Dry needling curricula in entry-level education programs in the United States for physical therapists

ABSTRACT

Objectives: The objective of this paper was to determine the extent to which dry needling is instructed in entry-level education programs for physical therapists. Methods: Program directors from 226 entry-level education programs recognized by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education were recruited via e-mail to participate in an anonymous 35-item electronic survey during the 2017-2018 academic year.  The survey evaluated dry needling curricula, faculty qualifications, attitudes and experience, and programs' future plans for teaching dry needling. Results: A total of 75 programs responded to the survey (response rate = 33.1%).  Forty (53.3%) had integrated dry needling theory and psychomotor training into their programs and 8 (10.6%) planned to include such content in their curriculum in the future.  Of the 40 respondents, 28 indicated that dry needling education was integrated into a required course, 4 indicated that dry needling was an elective course, and 8 did not specify how dry needling education was integrated. Faculty teaching dry needling appear to be well qualified, with the majority having 5-10 years of experience using dry needling in clinical practice. The primary reason for programs not teaching dry needling is that it was not considered an entry-level skill. Discussion: There appeared to be variability in how dry needling was integrated into the curricula, as well as in the depth and breadth of instruction.  Our research may serve as a baseline for faculty to assess existing dry needling curricula and as a guide for developing curricula in new or existing physical therapy programs.

KEYWORDS:

• Dry needling
• neuromusculoskeletal disorders
• entry-level education
• physical therapy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lynn Matthews

Lynn Matthews is an Associate Professor, Interim Chair of the Athletic Training Department and Interim Program Director of the Athletic Training Program at Daemen College in Amherst, NY. She is a graduate of the West Virginia University Athletic Training program. She also earned a Master of Science in Education from Bradley University, a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy at the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Daemen College. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Physical Therapists and is a Maitland Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist. Dr. Matthews has been a certified Athletic Trainer for greater than 35 years and a physical therapist for 20 years. She teaches courses in the Daemen College Athletic Training and Physical Therapy programs.

Greg Ford

Gregory Ford is an Associate Professor, Chair of the Physical Therapy Department and Director of the DPT Program at Daemen College in Amherst NY. He is a board-certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. He completed his Bachelors of Science in Physical Therapy degree, Masters of Science in Physical Therapy with Orthopaedic Concentration degree, and his DPT degree from Daemen College. He earned his PhD in Science Education from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Dr. Ford has maintained active orthopaedic clinical practice in physical therapy for 25 years. He has presented and published manuscripts related to orthopaedic physical therapist practice and physical therapy education.

Ron Schenk

Ron Schenk PT, PhD, OCS, Dip MDT, FAAOMPT is a Professor of Physical Therapy in the Tufts University DPT program. He has taught musculoskeletal examination and intervention in professional and post-professional physical therapy programs for 30 years on a full-time basis and in addition to his teaching, he will serve as the coordinator of the musculoskeletal practice area of the Tufts DPT curriculum.  Dr. Schenk received his BS and MS degrees from Ithaca College and his PhD from the University at Buffalo.  Ron is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists, and is a Diplomat in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy.  He has published and presented research studies conducted in relation to is his clinical practice with the Catholic Health System of Buffalo, NY where he serves as a Spine Team Leader. His scholarship includes 31 peer reviewed publications and 68 professional presentations delivered at national and international conferences.Dr. Schenk enjoys outdoor recreation, working out, reading political history, and rooting for his Buffalo sports teams. He resides in Orchard Park, NY with his wife Robin and son Zachary. Their daughter Caitlin resides in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

Michael Ross

Michael D. Ross is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at Daemen College in Amherst NY. He is a board-certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists. Prior to his appointment at Daemen College, Dr. Ross served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years. He completed his Bachelors of Science in Physical Therapy from Daemen College, his Doctorate of Health Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Indianapolis, and a Fellowship in Orthopedic Manual Therapy and Musculoskeletal Primary Care from Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Vallejo, CA. He has made numerous scientific presentations and has lectured extensively at the entry-level, graduate, and postgraduate levels on orthopedic physical therapist practice. Dr. Ross maintains an active pro bono practice for community residents and has published over 150 manuscripts and abstracts related to orthopedic physical therapist practice.

Joseph Donnelly

Dr. Joe Donnelly is a Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of St. Augustine for the Health Sciences in Miami, FL. Prior to his appointment at the University of St Augustine he was the Director of Post-professional Education in the Department of Physical Therapy at Mercer University in Atlanta, GA.  He completed his Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from Daemen College, Master of Science Degree in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy from The University of Pittsburgh and  his Doctor of Health Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Indianapolis. He has over 30 years of clinical experience in the area of orthopaedics and manual physical therapy. In March 2020 he received the highest honor of the profession by being named as a Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the APTA (FAPTA). He has been a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy (OCS) for 28 years and has worked in a variety of practice settings. He is also an Honorary Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists. He is the Editor in Chief of the third edition of the Travel, Simons and Simons’ Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual. He has presented nationally integrating clinical reasoning, pain sciences, myofascial pain and dysfunction and dry needling. His scholarship efforts are focused in the area of myofascial pain and dysfunction’s effect on movement impairments, clinical reasoning and dry needling.