Per the Virginia Board of Medicine, "Practice of chiropractic means the adjustment of the twenty-four movable vertebrae of the spinal column, and assisting nature for the purpose of normalizing the transmission of nerve energy. It does not include the use of surgery, obstetrics, osteopathy, nor the administration of any drugs, medicines, serums or vaccines...."
Physical Medicine: AG opinion regarding DC scope.
Dry Needling
Dear Members:
We've had a lot of questions about dry needling and DC scope in Virginia. As reported previously, Unified VCA leadership, legal and legislative consultants first researched the technique and the standard for training in the United States. Subsequently, Association representatives attended the 10/28/10 Virginia Board of Medicine meeting to confirm that the BOM agrees with our interpretation that dry needling is within a DC's scope, as long as the Chiropractor has documentation that he received clinical training as part of his doctoral level education and/or attended a program sponsored by a CCE-accredited college of at least 12 hours. Following is the section of the Virginia Board of Medicine minutes that pertains to this issue.
Dry Needling by Chiropractors
Bill Ward, DC from Fredericksburg addressed the Board and asked their support in authorizing doctors of chiropractic to perform dry needling under
their scope of practice. He outlined the training to be provided to chiropractors prior to undertaking this procedure.
After some discussion, the Board agreed that this procedure is to be viewed as any other new procedure to be performed by a practitioner in his/her
scope of practice. It is incumbent upon the practitioner to ensure he/she is properly educated and trained prior to performing dry needling with patients.
Dr. Dalton moved that no action be taken since the procedure appears to fall within the chiropractic scope of practice. The motion was seconded and
carried unanimously.
IMPORTANT! Please note that the Board of Medicine's position on this issue is based on DCs attending training as described above.
Thank you.
Unified Virginia Chiropractic Association
