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MadisonReed
Ms.Duron,P.0
SEPFinalDraft
27October2015
IsDryNeedlingthesameasAcupuncture?
Footballandsoccerarethesamething,correct?Orissoccerjustfootballrebranded?
Thinkaboutit,theybothuseballs,playonafield,outdooractivities,andtheybothusecleats
andpadsforprotectionthatmeansitisthesamesport,right?Wrong.Tothemajorityofthe
populationitisobviousthatsoccerandfootballarecompletelydifferentsports.Itisfoolishto
thinkotherwise.Howeverifthisisthecase,thenwhyisitheavilydebatedthatdryneedlingis
justacupuncturewithanewname?Dryneedlingandacupunctureareseparateuniquepractices
becausetheirtechniquesareunalike,theirendgoalsdiffer,andtheireducationalbackgrounds
vary.
Acupunctureismorewellknowninsocietythandryneedling.Thisisbecauseithas
existedforover3,000years.Acupunctureusestraditionalchinesemethodstohealphysicaland
emotionalpain.Thesemethodsinvolvethebodybeingatonewiththeuniverseandusing
energytohelpbalancethebodysyinandyang(
HowAcupunctureCanRelievePain
).
Acupuncturetechniquesareprescientific,sotheydontfollowtheanatomicalsetupofthebody.
Bodymapsareusedtoshowwhichbodyorganisconnectedtotheother,inordertohealone
another.
DryNeedlingisaModernWesterntechnique.Itisbasedontheanatomicalmakeupof
thehumanbody.Morespecificallytheanatomicalmakeupofthemusculoskeletalsystem.

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However,theideaofdryneedlingoriginatedfromacupuncture.Inthe1940s,onescientisttook
thoseideasofacupunctureandthought,Howdoesthisrelatetotheanatomy?Thispersonwas
JanetTravell,thewomanwhocreateddryneedlingtherapy.(Ma).
Eventhoughthesetwopracticesseemsimilarwiththeirneedlingtechniques,eachdiffer
intheirownway.Acupunctureusesspecificashiandenergypoints(DryNeedling).
Accordingtotraditionalchinesemethods,theybelievethattheorgansinthebodyareall
connectedsomehow.Forexample,apointonthebigtoetohelpclearupthesinuses,andapoint
onahandcanhelppreventstrokes.TheYinandYangbeliefrestsatthecenterof
acupuncture,whichstatethatthegoodandbadenergieswillworktocanceloutmentaland
physicalpain("HowAcupunctureCanRelievePain...").Acupunctureisveryspiritual,whereas
dryneedlingthatisveryscientific.
Indryneedlingthemethodsusedaremorepracticalandunderstandable.Ittargetsthe
directareaofpainbyneedlingthatpartofthebody.Theseareasarecalledtriggerpoints,which
aretenderpartsonthebody(ex:knots).Touchingthesesareasonlyexpandsthepaininsteadof
helpingit(
Davies).
TriggerpointsareseenbyusinganXray,MRI,CTScan,etc("Painfuland
TenderMuscles.).Unliketheinvisibleacupunctureashipoints.
Acupuncturecanbeusedtotreatdepression,anxiety,andevenintestinalproblems
("HowAcupunctureCanRelievePain...").Crazytothinkthatstickinganeedleinafootcould
solveaslowdigestionproblem.Dryneedlingisonlyusedtohealphysicalpain.More
specificallyinthemusculoskeletalsystem.Thatmeansthemuscularsysteminthebody.For
instance,painintheshoulder,neck,bicep,calf,etc(Kalichman).

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Themainfocusinacupunctureistheoverallwellbeingofthebody,notjustphysical
whichisthedirectfocusofdryneedling.Acupunctureisafullbodyexperienceusingenergyto
flowandhealthroughchannelsinthebody("SuperficialDryNeedling.").
Acupuncturedealswithenergyandyin&yangdryneedlingisaboutbreakingdown
themuscletorehabilitateitbacktoitsoriginalstate.Itslikearesetbutton!(Klein).The
purposeofdryneedlingistobreakdownthemusclethatisenduringpain,thenaphysical
therapistcanbegintherehabilitationprocess.Dryneedlingisnotlikeacupunctureinthesense
thatwhentheacupuncturesessionisover,thetreatmentisover.Withdryneedlingthepatient
mustundergophysicaltherapytorebuildstrength,mobility,elasticity,etc.Itisthefirststepof
therehabilitationprocess("DryNeedling.").Afterthedryneedlingsession,thephysicaltherapist
mustthendevisearehabilitationplantoquicklygetthemuscleworkingagain.Ifregular
rehabilitationtreatmentisnotfollowedafterdryneedlingsession,thenthemusclewillgobackt
itspainfulpositionandthedryneedlingsessionwouldneedtoberedone.
Alsounlikeacupuncture,dryneedlingspecificallytargetstheareaofpainbygoingatit
fromthesourceofpainandspeedsupthehealingprocess(Ries).Meaningthatinacupuncture,
asexplainedbefore,theyusecertainpartsofthebodytorelievepaininotherpartsofthebody.
Indryneedling,iftheshoulderisinpainthentheneedleisgoingrightintotheshouldertobreak
downthatmuscle.Dryneedlingfocusesonthedirectsourceofpain,whereasacupuncturetreats
thepainusingotherhighwaysofthebody.
Whenamuscleisbreakingdownitmeansthatthefibersthatknottedupdeepinthe
musclethatarecausingthepain,areunwindingandbreakingapartfromeachother.Thisprocess
ofbreakingdownthemuscleindryneedlingiscrucial.Thatwaythemusclecanstartoverand

