Support Dry Needle in Washington

Mrs. McAuliffe --

I am writing you today as a resident of your district, in Mountlake Terrace, and an opponent of House Bill 1042 (to exclude dry needling from physical therapy) that is currently in the Senate. 

Personally, I was first exposed to Functional Dry Needle (FDN) Therapy in December. I am a competitive weightlifter and suffered a shoulder injury that my orthopedist was unable to diagnose. Despite rest, it did not get better. I reached out to my national weightlifting community and was introduced to FDN via KinetaCore (a company that does continuing education for PTs) through a national-level lifter that I look up to.

After quite a bit of research (I am a former journalist), I contacted Dr. Austin Woods in Kirkland. He is on the teaching staff for KinetaCore, which meant to me that he was among the more knowledgeable in regards to FDN. I went in a little apprehensive, as I generally don't like needles. He put me at ease about the treatment and, after three appointments -- which are covered by insurance, thanks to a progressive company like Mountlake Terrace-based Premera! -- my shoulder pain was gone! I am back to lifting without pain and now doing additional strength work to keep the injury from coming back.

In Washington State, there are less than a dozen practicing Functional Dry Needle therapists in the state of Washington, which I am sure is a large part of the reason behind the resounding passing of the bill through the House. Nationally, more than half of the states in the USA have approved FDN as part of physical therapy care.

What I am having a hard time processing is that HB 1042 is sponsored by Democratic House members. Being a born and raised (District 46) Seattle/Washington Native, I take pride in living in and being from one of the more progressive states in the USA. We are already among the latter half of the country to support it, and since when is Washington one of the last states to adopt progressive standards on an issue?

I worry that Legislature members are being pushed to support this bill without having all the information about the successful effects of FDN. I would love a chance to talk to you and/or your colleagues (perhaps when the bill will be discussed in the Health Care committee?) more about why FDN is something that should be supported and not shunned.

I also ask that you read the well-written letter by my PT, Dr. Woods. His office, Doctors of Physical Therapy, is in Kirkland, inside Sentator Habib's district, where he and his business partner, also a teaching member for KinetaCore, practice FDN as part of their physical therapy repertoire.

https://doctorsofphysicaltherapy.wordpress.com/2015/02/19/an-open-letter-from-a-washington-state-physical-therapist-regarding-dry-needling/

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter. I hope to be able to discuss this matter more with you in the near future.