Therapeutic needling in osteopathic practice: An evidence-informed perspective

The use of acupuncture and dry needling as an adjunct to manipulative medicine is increasingly popular among osteopaths. Needle-based therapies are not a traditional component of osteopathy, therefore osteopaths typically acquire clinical needling skills at postgraduate short courses and professional development seminars, usually within the context of one of the popular treatment models. This paper presents osteopaths who use needling with an overview of the current scientific literature pertaining to clinical considerations for therapeutic needling in the management of neuromusculoskeletal pain. While not intended to be prescriptive, emphasis is given to evidence that may aid osteopaths in formulating appropriate needling treatment strategies for their patients.