Differences Between Dry Needling, Acupuncture and Medical Acupuncture
The primary differences between dry needling, acupuncture and medical acupuncture are who performs the procedure and how do they decide what to do. In a nutshell, licensed acupuncturists perform acupuncture; chiropractors and physical therapists perform dry needling; and MDs perform medical acupuncture. The required training differs immensely between these health practitioners.
TRAINING
1. Licensed Acupuncturist: We currently maintain dual licensure in Tennessee and California. The requirements to become a California licensed acupuncturist (L.Ac.) are 2,050 classroom hours and 950 supervised clinic hours. This turns out to be a 4 year Masters program. Tennessee requirements are less at 700 classroom hours and 660 supervised clinic hours.
2. Dry Needling for Chiropractors: 250 hours of training
3. Dry Needling for Physical Therapists: 50 hours of training
4. Medical Acupuncture by MDs: no additional training required
So how are the three therapies similar?
HOW THE TECHNIQUES DIFFER
1. Acupuncture: Acupuncturists are trained to follow both a Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine diagnosis. Traditional Chinese Medicine combines philosophical concepts of yin and yang, 5 elements and organ theory to diagnose and treat. The acupuncture points that are chosen can be in the area of pain (local needling) and/or distant to the area of pain (distal needling). Other modalities can be cupping, moxibustion and acupressure.
In addition to treating pain, acupuncture can also treat a wide variety of health conditions.
2. Dry Needling: These techniques are limited to treating pain and usually involve trigger points; needles are placed in areas of pain or tenderness and strong stimulation is used.
3. Medical Acupuncture by MDs: Although additional training is not required, almost every MD will voluntarily attend seminars to learn acupuncture skills. The styles of medical acupuncture are extremely varied and cannot be quickly summarized. My opinion is that some medical acupuncturists receive great classroom training but the clinical hours are usually lacking.
WHAT THE PATIENT EXPERIENCES:
The types of questions that an acupuncturist asks will be a combination of what a patient usually experiences and those that are specific to Traditional Chinese Medicine. Typical questions may focus on whether the conditions improves with hot or cold, day or night, thirst, etc. The acupuncture performed by an acupuncturist is usually not as vigorous as a dry needler. This doesn't mean it's not as effective; we only use the force necessary to achieve a desired effect.
Dry needling is usually very vigorous and stimulating. The best patients for dry needling tend to be athletic and robust.
Medical acupuncture techniques vary greatly upon the training that they've received or haven't received.
For acupuncture appointments, please call (615) 260-6944 or click this link.
The primary differences between dry needling, acupuncture and medical acupuncture are who performs the procedure and how do they decide what to do. In a nutshell, licensed acupuncturists perform acupuncture; chiropractors and physical therapists perform dry needling; and MDs perform medical acupuncture. The required training differs immensely between these health practitioners.
TRAINING
1. Licensed Acupuncturist: We currently maintain dual licensure in Tennessee and California. The requirements to become a California licensed acupuncturist (L.Ac.) are 2,050 classroom hours and 950 supervised clinic hours. This turns out to be a 4 year Masters program. Tennessee requirements are less at 700 classroom hours and 660 supervised clinic hours.
2. Dry Needling for Chiropractors: 250 hours of training
3. Dry Needling for Physical Therapists: 50 hours of training
4. Medical Acupuncture by MDs: no additional training required
So how are the three therapies similar?
- they all use the same equipment which consists of sterile, stainless steel acupuncture needles
- all three therapies are effective for treating pain
HOW THE TECHNIQUES DIFFER
1. Acupuncture: Acupuncturists are trained to follow both a Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine diagnosis. Traditional Chinese Medicine combines philosophical concepts of yin and yang, 5 elements and organ theory to diagnose and treat. The acupuncture points that are chosen can be in the area of pain (local needling) and/or distant to the area of pain (distal needling). Other modalities can be cupping, moxibustion and acupressure.
