CurrentPT, Physical therapist
Dry needling
Choose your profession and state in Your lens above, and this page answers for you first.
At a glance
- DC, ChiropractorChiropractorVaries by stateSome states let chiropractors dry needle with added training, while courts or rules in other states have found it outside chiropractic.
- PT, Physical therapistPhysical therapistVaries by stateMost states allow physical therapists to dry needle, often with extra training rules, but a few states bar it and some laws say nothing.
- PTA, Physical therapist assistantPhysical therapist assistantNot yet covered
- OT, Occupational therapistOccupational therapistVaries by stateA few states now let occupational therapists dry needle with extra training, while others say their law does not allow it.
- OTA, Occupational therapy assistantOccupational therapy assistantNot yet covered
- AT, Athletic trainerAthletic trainerVaries by stateSome states let athletic trainers dry needle after added training, while others have found it outside athletic training.
- LMT, Massage therapistMassage therapistNot typicalMassage therapy laws generally limit practice to external soft-tissue work, so dry needling is not part of massage therapy.
- CSCS, Strength and conditioning specialistStrength and conditioning specialistNot yet covered
- CPT, Personal trainerPersonal trainerNot yet covered
What it is
A very thin needle is placed into a tight or painful area of muscle. "Dry" means no medicine goes in. Whether a profession may do it is decided state by state, which is why the words a practice act uses matter.
Names across professions
| Profession | Term in practice acts | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Physical therapist | Dry needling | |
| Physical therapist | Intramuscular manual therapy | A term some practice acts use |
| Across professions | Trigger point dry needling | Describes one target of the technique |
| Across professions | Acupuncture | A separately licensed practice; boards differ on the overlap |
What the bodies say
CurrentPT, Physical therapist
Achilles pain, stiffness, and muscle power deficits: midportion Achilles tendinopathy revision – 2024
CurrentOT, Occupational therapistOTA, Occupational therapy assistant
Physical agent, mechanical, and instrument-assisted modalities in occupational therapy practice
CurrentPT, Physical therapist
Heel pain – plantar fasciitis: revision 2023
CurrentDC, ChiropractorPT, Physical therapistOT, Occupational therapist
WHO guideline for non-surgical management of chronic primary low back pain in adults in primary and community care settings
CurrentPT, Physical therapist
Lateral Elbow Pain and Muscle Function Impairments
CurrentPT, Physical therapist
Interventions for the management of acute and chronic low back pain: revision 2021
CurrentPT, Physical therapist
Ankle stability and movement coordination impairments: lateral ankle ligament sprains revision 2021
CurrentPT, Physical therapist
Patellofemoral pain
CurrentPT, Physical therapist
Neck pain: revision 2017
Check your state
Find your licensing board
Get licensed links to the board for each profession in each state, so you can read its rules or ask it directly.
Go to Get licensedState-by-state detail
This topic varies enough between states to warrant a state table, with the statute and board for each cell.