Which of the following is explicitly listed as a PT service?

• A. Dry needling
• B. Radiology
• C. Acupuncture
• D. Chiropractic technique

Answer: (A)

The key idea is understanding what treatments are explicitly permitted as a physical therapy service under scope-of-practice rules. Dry needling is defined in many physical therapy practice acts as an explicit PT service. PTs who are trained in this technique insert thin needles into myofascial trigger points to relieve pain and improve function, and this modality is treated as a legitimate PT intervention when performed under the rules of their licensure.

Radiology, on the other hand, is about imaging—taking and sometimes interpreting X-rays or other scans. That falls outside the core set of explicit PT services in most regulations, since imaging is typically handled by radiologists or radiologic technologists. Acupuncture is a traditional modality associated with licensed acupuncturists; while some PTs may perform similar techniques in limited ways, acupuncture itself isn’t generally listed as a PT service. Chiropractic technique belongs to chiropractors and is not within the PT scope of practice.

So the choice that is explicitly listed as a PT service is dry needling, because it is recognized as a PT intervention within the scope of physical therapy practice.