This foundational class provides essential knowledge, skills and protocols to treat a wide range of orthopedic injuries and disabilities with myofascial trigger point and joint stabilization/mobilization needling.

Muscle tension and underlying joint dysfunctions are frequent but often hidden causes of chronic pain and disability. Learn specialized physical exams that lead directly to modern needling techniques with ancient roots to reduce painful myofascial trigger points and restore normal functioning of the muscles and joints of the spine and extremities. Students take home practical methods and strategies, including:

Fundamentals of Orthopedic Acupuncture

• Yin and yang of muscle, tendon and joint anatomy & kinesiology
• Indications and special contraindications, cautions, and safety for orthopedic acupuncture
• Patient education and informed consent
• Specialized practitioner training and skill development for orthopedic acupuncture
• History and physical exam techniques to identify myofascial trigger points and joint mobility/stability dysfunctions
• Mechanisms and therapeutic effects of orthopedic acupuncture
• Red flags for serious muscle and joint injuries

Treating the Yang: Myofascial Trigger Point Acupuncture

• Ahshi points and the jingjin (“sinew meridians” or myofascial tracts)
• Beyond "ahshi points:" specialized methods for locating and treating myofascial trigger points, using tennis elbow as a clinical example
• Recommended muscles and safety considerations for applications of myofascial trigger point acupuncture
• Learn needling and safety techniques for clinically-significant and commonly-injured muscles/tendons of the spine & extremities, including:
  • Head, neck, arms: digastric, upper trapezius, levator scapula, sternocleidomastoid, scalenes, supraspinatus, subscapularis, supinator
  • Low back and torso: iliopsoas, quadratus lumborum, abdominals

Treating the Yin: Joint Stabilization and Mobilization with Ligamentous or "Prolo-" Acupuncture

• Understanding joint injuries and their sequelae: the degenerative cascade
• Specialized inspection and palpation techniques for joints and ligaments
• Joint active and passive range-of-motion and end-feel examinations
• Needling safety and techniques for hyPERmobile and hyPOmobile joints, including;
  
  • Shoulder, arm and hand: acromio- and sterno- clavicular, glenhumeral, ulnar- and radio- carpal; radio-ulnar; thumb CMC, MCP joints
  • Lower leg: knee ACL, MCL, LCL, meniscii, superior tib-fib; ankle anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular joints
  • Spine: cervical and lumbar facets; supraspinous, interspinous, iliolumbar, sacroiliac, and sacrotuberous ligaments
• Post-treatment joint re-assessment for immediate verification of outcomes
  

This foundational class provides knowledge and skills to examine, diagnose and plan treatment of a wide range of common, significant orthopedic injuries, pain and disabilities.

With neck and shoulder as example, learn ortho-neuro exams and how to integrate them into AOM patterns, orthopedic tissue diagnoses, and functional capacity assessments that establish baselines, identify urgent conditions--and guide treatment. Take home practical techniques and strategies, as well as theoretical understandings immediately applicable to orthopedic conditions generally. This class empowers with skills to learn directly from patients by measuring their outcomes--free yourself from dependency on teachers and texts! And prepare to get the most out of the rest of our Spine and Extremities series!

• Classical and modern observation, inspection and palpation techniques
• Active and passive range of motion, joint play, and muscle length testing
• Strength testing using manual methods and dynamometers
• Special orthopedic and neurologic exams
• Principles of orthopedic tissue-based diagnosis, AOM pattern recognition, and functional capacity assessment
• Case management and treatment planning for orthopedic conditions

Student Ratings and Comments

from evaluations as required by California Acupuncture Board, prior live class offerings in 2016 and 2017.

Respondents: 29 of 37 enrolled

Average rating: 98/100

"Excellent teacher"  --Anonymous

"Thank you. Instructor is outstanding."  --Anonymous

"Anthony is a gem! He is very clear and organized."  --Anonymous

"Good choice for a teacher."  --Anonymous

The essential core of acupuncture orthopedics: common and significant neuro-musculoskeletal injuries, pain and disability of the spine and extremities. Focus on specific body regions, integrated with the longitudinal ("meridian") approach that distinguishes traditional acupuncture:

• Orthopedic anatomy, kinesiology, and the jing-jin ("sinew meridians" or myofascial tracts)
• Dysfunctional postural and movement patterns and psycho-emotional factors
• History-taking & interview techniques specific to orthopedics, sports, work-related and chronic pain conditions
• Orthopedic exam, including functional capacity evaluation
  • Observation, inspection, palpation
  • Range-of-motion: active and passive, including joint-play/end-feel testing
  • Muscle strength and length testing
  • Orthopedic and neurologic special tests
• Pattern identification and orthopedic diagnosis
• Treatment of specific tissues, injuries and conditions, with
  • Myofascial trigger point acupuncture
  • Joint stabilization and mobilization ("prolo-") acupuncture
  • Electroacupuncture
  • Neural prolo-acupuncture
  • 7-star, lancet, and 3-edged needling
  • Distant acupuncture
  • Myofascial gua sha
  • Tui na and other manual therapies
  • Advanced cupping methods for orthopedic conditions
  • Exercise therapy, postural and ergonomics re-training
  • Taping techniques
• Algorithmic flow charts, sample documentation and reporting forms, and red flags for urgent/serious conditions round out the knowledge, skills and abilities to care for orthopedic conditions, from head to toe!