Section 1340.75  Intramuscular Manual Therapy

a)         A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant licensed to practice in the State of Illinois may only perform intramuscular manual therapy under the following conditions:

1)         Prior to completion of the education under subsection (a)(2), successful completion of a total of 50 credit hours of college-level instruction from an accredited program in the following areas:

A)        the musculoskeletal and neuromuscular system;

B)        the anatomical basis of pain mechanisms, chronic pain and referred pain;

C)        myofascial trigger point theory; and

D)        universal precautions.

2)         Completion of at least 30 hours of didactic course work specific to intramuscular manual therapy.  This requirement can be fulfilled by the didactic pre-study required for the intramuscular manual therapy practicum course.

3)         Successful completion of at least 54 practicum hours in intramuscular manual therapy course work offered through an approved CE sponsor as defined in Section 1340.61(c).  Each instructional course shall specify what anatomical regions are included in the instruction and describe whether the course offers introductory or advanced instruction in intramuscular manual therapy.  Each instruction course shall include the following areas:

A)        intramuscular manual therapy technique;

B)        intramuscular manual therapy indications and contraindications;

C)        documentation of intramuscular manual therapy;

D)        management of adverse effects;

E)        practical psychomotor competency; and

F)         the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Bloodborne Pathogens standard.

4)         Postgraduate classes qualifying for completion of the mandated 54 hours of intramuscular manual therapy shall be in one or more modules, with the initial module being no fewer than 27 hours. Therapists or physical therapist assistants shall complete at least 54 hours in no more than 24 months.

5)         Completion of at least 200 patient treatment sessions.

A)        Physical therapists must complete the treatment sessions under general supervision supported by the American Physical Therapy Association.

B)        Physical therapist assistants must complete the treatment sessions under direct line of sight supervision by a licensed physical therapist who has met the requirements of this Section.

6)         Successful completion of a competency examination approved by the Division.  The Division will accept competency examinations administered as part of the intramuscular manual therapy practicum course work.

b)         Each licensee is responsible for maintaining records of the completion of the requirements of subsection (a) and shall be prepared to produce those records upon request by the Division.

c)         A newly-licensed physical therapist shall not practice intramuscular manual therapy for at least one year from the date of initial licensure unless the practitioner can demonstrate compliance with subsection (a) through the practitioner's prelicensure educational coursework.

d)         Intramuscular manual therapy may be performed by a licensed physical therapist and only be delegated to a licensed physical therapist assistant that has met the requirements of this Section and is supervised by a licensed physical therapist who has met the requirements of this Section and maintains direct line of sight observation and supervision of the physical therapist assistant at all times while the treatment is rendered.

e)         A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant shall not advertise, describe to patients or the public, or otherwise represent that dry needling is acupuncture, nor shall the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant represent that they practice acupuncture unless separately licensed under the Acupuncture Practice Act [225 ILCS 2].

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 13093, effective August 24, 2023)