Course Content
Day 1: Anatomy, History and Physical Exam
Clinical Anatomy of the Core: muscles, bones, joints, discs, neurology, kinematic chains, and the jing-jin ("sinew" or myofascial tracts)
History-taking for the Core: Key Diagnostic Questions
- Identifying/ruling out urgent/serious conditions: nerve and spinal cord injuries, fractures
- Identifying contributing factors
Physical Exam of the Core
- Inspection and palpation for postural dysfunctions
- Active range-of-motion and functional tests: measurements, diagnostic significance
- Lower extremity reflex, sensory, and motor exams
- Upper motor neuron exam
- Muscle strength and length testing
- Special orthopedic and neurologic tests
- Documenting normal and abnormal findings
Day 2: Treating the Core
Diagnosis and Pattern Identification
- Acute lumbo-sacral sprains/strains, postural and motion dysfunctions, and myofascial pain involving the iliopsoas, quadratus lumborum, paraspinals, abdominals and gluteals
- Chronic lumbo-sacral arthritis, degeneration, scoliosis
- Radiculopathies and spinal cord stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis and compression fractures
- Failed low back surgery syndromes
- Sciatic neuropathy and the gluteal musculature
- Disorders of the sacro-iliac joint and pubic symphysis
Treatment
- Myofasicial Trigger Needling: quadratus lumborum, iliopsoas, gluteals, hip external rotators, and abdominals
- Prolo-acupuncture: iliolumbar, posterior sacro-iliac, and sacro-tuberous ligaments, pubic symphysis, and spondylolisthesis
- Active Cupping: suction + thoraco-lumbar AROM
- Gua sha and tui na to restore lumbo-sacroliac joint mechanics
- Electro-acupuncture for radiculopathies, cord compression and sciatica
- 3-edged, lancet and 7-star needle therapies
- Exercise therapy, sport and work ergonomics