Effective – 2/9/17 – Dry needling by a Physical Therapist in NJ is no longer allowed.

The Attorney General of New Jersey has written an opinion that dry needling is NOT within the scope of practice for the physical therapist in NJ even though the NJ Board of Physical Therapy Examiners has ruled it to be a skill included in manual therapy.  Effective immediately, the physical therapists trained in the skill at db Orthopedic Physical Therapy will stop performing this technique until the ruling is argued or legislative relief occurs.  Thousands of patients across NJ have been benefiting from this therapy tool for several years without one reported incident of injury or adverse affect report to the NJBPTE.  Patients are encouraged to contact their legislator to voice an objection to a non-drug source of pain control performed by many other physical therapists legally in several states.  This is clearly a case of a turf battle with other practitioners trying to limit availability for patients.  More to come