The American Alliance for Professional Acupuncture Safety (AAPAS) strongly opposes AB 2497, which would authorize physical therapists to perform dry needling in California. This issue is fundamentally about patient safety and maintaining professional standards for invasive procedures.
1. Dry Needling Is Acupuncture
Under California law, dry needling qualifies as acupuncture: it involves insertion of FDA-regulated acupuncture needles, penetration of the body, and stimulation of anatomical or trigger points. It is not a separate modality and requires equivalent training and regulation.
2. Rigorous Standards Protect Patients
California’s standards for licensed acupuncturists ensure safety:
Over 7,300 licensed acupuncturists statewide
4-year master’s or doctoral education
Minimum 2,050 hours didactic + 950 hours supervised clinical training
These requirements were established to prevent harm from invasive needle procedures.
3. Serious Safety Risks
Improper needling—especially in the thoracic region—can cause:
Pneumothorax (collapsed lung)
Nerve injury, infection, organ puncture, or vascular damage
Documented cases highlight these dangers:
NFL star T.J. Watt (Dec 2025) suffered a partially collapsed lung requiring surgery after dry needling.
Olympic freeskier Torin Yater-Wallace experienced a collapsed lung before the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Canadian judoka Kim Ribble-Orr suffered lung injury and infection, ending her athletic career.
Most patients lack immediate elite-level medical access, increasing risk.
4. Inadequate Training for Non-Acupuncturists
Dry needling courses for physical therapists often total just 20–50 hours with limited supervision—far below acupuncturist standards. This creates a dangerous two-tiered system.
5. No Access-to-Care Justification
California has thousands of qualified, licensed acupuncturists. Patients already have safe access to needle therapy. Expanding scope without need adds risk without benefit.
6. Preserving Regulatory Integrity
Current law limits invasive needling to licensed acupuncturists, physicians, dentists, and podiatrists—all with comprehensive training. Lower standards for the same procedure would undermine safeguards, confuse patients, and erode public trust in healthcare regulation.
AAPAS urges legislators to reject AB 2497 and prioritize patient safety over scope expansion.
