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.

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