Dry Needling vs Acupuncture in Edmonton: What to Know Before You Choose

Dry needling and acupuncture both use thin, solid needles, but they come from different professions with different reasoning, training and regulation. If you are searching for dry needling in Edmonton, the key point is this: in Alberta, a physiotherapist may only perform dry needling once the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta has recorded that authorization on their practice permit, and it is always one part of a plan built from an assessment. Acupuncture is its own regulated profession, with registration through the College of Acupuncturists of Alberta. Aura Physiotherapy offers dry needling and IMS within physiotherapy care and does not offer acupuncture.

This article explains how the two approaches differ, what IMS means, who is allowed to provide each one, what a dry needling session involves, the risks and consent rules set by the College, who may not suit needling, and the questions worth asking any provider before you agree to treatment.

General information only, not a diagnosis. Our physiotherapists, chiropractor and massage therapists assess every patient first.

What is dry needling, and how is it different from acupuncture?

Dry needling is a technique in which an authorized clinician inserts a thin filament needle into a specific muscle or soft tissue area. The word "dry" simply means nothing is injected. A physiotherapist chooses where to needle based on what they found in your assessment: which muscles are tender or tight, how a joint is moving, and which activities bring on your pain.

Acupuncture also uses thin needles, but it is a separate discipline with its own history, training and professional college. The difference is in the reasoning that decides where the needles go and why.

Neither one is a better or worse version of the other. They are different approaches, practised by different regulated professionals, and each profession sets its own standards. This article does not compare results between them, and it does not suggest which one you should choose.

How the reasoning behind each approach differs

A physiotherapist who uses dry needling starts with the musculoskeletal system. The questions they ask are practical ones: which muscle, joint or movement pattern is involved in your pain, what makes it better or worse, and how needling might fit alongside hands-on treatment and exercise. The College of Physiotherapists of Alberta notes that physiotherapists use needles to affect the musculoskeletal system only.

Acupuncture grew out of traditional Chinese medicine, where practitioners work with concepts such as points and channels and look at the person as a whole. Many acupuncturists today also draw on modern anatomy in their training. The way an acupuncturist assesses you and decides on treatment is set by their own profession, so the reasoning they use is theirs to explain.

If you are considering acupuncture, ask the practitioner to walk you through their approach and what their assessment involves. A registered acupuncturist is the right person to describe acupuncture technique in detail. Because Aura does not provide acupuncture, this article keeps its description general and respectful of that profession.

What does IMS mean?

IMS stands for intramuscular stimulation. It is a name for a needling approach that, like dry needling, places a fine needle into muscle as part of a treatment plan. People in Edmonton often search for "IMS needling" and "dry needling" as if they are the same thing, and in everyday conversation many clinicians and patients use the two terms interchangeably.

Some training programs do draw distinctions between IMS and other dry needling methods, for example in how the assessment is framed or which areas are needled. If the label matters to you, ask your clinician which approach they trained in and how they decide where to needle.

For a physiotherapist in Alberta, the regulatory point is the same whatever the technique is called. Inserting a needle for this purpose is a restricted activity, and the physiotherapist needs the dry needling authorization on their practice permit before they can do it. Aura lists dry needling and IMS together under its acute care and pain services for this reason: they are delivered within physiotherapy, after an assessment, by an authorized clinician.

Who can provide dry needling and acupuncture in Alberta

Under the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta's standard on the performance of restricted activities, dry needling is a restricted activity. A physiotherapist must complete additional training that includes a supervised evaluation, submit evidence of competence to the College, and see the authorization recorded on their practice permit before they needle any patient.

Acupuncture in Alberta is provided by registered members of the College of Acupuncturists of Alberta, under the Health Professions Act. You can read more about how that profession is regulated on the alis acupuncturist certification page. Other regulated professions may hold needling authorizations under their own rules, so it is always fair to ask a provider which college authorizes them.

If dry needling becomes part of your plan at Aura, you can ask your physiotherapist about their authorization, and you can confirm it yourself in the College public register using the steps below.

How to check a provider's authorization yourself

• Go to the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta's Verify a Physiotherapist page, which opens the public register.
• Search the physiotherapist's name and open their record.
• Look for the dry needling authorization listed with their practice permit.
• For an acupuncturist, check with the College of Acupuncturists of Alberta.

You never need to take a clinic's word for it. The register is public.

What a dry needling session involves

Needling is never the starting point. Your physiotherapist first takes your health history and examines the area that is bothering you. If dry needling may have a place in your plan, they explain what it involves, the other options available to you, and the risks. Then they ask whether you want to go ahead. You can say no, and you can ask to stop at any point.

