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Dry needling course level 1 'Extremities' - organized by Uplands Physio ©

After your application, you will receive precourse materials (25 hours) consisting of power point videos, articles and links for anatomy and referred pain patterns.

Day 1 overview: start at 8.00 a.m. and finishes at 6.00 p.m.

7:45 a.m. Registration
8:00 a.m. The myofascial pain concept, prevalence and pathophysiology
10:00 a.m. Coffee break
10:15 a.m. Dry needling history, definition and physiological eﬀects
11.15 a.m. Assessment of the ‘myofascial pain’ patient
12.15 p.m. Lunch
12:45 p.m. Dry needling safety; indications and contra-indications
14:00 p.m. Overview of the hip and upper leg muscles
15:00 p.m. Anatomy test
15:15 p.m. Coffee break
15.30 p.m. Dry needling protocol and introduction to dry needling
16:30 p.m. Practical dry needling of the hip and upper leg muscles

Day 2 overview: start at 8.00 a.m. and finishes at 6.00 p.m.

8:00 a.m. Practical dry needling of the hip and upper leg muscles
10:00 a.m. Coffee break
10:15 a.m. Overview of the knee, lower leg and foot muscles
11.15 a.m. Anatomy test
11.30 a.m. Practical dry needling of the knee, lower leg, and foot muscles
12.15 p.m. Lunch
12:45 p.m. Practical dry needling of the knee, lower leg, and foot muscles
15.15 p.m. Coffee break
15:30 p.m. Overview of the rotator cuff muscles of the shoulder
16:15 p.m. Anatomy test
16:30 p.m. Practical dry needling of rotator cuff muscles of the shoulder

Day 3 overview: start at 8.00 a.m. and finishes at 6.00 p.m.

8:00 a.m. Overview of the rest of the shoulder and upper arm muscles
9:00 a.m. Practical dry needling of the shoulder and upper arm muscles
10.00 a.m. Coffee break
10:15 a.m. Practical dry needling of the shoulder and upper arm muscles
11.15 a.m. Overview of the elbow, forearm, and hand muscles
12:00 p.m. Anatomy test
12.15 p.m. Lunch
12:45 p.m. Practical dry needling of the elbow, forearm, and hand muscles
15:00 p.m. Coffee break
15:15 p.m. Review of the course
16:30 p.m. Practical exam

Program outline

This three-day course introduces dry needling as an intervention for treating a variety of diagnoses in the arm and leg. On the first morning, Frank Timmermans will explain the concept of myofascial pain and its characteristic features based upon recent publications. He will also present a brief history of dry needling and explain its potential physiological eﬀects. Next, the assessment of the ‘myofascial pain’ patient will be discussed. The afternoon will begin with an introduction of the practical aspects of dry needling. Topics to be reviewed in detail include a needle safety protocol with checklists recommended by the Canadian Physiotherapy Association, hygiene aspects, indications, (relative) contra-indications and adverse events. Next, a presentation will show the muscles of the hip and the upper leg with an emphasis on myofascial pain, specific tests, and dry needling techniques, followed by an anatomy test. The first day ends with a demonstration of the dry needling protocol as a practical introduction to dry needling followed by practising dry needling techniques for some hip muscles in small groups under the supervision of an instructor.

The morning of the second day, we will continue to practise dry needling techniques for the hip and upper leg muscles in small groups under supervision of an instructor. After the coffee break, a presentation will show the muscles of the lower leg, ankle, and foot with an emphasis on myofascial pain, specific tests, and dry needling techniques, followed by an anatomy test. Afterwards, these tests and dry needling techniques will be taught in a practical setting, again in small groups and with supervision. Later in the afternoon, a presentation will show the muscles of the rotator cuff muscles with an emphasis on myofascial pain, specific tests, and dry needling techniques, followed by an anatomy test. Next, the dry needling techniques for the rotator cuff muscles are practiced in small groups under supervision.

The morning of the third day starts with a presentation of the rest of the shoulder and upper arm muscles shoulder followed by practising the dry needling techniqes for these muscles. Before lunch, a presentation will show the muscles of the forearm, wrist, and hand with an emphasis on myofascial pain, specific tests, and dry needling techniques followed by an anatomy test. After lunch, the dry needling techniques will be taught, again in small groups and with supervision. After the coffee break, the course will conclude with a review and a practical exam.

After this course the participant will understand and be able to explain:

History of ‘dry needling’ and how it is diﬀerent from other types of needling.
Concept of ‘myofascial pain’ and its prevalence, features and pathophysiological hypotheses.
Causes of myofascial pain and its predisposing and perpetuating factors.
Potential physiological eﬀects of dry needling intervention.
Importance of the elicitation of ‘local twitch responses’ during dry needling.
Role of an adequate history and specific physical testing to diagnose myofascial pain.
A protocol for dry needling with safety checklists as recommended by the CPA.
Safety, hygiene, infection control, indications, contra-indications, adverse events of dry needling.
Recognizing myofascial problems and testing of patients with ‘hip-leg’ pains.
Dry needling techniques for ‘hip-leg myofascial pain’ patients.
Recognizing myofascial problems and testing of patients with ‘shoulder-arm’ pains.
Dry needling techniques for ‘shoulder-arm myofascial pain’ patients.