Current Athletic Training Educational Preparation for Dry Needling

Abstract

Purpose: Dry needling is an advanced practice skill that many athletic trainers are being trained to perform. The purpose of this study is to determine the degree to which the current athletic training educational competencies and standards prepare practitioners for the performance of dry needling tasks. Methods: An expert panel review was used to verify which of the dry needling tasks are currently taught through entry-level athletic education as defined by the 5th edition competencies and 2020 standards. Results: Results demonstrated that 11% of the tasks were dry needling specific and these were regarded as not provided through entry-level education. However, 89% of the tasks were provided through entry-level education. Conclusions: It is clear that current athletic training education adequately prepares an athletic trainer to learn dry needling as an advance practice skill as a large number of the Competencies for Dry Needling are taught within athletic training entry-level education.