“Board” means the State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners established pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1983, c.296 (C. 45:9-37.15).

“Direct supervision” means the presence of the supervising physical therapist on site, available to respond to any consequence occurring during any treatment procedure.

“Dry needling” means a physical intervention that uses a dry, filiform needle, without medication or other deliverable, to penetrate the skin and stimulate underlying muscular tissue, connective tissues, or myofascial trigger points for the management of neuromusculoskeletal pain and movement impairments. “Dry needling” shall not mean the stimulation of auricular or distal points or the practice of acupuncture as defined by section 2 of P.L.1983, c.7 (C. 45:2C-2).

“General supervision” means supervision by a physical therapist in which: the physical therapist shall be available at all times by telecommunications but is not required to be on-site for direction and supervision; and the supervising physical therapist assesses on an ongoing basis the ability of the physical therapist assistant to perform the selected interventions as directed.

“Physical therapist” means a natural person who holds a current, valid license to practice physical therapy pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1983, c.296 (C. 45:9-37.11 et seq.) and in accordance with regulations of the board.

“Physical therapist assistant” means a natural person who is licensed pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1983, c.296 (C. 45:9-37.11 et seq.) and who assists a licensed physical therapist under his direct or general supervision in accordance with P.L.1983, c.296 (C. 45:9-37.11 et seq.) and regulations of the board.

“Physical therapy” and “physical therapy practice” mean the identification of physical impairment, movement-related functional limitation, or balance disorder that occurs as a result of injury or congenital or acquired disability, or other physical dysfunction through examination, evaluation and diagnosis of the physical impairment or movement-related functional limitation and the establishment of a prognosis for the resolution or amelioration thereof, and treatment of the physical impairment or movement-related functional limitation, which shall include, but is not limited to, the alleviation of pain, physical impairment and movement-related functional limitation by therapeutic intervention, including treatment by means of manual therapy techniques and massage, dry needling, electro-therapeutic modalities, wound debridement and care, the use of physical agents, mechanical modalities, hydrotherapy, therapeutic exercises with or without assistive devices, neurodevelopmental procedures, joint mobilization, movement-related functional training in self-care, providing assistance in community and work integration or reintegration, providing training in techniques for the prevention of injury, impairment, movement-related functional limitation, or dysfunction, providing consultative, educational, other advisory services, and collaboration with other health care providers in connection with patient care, and such other treatments and functions as may be further defined by the board by regulation.

“Physical therapy” and “physical therapy practice” also include the screening, examination, evaluation, and application of interventions for the promotion, improvement, and maintenance of fitness, health, wellness, and prevention services in populations of all ages exclusively related to physical therapy practice.

“Wound debridement and care” means the removal of loosely adhered necrotic and nonviable tissue, by a physical therapist, to promote healing, done in conjunction with a physician or podiatric physician.

L.1983, c.296, s.3; amended 2003, c.18, s.1; 2017, c.121, s.1; 2021, c.382, s.1.