LEVEL: Intermediate

AUDIENCE: OTs, OTAs, PTs, PTAs

• Identify similarities and differences between traditional acupuncture and dry needling
• Have a thorough understanding of needling more complex areas
• Understand safe advanced needling application
• Understand how dry needling fits into treatment procedures and protocol
• Properly insert needles with proper depth, angle, needle length and end point for advanced areas
• Understand needle end point / end feel
• Utilize different needle stimulation techniques performed
• Understand electrical stimulation and use with inserted dry needles
• Understand the differences between needling trigger points, symptomatic points, adjacent nerve points, fascial points, spinal levels
• Understand cupping and use with dry needling
• Understand precautions and contraindications of dry needling
• Understand and identify safe and unsafe needling zones
• Develop a POC including dry needling for case studies
• Safely perform dry needling to deep hip, lower extremity, shoulder, upper extremity, spinal and head and jaw musculature
• Be able to select appropriate needle length and depth for muscles taught in this course
• Pass a comprehensive written and practical test covering technique, anatomy, precautions, contraindications, innervations, muscle / area selection, trigger point identification, needling technique, treatment besides dry needling

PRE-COURSE ASSIGNMENT:

Suggested Text / Readings:

• 1. Atlas of Surface Palpation: Anatomy of the Neck, Trunk, Upper and Lower Limbs 3rd Edition by Serge Tixa.
• The Concise Book of Dry Needling: A Practitioner’s Guide to Myofascial Trigger Point Applications by John Sharkey.
• The Gunn Approach to the Treatment of Chronic Pain: Intramuscular Stimulation for Myofascial Pain of Radiculopathic Origin. C. Chan Gunn.
• Trigger Point Dry Needling: An Evidenced and Clinical-Based Approach. Jan Dommerholt, Cesar Fernandez-de-las-Penas.

Required Text / Reading: Dry Needling for Manual Therapists: Points, Techniques and Treatments, including Electro-acupuncture and Advanced Tendon Techniques. Giles Gyer, Jimmy Michael, Ben Tolson

REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS: Please bring 3 washable markers or dry erase markers. Wear lab close in layers to stay warm and covered during lectures and when treating, but loose enough with exposure to all body areas easily. Needles cannot be inserted through clothing so tights or leggings will not be acceptable lab attire. Sports bras should be simple design without a lot of intertwining straps as it is difficult to needle the spine, shoulder and pecs when they are worn.