Dry Needling Rulings

Nebraska

Is Dry Needling Legal in Nebraska?
Resources
Attorney General Opinion – Nebraska
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  • On July 8, 2016, the Attorney General of Nebraska, Mr. Douglas Peterson, issued a ruling that “If dry needling is defined using the descriptions provided to this office by the Board of Physical Therapy and the APTA, it is our opinion that a reasonable legal argument can be made that dry needling is a “mechanical modality” or a “physical agent or modality” and, therefore, falls within the statutory definition of physical therapy.” In addition, it was opined that dry needling was not within the scope of practice for OTs and Athletic Trainers.
  • In June 2011, the Nebraska Board of Physical Therapy decided that “a Nebraska licensed physical therapist may perform dry needling as long as he/she can competently perform such a procedure. This does not include physical therapy assistants”.