Acupuncture vs Dry Needling

Side by side

What each side says

The American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine states that dry needling under any name is, by its definition, the practice of acupuncture. [5] The American Physical Therapy Association's public page says the opposite: dry needling is not acupuncture, and acupuncture is based on traditional Chinese medicine. [3]

A published review of the debate took a middle view. It found that the two overlap in needling technique and in some fundamental theories, and that dry needling is arguably one subcategory of Western medical acupuncture. It called for a body to accredit dry needling courses and for collaboration between the professions. [2] Another paper reported that myofascial trigger points are significantly correlated with traditional acupuncture points. [6] This does not show the two are the same thing, only that the sites often overlap. See trigger point acupuncture and Ashi points.

What research shows

The two are studied under different labels, so their evidence is reported separately. For dry needling, a 2023 review of 36 reviews found it better than sham or no treatment, and about as good as other treatments, for short-term pain, with little data beyond the short term. [7] A 2017 review found evidence of long-term benefit was lacking. [8] See what research shows by condition. For acupuncture, see acupuncture for chronic pain. Both are hard to test fairly because patients usually know they are being needled; read sham acupuncture and placebo controls.

For knee osteoarthritis, the English guideline NICE says not to offer acupuncture or dry needling. [9]

Rules differ by place

• United States. The American Physical Therapy Association says dry needling is in physical therapist scope in some states and not others. [10] Acupuncture is licensed state by state. See dry needling regulation and acupuncture licensing.
• Australia. The Chinese Medicine Board says endorsed practitioners can use the protected title "acupuncturist." [11]
• England. The NHS says other complementary therapists, apart from chiropractors and osteopaths, do not need to be registered by law. [12]

Choosing between them

Ask whichever practitioner you see what their needle training is, which regulator or board oversees them, and how they handle infection control. Neither title by itself tells you the training. Seek urgent care (911 in the US) for sudden chest pain or trouble breathing after any needling.