Category Archives: AOM Class Offerings

Myofascial Gua Sha for Orthopedic Conditions

Myofascial gua sha requires more skill and training than conventional wei qi gua sha in order to safely and effectively treat the muscles, tendons, and aponeuroses of the jing-jin ("sinew meridians") or myofascial tracts, while avoiding destabilization of adjacent joints or trauma to nerves. Learn how to:

Class topics

Overview of Myofascial Gua Sha for orthopedic conditions

  • Tools and techniques
  • Safety and standards of care
    • Cautions and contraindications
    • Patient education and informed consent
    • Safety protocols and management of adverse events
    • Tool disinfection
  • Post-Myofascial gua sha protocols

Protocols for specific body regions

  • Cervical and thoracic spine
  • Shoulder girdle
  • Forearm
  • Gluteals
  • Quadriceps, IT band and hamstrings
  • Calves and Achilles tendon
  • Hands and feet

Integrating Myofascial Gua Sha into acupuncture clinic flow

  • Combining gua sha with other therapies
  • Coding and billing
  • Documentation for malpractice defense and to support insurance billing

"Another great class! Thank you."

-- Lisa Zeppegno, L.Ac., Petaluma, CA

Electroacupuncture for Orthopedic Conditions

Why Electroacupuncture (EA)? EA has unique therapeutic effects, and complements manual acupuncture:

  • Provokes strong pain control responses through release of the brain’s own opioid neurotransmitters (including endorphins, dynorphins, enkephalins), as well as up-regulation of serotonin, a critical mood stabilizing biomolecule.
  • Interrupts pain/spasm cycles, and can facilitate the gains in joint range-of-motion crucial to physical rehabilitation.
  • Stimulates proprioceptive nerve fibers, resulting in muscle re-balancing and re-education of hypo-functioning or injured muscles.
  • Normalizes local blood flow and lymphatic drainage.
  • Speeds up cell metabolism, thus stimulating tissue repair and regeneration.

Electroacupuncture is safe for long-term use and without known side-effects. Properly-applied, electroacupuncture is no more uncomfortable, and is better tolerated by some patients, than manual stimulation of needles to bring about pain relief.

Electroacupuncture safety:

  • Cautions and contraindications
  • Patient education and informed consent
  • Safety protocols and management of adverse events

Electroacupuncture parameters and settings:

  • Amplitude: milli- and micro-
  • Frequency
  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Polarity and lead placement

Integrating electroacupuncture into acupuncture clinic flow:

  • Combining electroacupuncture with other therapies
  • Documentation for malpractice defense and to support insurance billing

Student Comments:

  • "I really appreciated the straightforward and science based education on how to properly apply e-stim. I understand it so much better now!" -- Elizabeth Angiello, Richmond, CA

 

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Advanced Cupping for Orthopedic Conditions

including passive mobilization, active movement, and "wet" cupping

With Instructor Anthony Von der Muhll, L.Ac., DAOM, DNBAO, FAIPM

Cupping has unique benefits for musculo-skeletal pain that cannot be obtained any other way. Cupping decompresses and stretches myofascial tissues away from the underlying structures (instead of pushing them into bones, like massage).

Beyond "set and forget" static cups, advanced orthopedic cupping can provide more powerful therapeutic effects for neuro-musculoskeletal pain and disability, including:

  • Precisely and actively engaging, stretching and mobilizing the underlying muscles, tendons, fascia and joints
  • Reducing painful trigger points and adhesions
  • Triggering muscle relaxation reflexes
  • Draining areas of inflammation and lymphatic congestion (heat, qi and blood stagnation, and damp-phlegm accumulations)
  • Drawing fresh blood through tight, adhered or restricted muscles, removing wastes and bringing new oxygen and nutrients to injured area
  • Decreasing pain-inhibition to movement
  • And restoring normal muscle-tendon strength and flexibility, and joint range-of-motion

Passive cupping

Beyond "sliding," passive cupping employs specific mobilization techniques using both directed suction, and passive movement of the affected limbs.

Active cupping

Guiding patients through precise movements with cups in place over specific myofascial tissues combines therapeutic exercise with suction for synergistic benefits.

Passive and active cupping requires the acupuncturist to understand the optimal types and directions of myofascial tissue mobilization for specific body regions and injuries.

"Wet" cupping

involves cups applied to body regions following the use of a 7-star, lancet or 3-edged needle, in order to enhance the movement of stagnant body fluids that trap heat, dampness and phlegm (inflammation) and obstruct the inflow of new, fresh blood.

Class Topics:

Safety and standards of care

  • Cautions and contraindications
  • Patient education and informed consent
  • Manual pump vs. fire cupping
  • Risk reduction protocols and management of adverse events
  • Cup disinfection and re-use
  • Post-cupping protocols

Passive and active cupping: therapeutic mechanisms, indications and protocols for specific body regions

  • Regional muscle hypertonicity/spasticity
  • Paraspinals
  • Forearm
  • Shoulder girdle
  • Gluteals
  • Quadriceps, IT band and hamstrings
  • Calves

“Wet” cupping: therapeutic mechanisms, indications and protocols for specific conditions

  • Acute sprain/strain injuries
  • Bursitis (shoulder, hip, knee, calcaneal)
  • Adhesive capsulitis
  • Tendinitis and tendinosis
  • Chronic myofascial pain and blood stasis

Integrating advanced orthopedic cupping into acupuncture clinic flow.

  • Combining cupping with other therapies
  • Billing and coding
  • Documentation for malpractice defense and to support insurance billing

Student Comments:

  • "Can't wait to apply these new techniques in my practice! I already have a few patients in mind." -- Elizabeth Angiello, Richmond, CA