Both dry needling and acupuncture involve the insertion of needles into certain parts of the body, however, intention, practitioner, placement of needles, and uses all differ.
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicine that focuses on restoring the balance of qi (energy) throughout the body. The placement of the needles is based on the meridian lines that represent the organs. That knowledge is used to treat a variety of conditions and symptoms, from fertility and menstrual health to physical and mental issues. These treatments are only to be performed by trained acupuncturists.
Dry needling is a newer, Western medicine that is usually performed by a physical therapist. During these treatments, needles are placed on trigger points (a taut band of skeletal muscle located within a larger muscle group) to help relieve acute or chronic pain.