Acupuncture & Dry Needling Approaches

“Acupuncture and Dry Needling” both refer to the insertion of a solid, monofilament needle into any part of the human body for disease prevention or therapy. PTs may practice acupuncture under any of the following paradigms:

  • Traditional Asian Acupuncture
  • Western Acupuncture
  • Trigger Point Dry Needling
  • Integrated/Sustained Dry Needling

Traditional Acupuncture

Utilization of meridian or extra points based on Chinese/East Asian traditional medicine approach which includes diagnosis and clinical reasoning using various Chinese/Japanese/Korean medicine assessment methods and/or paradigms. Utilization and integration within the context of PT will include a diagnosis based not only Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) paradigms but also physiotherapeutic clinical reasoning as part of an overall management approach.

Acupressure, myofascial cupping, and scraping (gua sha) are associated techniques in traditional acupuncture.

Western Acupuncture

Western Acupuncture utilizes meridian points but applies it to Western scientific reasoning with direct consideration to neurophysiology, anatomy and pathology. Other synonyms include medical acupuncture / biomedical acupuncture. It does not utilize any Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) assessment methods. Utilization and integration within the context of PT will include diagnosis based on physiotherapeutic clinical reasoning as part of an overall management approach.

Trigger Point Dry Needling

Trigger Point Dry Needling is defined as rapid, shorter needling to altered or dysfunctional tissues in order to improve or restore function. This may include (but is not limited to), needling of myofascial trigger points, periosteum and connective tissues. This is a practice utilized by traditional and Western acupuncturists as well as dry needlers. Utilization and integration within the context of PT will include a diagnosis based on physiotherapeutic clinical reasoning as part of an overall management approach.

Integrated / Sustained Dry Needling

The use of acupuncture needles as a tool to facilitate PT treatment, with direct consideration to neurophysiology, anatomy and pathology, but without utilization of traditional acupuncture philosophies and acupuncture points. Gunn IMS (Intramuscular Stimulation) is one such example.

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