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healbacktoitsnormalstate.Itsgreattobeabletogetaneedleintothemuscletobreakit
down.Itespeciallycomesinhandywhenyouaretryingtoruboutaknotinthepatientbutit's
justtoodeepforyourstrength.(Klein).
Theeducationandtrainingforthesemethodsdiffersgreatly.Beginningwithdry
needlingthetrainingfordryneedlingisnotofferedineveryPT(PhysicalTherapy)program.
Thisisbecausenoteverystatehaslegalizeddryneedling.Manystateshavemadeitillegalfor
physicaltherapiststopracticebecausetheybelieveitisanacupuncturisttechniquethatonly
acupuncturistarecertifiedfor.Otherstatesdontbelievedryneedlingisverybeneficialandisnt
needed(
Chapman).
Itscrazytomethatdryneedlingisntlegaleverywherenow!Justseeing
thebenefitsfirsthandmakesmebelieveitsworthit.(Klein).Certificationtopracticedry
needlingonlylastsaround2448hours(Kalichman).Thoughitisarigorouscourse,itisvery
shortduetothefactthatitisonlyacertification.
Acupunctureschoolingcanlastuptofouryears.Theschoolinginvolveslearninghowto
practiceacupuncturewithneedles,pressure,electricity,andcupping.Schoolingislongerthanit
isfordryneedlingbecauseitisamajor.Whereasdryneedlingisanonmandatorycertification
foranaddedplustoajobinphysicaltherapy.Dryneedlingcertificateisnotnecessarytobecome
aphysicaltherapist,butacompletioninacupunctureschoolingismandatorytopursueanykind
ofcareerinacupuncture.
Anacupuncturistsmainjobandpriorityisacupuncture.Dryneedlingisanaddon,and
isnotnecessaryforacareer.Itisnotpossibletogointocollegemajoringindryneedling,
graduate,andgetajobindryneedling.Howeveritispossibletogotocollege,majorin
acupuncture,graduate,andgetajobasanacupuncturist.

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Dryneedlingisnotonlyforphysicaltherapist,eventhoughtheyuseitthemost.
Paramedics,EMTs,andChiropractorscanalsoreceiveacertificateindryneedling("Dry
Needling.").Itisaskillratheracareer.Whichiswhytheschoolingforacupunctureisfarlonger
thanthetrainingfordryneedling.
Accordingtotraditionalchinesemethods,paincomesfromthelackofenergyflow
throughoutthebody.Thereforeacupuncturetreatmentsareafullbodyexperience.Duringan
acupuncturetreatmentmanythingsstarttohappenwithinthebody.Onebeingthechemical
changesinthebody.Whentheneedlesarepuncturedintothebody,theyhitspecificareasthat
releaseendorphinsandhormonesthroughoutthebody.Nosubstancesareinjectedintothebody,
theneedlespromoteanatural,healthywayofhealingthebody.Manyfindmorebenefitsin
acupunctureversusdryneedlingbecauseofhowtheyfeelafterward.Relaxed,atonewiththe
universe("HowAcupunctureCanRelievePain...").Thepatientsfeelsorelaxedduetotherush
ofendorphinsandhormonescyclingthroughthebody.
Dryneedling,likeacupuncture,promotesnaturalhealing,anddoesnotinvolveinjections
intothebody.Whentheneedle(s)enterthebody,theyreleasechemicalsthathelpthebodystart
itsnaturalhealingprocess.Duringadryneedlingtreatment,patientsmuscleswillbeginto
twitch.ThisiscalledaLocalTwitchResponse,orLTR.Thisiswantedwhenperformingdry
needling,becauseitsignifiesmuscleresponseandthestartofthebreakdownandhealing
process.Dryneedling,ifdonecorrectly,shouldcausenopain.Aslongasproceduresare
followedthepatientshouldbeinnoharm("DryNeedling.").
Acupunctureanddryneedlingbothhaveverylowriskfactorswhichcouldbewhythey
arebothsoappealingtopeople.However,eventhoughdryneedlinghasalowriskfactornot