In addition to treating pain, acupuncture can also treat a wide variety of health conditions.
2. Dry Needling: These techniques are limited to treating pain and usually involve trigger points; needles are placed in areas of pain or tenderness and strong stimulation is used.
3. Medical Acupuncture by MDs: Although additional training is not required, almost every MD will voluntarily attend seminars to learn acupuncture skills. The styles of medical acupuncture are extremely varied and cannot be quickly summarized. My opinion is that some medical acupuncturists receive great classroom training but the clinical hours are usually lacking.
WHAT THE PATIENT EXPERIENCES:
The types of questions that an acupuncturist asks will be a combination of what a patient usually experiences and those that are specific to Traditional Chinese Medicine. Typical questions may focus on whether the conditions improves with hot or cold, day or night, thirst, etc. The acupuncture performed by an acupuncturist is usually not as vigorous as a dry needler. This doesn't mean it's not as effective; we only use the force necessary to achieve a desired effect.
Dry needling is usually very vigorous and stimulating. The best patients for dry needling tend to be athletic and robust.
Medical acupuncture techniques vary greatly upon the training that they've received or haven't received.
For acupuncture appointments, please call (615) 260-6944 or click this link.
Japanese Acupuncture
There are various styles of acupuncture that have developed over thousands of years. We primarily practice a Japanese style of acupuncture that has been popularized by Kiiko Matsumoto. Her method of palpation based acupuncture is powerful and is one of the most intelligent acupuncture systems that we've encountered. We have learned the system by following the accomplished teachers in this area such as Kiiko Matsumoto, David Euler, Holly Guzman and Avi Magidoff.
If you've been to other acupuncture clinics, the standard of care is an intake followed by an acupuncture treatment. A patient is asked to lay down on a table, acupuncture is performed and the patient usually lies for approximately 20 minutes. This structure is similar to what we do but extensive palpation is done before, during and after acupuncture needles are inserted. There are various reflex zones on the abdomen, chest, neck, arms and legs that are palpated; depending on what is painful/nodular/concave/cold, a physical diagnostic assessment is completed. This information guides us to prepare the acupuncture and possible herbal treatment.
We also practice the acupuncture styles of Richard Tan, Master Tung and Traditional Chinese Medicine. TCM acupuncture is the standard hospital acupuncture style that is practiced in the People's Republic of China.
For acupuncture appointments, please call (615) 260-6944 or click this link.
There are various styles of acupuncture that have developed over thousands of years. We primarily practice a Japanese style of acupuncture that has been popularized by Kiiko Matsumoto. Her method of palpation based acupuncture is powerful and is one of the most intelligent acupuncture systems that we've encountered. We have learned the system by following the accomplished teachers in this area such as Kiiko Matsumoto, David Euler, Holly Guzman and Avi Magidoff.
If you've been to other acupuncture clinics, the standard of care is an intake followed by an acupuncture treatment. A patient is asked to lay down on a table, acupuncture is performed and the patient usually lies for approximately 20 minutes. This structure is similar to what we do but extensive palpation is done before, during and after acupuncture needles are inserted. There are various reflex zones on the abdomen, chest, neck, arms and legs that are palpated; depending on what is painful/nodular/concave/cold, a physical diagnostic assessment is completed. This information guides us to prepare the acupuncture and possible herbal treatment.
We also practice the acupuncture styles of Richard Tan, Master Tung and Traditional Chinese Medicine. TCM acupuncture is the standard hospital acupuncture style that is practiced in the People's Republic of China.
For acupuncture appointments, please call (615) 260-6944 or click this link.
330 Mallory Station Road
Suite E15
Franklin, TN 37067
(615) 260-6944 Phone
(615) 617-4307 Fax
Read Reviews of Our Clinic
Suite E15
Franklin, TN 37067
(615) 260-6944 Phone
(615) 617-4307 Fax
Read Reviews of Our Clinic