety, allergies, fertility, insomnia etc and most commonly - musculoskeletal conditions aka pain. While DN specifically treats musculoskeletal issues alone.
The main way providers are differentiating DN from acupuncture is stating that DN is based on science and acupuncture moves 'energy' - which is misleading at best. This misrepresents the education and knowledge base that an acupuncturist has. In fact, acupuncturist study the standard premed education that includes anatomy, physiology, biology, chemistry, Western pathology, nutrition, orthopedics and more. Additionally, acupuncturist have to pass 4 rigorous national board exams required for acupuncture licensure - one board exam is specifically on biomedicine.
The practice of Acupuncture has integrated DN techniques throughout several millennia; however, the terminology used to describe DN techniques appears different in classic medical text than found in modern DN texts. The use of different medical terminology does not mean that acupuncturist do not have the knowledge or expertise to comprehend and integrate modern science, it means that the translation of acupuncture medical texts from one language to another requires acupuncturist to have extensive knowledge in both Eastern and Western medicine.
Training requirements for Dry Needling
Dry needling is one of the many treatment approaches acupuncturists specialize in. In fact, acupuncture colleges teach dry needling as part of course work and some acupuncturist take post graduate training to specialize in musculoskeletal conditions. Many acupuncturist that choose to specialize in orthopedics take yearly continuing education classes that keep their knowledge and skills fresh.
In most states, current standards for the practice of dry needling by non-acupuncturists offers minimal training with no clinical supervision and without a regulatory agency or examining board to monitor public safety or competency of the providers. Providers who complete their weekend course are free to 'practice' on patients without supervision or mentoring. Conversely, the profession of acupuncture is highly regulated and has maintained the best safety ratings of most healthcare professions due to the high level of training and safety standards for acupuncturist nationwide.
Choosing an expert with extensive training in the practice of needling ensures that your treatments are extremely safe, effective and pain free. A 4 year master degree in acupuncture involves learning the finesse and safety of using filiform acupuncture needles making acupuncturists hands down the most qualified to practice DN. While other professions, specifically Physical Therapy and Athletic Trainers, focus on exercises, stretching and manual therapy not puncturing the skin with filiform needles, hence the concern of limited training for such providers. Current training for WA physical therapist is 325 hours - of that only 150 training hours is in needling therapies - an equivalent of 3 weekend courses.
Acupuncturists are master needlers with thousands hours of graduate and post graduate training compared to non-acupuncturist with a few hundred hours of post graduate training coming from a profession that did not focus on the safety and comfort of needling patients.
Needling is what acupuncturists do - with care and finesse.
Please read the following document for more specific information on dry needling.
"The relationship between Acupuncture and Dry Needling: Clarifying myths and misinformation"
Why use the term dry needling? Using a solid filiform acupuncture needle instead of the standard use of hollow hypodermic needle for injections of trigger points is a less invasive and less painful treatment - hence the name 'dry needling'. Much of the early research used as evidence for the practice of DN is based on the positive results of acupuncture studies on pain relief.
The practice of DN will differ between providers based on training and experience. Orthopedic Acupuncturist have extensive graduate and post graduate education that is informed not only by modern science but also by the thousands of years that acupuncture has been helping people recover from all types of pain conditions. There is a finesse that comes from extensive training and experience.
Why do people keep saying Dry Needling is not Acupuncture?
The practice of DN allows healthcare professionals to learn and practice this subset of acupuncture without completing a full 4 year master degree in acupuncture. Moreover, when other medical professions gain certification in DN they do not study the extensive medical practice of acupuncture. Since providers do not study acupuncture and since DN is a subset of acupuncture, providers need to clearly differentiate DN from acupuncture. Otherwise the general public could think DN providers were practicing acupuncture outside their legal scope of practice. For example, acupuncture treats digestive issues, anxiety, allergies, fertility, insomnia etc and most commonly - musculoskeletal conditions aka pain. While DN specifically treats musculoskeletal issues alone.
The main way providers are differentiating DN from acupuncture is stating that DN is based on science and acupuncture moves 'energy' - which is misleading at best. This misrepresents the education and knowledge base that an acupuncturist has. In fact, acupuncturist study the standard premed education that includes anatomy, physiology, biology, chemistry, Western pathology, nutrition, orthopedics and more. Additionally, acupuncturist have to pass 4 rigorous national board exams required for acupuncture licensure - one board exam is specifically on biomedicine.
The practice of Acupuncture has integrated DN techniques throughout several millennia; however, the terminology used to describe DN techniques appears different in classic medical text than found in modern DN texts. The use of different medical terminology does not mean that acupuncturist do not have the knowledge or expertise to comprehend and integrate modern science, it means that the translation of acupuncture medical texts from one language to another requires acupuncturist to have extensive knowledge in both Eastern and Western medicine.
Training requirements for Dry Needling
Dry needling is one of the many treatment approaches acupuncturists specialize in. In fact, acupuncture colleges teach dry needling as part of course work and some acupuncturist take post graduate training to specialize in musculoskeletal conditions. Many acupuncturist that choose to specialize in orthopedics take yearly continuing education classes that keep their knowledge and skills fresh.
In most states, current standards for the practice of dry needling by non-acupuncturists offers minimal training with no clinical supervision and without a regulatory agency or examining board to monitor public safety or competency of the providers. Providers who complete their weekend course are free to 'practice' on patients without supervision or mentoring. Conversely, the profession of acupuncture is highly regulated and has maintained the best safety ratings of most healthcare professions due to the high level of training and safety standards for acupuncturist nationwide.
Choosing an expert with extensive training in the practice of needling ensures that your treatments are extremely safe, effective and pain free. A 4 year master degree in acupuncture involves learning the finesse and safety of using filiform acupuncture needles making acupuncturists hands down the most qualified to practice DN. While other professions, specifically Physical Therapy and Athletic Trainers, focus on exercises, stretching and manual therapy not puncturing the skin with filiform needles, hence the concern of limited training for such providers. Current training for WA physical therapist is 325 hours - of that only 150 training hours is in needling therapies - an equivalent of 3 weekend courses.
Acupuncturists are master needlers with thousands hours of graduate and post graduate training compared to non-acupuncturist with a few hundred hours of post graduate training coming from a profession that did not focus on the safety and comfort of needling patients.
Needling is what acupuncturists do - with care and finesse.
Please read the following document for more specific information on dry needling.
"The relationship between Acupuncture and Dry Needling: Clarifying myths and misinformation"
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