We have reached an important milestone in our work to bring greater clarity and consistency to the field of dry needling.
Following three rounds of consultation, discussion and feedback among our members, we have agreed on the following definition:
“Dry needling is the therapeutic insertion of a needle into somatic tissue without injecting or aspirating fluid”
This definition was developed through several rounds of surveys and discussion involving all 12 IDNETAG members over a four-month period. Throughout this process, members contributed their expertise, considered alternative wording and carefully examined what should—and should not—be included in a clear definition of dry needling.
Reaching an agreed definition is an important step towards improving consistency in dry needling education, research and professional discussion. Although a single sentence cannot describe every aspect of clinical practice, this definition provides a clear foundation for explaining what dry needling is and distinguishing it from procedures involving the injection or aspiration of fluid.
For you as a dry needling therapist, this definition provides consistent language that may help you describe your practice to patients, colleagues and other healthcare professionals. It may also support clearer documentation, education and discussions about professional scope. It is not intended to dictate how every therapist practises, but to provide a shared starting point for describing what dry needling involves.
If you want to cite the IDNETAG definition, please go to our post [How to cite the IDNETAG Dry Needling Definition].
September 2026
