PTs cannot practice acupuncture or "dry needling" in PA, but are permitted in other states. Many patients find relief in trigger point acupuncture and that is wonderful! However, 27-200 hours of training is not a sufficient amount of practice to be safe and effective.
Many people do not realize that acupuncture is a complete form of medicine. Acupuncturists have over 2000 hours of didactic and over 600 hours of clinical training when they graduate with their Masters or Doctorate degree. Other practitioners using acupuncture techniques do not have enough training to fully understand how their treatments may affect the whole mind and body inadvertently.
I'm certain my patients wouldn't want me to adjust them or perform other manipulations to them after a weekend training session.
Acupuncturists use many techniques that treat both trigger point and pain symptoms as well as underlying, core issues that may be the reason the symptoms are occurring.
When practitioners focus on their core training and work in conjunction with other practitioners instead of co-opting techniques with minimal training and understanding, our patients are best served and are receiving the safest and best care.
Each modality has its strengths and weaknesses and as practitioners we should know when our patients may benefit from or have their results enhanced with other forms of therapies.
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