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everyoneisonboardwiththeidea(
"SafetyIssuesinDryNeedlingAcupuncturePractice.").
Althoughacupunctureislegalinall50states,dryneedlingisnot.Itisastatebystatecase.
CurrentlyPTscannotperformdryneedlinginCalifornia,NewYork,Hawaii,orFlorida.Since
dryneedlingisfairlynew,noteverystatehasdeterminedthatitisanecessarypractice(Dry
needling).Eventhoughtherisksareverylowandthebenefitsoutweighthepossibleharm,
somestatesjustarenotreadytoallowdryneedling.Whichisunderstandablebecausedry
needlinghasnotbeenaroundverylong.Whereasacupuncturehasbeenaroundforover3,000
yearsandiswidelyknown.
However,eventhoughacupunctureisallowedinallstates,itisnotlegalforaphysical
therapisttopracticedryneedlingbutsaytheyareperformingacupuncture.Itseemsobviousnot
tolieabouttheservicesoffered,butsincemanypeoplestillbelievethattheyarethesame,they
thinkitisokaytodosoandsaytheyaredoingtheother(Massey).
Physicaltherapistsoranyonepracticingdryneedlingalsocannotuseacupuncture
techniques.Forreasonsbeingthat,onetheyarenottrainedforthat.Thereisareasonthat
acupunctureschoolingis34yearsanddryneedlingcertificationis2448hours(Ma).Two,if
theyaresupposetobedryneedlingbutthenuseacupuncturemethodsandsomethinggoes
wrong,thatPTcouldbeinalotoftrouble.Mainlybecauseifthepatientdidntcomeinfor
acupunctureandinsteadwanteddryneedlingandthatPTmessedsomethingupwhiledoing
acupuncture,thentheycouldendupinabiglawsuit.
Allinall,acupunctureisjustseenaslessofariskthandryneedling,eventhoughtherisk
isthesameforboth.Itallcomesdowntothefactthatacupuncturehasbeenaroundforover

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3,000yearandisverywellknownandtrusted.Dryneedlinghasbeenaroundforaboutaround
75yearsandmanypeopletodayhavestillneverheardofthethepractice.
Inspiteofthedifferencesbetweentechniques,theydohavequiteafewsimilarities.First
off,bothpracticesusethesametypeofneedleforhealing.Itisathinfiliformneedle.This
needleissothinthattheholeitleavesafterbeingpunctureddoesntbleedbecausetheepidermis
(outermostlayeroftheskin)healsoversoquickly("DryNeedling.").Second,bothpracticesare
formsofpainrelief,sotheirpurposeistogetridofpain,andhopefullynotcontributetoit.
Lookingbackatthesimilaritiesvs.differencesratio,itiscleartoseethatdryneedling
andacupuncturearemoredifferentthanalike.Evensomeacupuncturistscalldryneedlingthe
rebrandingofacupuncture.Butinallhonestythatisprobablyjustbecausetheyareupsetthata
techniquesimilartotheirsisworkingjustaswellastheirs,andtooklesstimetolearnit!
Itcanbeveryconfusingdifferentiatingthetwoespeciallysincedryneedlingwasinspired
byacupuncture.Thatdoesmakeitseemasifitisthesamethingorabranchofit.Howeverboth
practiceshavesuchuniquetechniquesandendresults.
Acupuncturecantreatthecraziestproblemslikeconstipation,depression,strokes,stiff
neck,etc.Thewidevarietyisoverwhelming.Dryneedlinghasnthadallthattimetoperfectand
changewhichisprobablythemaincauseintheconflictaboutwhetherastateshouldallowdry
needling.
Dryneedlinghasbecomeamajorbreakthroughforphysicaltherapists.Ithasallowed
themtotakerehabilitationtothenextlevel.Beforewhentheywouldcomeacrossaknotdeepin
themuscle,theywouldhavetokeepmanuallyrubbingitout,starttreatment,andhopetogetit
allout.Thisprocesswastediousandtiresome.Nottomentionallthesorehandsfromrubbing!

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Dryneedlingmakesiteasiertogetdowninthemuscleandbreakitdown.Thatwaythemuscle
canresetandpropertherapyexercisescanbegin.
BothpracticesrequirerigoroustrainingAcupuncturemorethandryneedlingbecauseof
thefactthatacupunctureisitsowncareer.Itisntnecessarytomakedryneedlingeducation
longer.Especiallywhenitisntaneverydaypracticethatphysicaltherapistsuse.NoIdonot
dryneedleeveryday.IhavespecificpatientsthatIhavetodryneedle,andmostofthemIm
havingtoredryneedlebecausetheydonotdoaverygoodjobofkeepingupwiththeirphysical
therapy.(Klein).
Thematerialsusedinacupunctureanddryneedlingcanalsoeasilyconfusepeopleinto
thinkingtheyaretheysame.Theyseeneedlespuncturingintothebodyandtheyautomatically
assumeitisthesamething.However,acupunctureneedlingonlygoessuperficial(whichmeans
onlythefirstfewlayersoftheskinex:epidermis.Dryneedlinggoesdeepdownbythebone
deep(Mayoral).
Thoughtherearesomenotablesimilaritiesbetweendryneedlingandacupuncture,there
verymanycrucialdifferences.Thoughtheymayattimesseemliketheyarethesametheyarein
facttwoverydifferentproceduresandthedifferencesbetweenthetwooutweighthesimilarities
greatly,andprovethatacupunctureanddryneedlingaretwoseparatepracticesandmethodsdue
totheirdifferenttechniques,uniqueresults,andeducationtimeframes.

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Ma,Dr.Yuntao."WhatIsDryNeedling?"
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