Acupuncture vs Dry Needling
Next time you are in pain and wondering how is Acupuncture therapy different than dry needling?
Acupuncture therapy has been in existence and practiced for at least 2500 years; Simons & Travell published their book on Trigger Point Therapy in 1983 (about 50 years ago).
An experienced Acupuncturist will seldom needle the affected/diseased area. Instead a skilled Acupuncturist will treat a distal area to AFFECT change in the diseased area.
This involves understanding channel theory or employing a body mapping or holographic approach - and requires understanding the underlying energetic disturbance in Qi or Blood flow - not just structure.
Licensed Acupuncturists receive many hundreds of hours of training during graduate school in needling technique and continue to hone their needling skills on a daily basis in clinical practice; CO law allows a PT to engage in dry needling after 45 hrs of training.