# COMAR Title 10 — Maryland Department of Health

## Subtitle 46 — Board of Occupational Therapy Practice

### Chapter 09 — Dry Needling

#### Regulation .02 Definitions.

*COMAR 10.46.09.02*

A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

B. Terms Defined.

  (1) “Board” means the Maryland Board of Occupational Therapy Practice.

  (2) “Dry needling” means a physical agent modality as defined in COMAR 10.46.06.03, also known as intramuscular manual therapy, that:

    (a) Involves the insertion of one or more solid needles, a mechanical device, into the muscle and related tissues to effect change in muscle and related tissues of the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder;

    (b) Requires ongoing evaluation, assessment, and re-evaluation of the impairments;

    (c) Is only utilized in parts of the body with neuromuscular or musculoskeletal links to the impairments; and

    (d) Is not performed for:

      (i) The purposes of acupuncture and East Asian medicine as defined in Health Occupations Article, §1A-101, Annotated Code of Maryland; or

      (ii) Any purpose outside the scope of occupational therapy