The College of Physiotherapists of Alberta says consent for needling must be informed and ongoing, and that your physiotherapist must ask for your consent before needling at every visit, not only the first one.

During needling, some people notice a brief twitch in the muscle or a dull, achy feeling, and some feel very little. Sensations vary from person to person, so tell your physiotherapist what you are feeling as it happens. Afterwards, the area may feel sore for a while. Your physiotherapist will give you aftercare advice before you leave.

At Aura, needling is followed by movement and exercise, so the visit ends with a plan you can work on at home, not a single treatment. You see the same physiotherapist at each visit, which means the person asking for your consent already knows your history.

Risks, consent and when to seek medical care

In its article Understanding dry needling risks and consent, the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta lists bruising, bleeding and soreness as the most common effects. Feeling faint is less common. Infection and a collapsed lung (pneumothorax) are rare. Your physiotherapist should go through these with you, in light of your own health history, before you decide.

Tell your provider before needling if any of these apply

• You have a fear of needles or have fainted during injections or blood tests.
• You have a bleeding disorder or take blood thinners.
• You are pregnant or think you might be.
• You have a condition that affects healing, your immune system or your skin in the area.
• You have an implanted device, or anything about your health has changed since your last visit.

Telling your provider does not automatically rule needling out. It gives them what they need to decide with you whether needling is suitable, whether to adjust the approach, or whether another treatment fits better.

When to seek urgent care

If you develop sudden shortness of breath, chest pain or difficulty breathing after needling, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. See a doctor promptly if a needled area becomes increasingly red, hot, swollen or painful, or if you develop a fever. Let your physiotherapist know as well.

Questions to ask any provider before needling

These questions work for a physiotherapist, an acupuncturist or any other regulated professional who offers needling.

1. Which regulatory college authorizes you to do this, and can I see that in the public register?
2. What did your assessment find, and why do you think needling has a place in my plan?
3. What are the other options, and what happens if I say no?
4. What are the risks for me, given my health history and medications?
5. What might I feel during and after treatment, and what should I do if something feels wrong?
6. What else is in the plan besides needling, and what will I do at home?
7. How will we decide together whether to keep using needling at later visits?

If any answer is unclear, ask again. Informed consent means you understand what you are agreeing to.

How an assessment at Aura works

Your first visit at Aura is a 40-minute initial assessment with a physiotherapist. You talk through your history and goals, your physiotherapist examines how you move, and together you decide whether dry needling has a place in your plan or whether something else suits you better. Your plan may or may not include needling, and either is a normal outcome of an assessment.

You leave with a written, plain-language treatment plan, and you see the same physiotherapist at each visit. You don't need a referral to book, although some insurance plans ask for one before they reimburse. Aura direct bills a range of insurers, and coverage depends on your plan. If you want to know what to expect before you come in, read what happens at an initial physiotherapy assessment, or see the clinic's frequently asked questions for billing and payment details. If back pain is what brought you here, our guide to low back pain physiotherapy in Edmonton covers that assessment in more depth.

When you are ready, you can book an initial physiotherapy assessment online.

Frequently asked questions about dry needling and acupuncture

Is dry needling the same as acupuncture?

No. Both use thin needles, but in Alberta they come from different professions with different training and regulation. A physiotherapist's dry needling is guided by a musculoskeletal assessment, while acupuncture is practised by registered acupuncturists using their own profession's framework.

Does Aura offer acupuncture?

No. Aura offers dry needling and IMS within physiotherapy care. If you would like acupuncture, look for a registered member of the College of Acupuncturists of Alberta.

How do I know a physiotherapist is allowed to do dry needling?

Search their name in the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta's public register through the Verify a Physiotherapist page. An authorized physiotherapist has the dry needling authorization recorded with their practice permit.

Will I be asked for consent every time?

Yes. The College says consent for needling must be informed and ongoing, and your physiotherapist must ask before needling at each visit. You can decline or stop at any time.

Is insurance coverage the same for dry needling and acupuncture?

Not necessarily. Dry needling at Aura is part of a physiotherapy visit, while acupuncture may be a separate benefit in your plan. Check your own plan wording or ask your insurer.

Important: This article is general information only. It is not medical advice and it cannot be used to diagnose or treat any condition. Every patient is assessed first by one of our registered physiotherapists, our chiropractor or our registered massage therapists before any treatment, and your care plan is based on that assessment. If you have symptoms, please book an assessment.

Related service: Acute care, pain and dry needling

Related reading: What to expect at your initial physiotherapy assessment and Low back pain physiotherapy in Edmonton

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