Module 1

Essentials of Integrative Acupuncture Physical Medicine and

Basics of Shoulder Injuries and Pain

March 7-8th, 2015

9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

16 Category 1 CEUs approved by California Acupuncture Board

at 200 Seventh Ave., Santa Cruz CA

Course Content:

This class will cover essentials of an integrative approach to acupuncture physical medicine.

Shoulder pain and injuries will serve as a common condition to illustrate theory, principles and techniques of integrative acupuncture evaluation, diagnosis and treatment.

Overview of Integrative Acupuncture Physical Medicine

  • Integrative (East-West and bio-psycho-social) models of chronic pain and healing.

  • Jing-luo theory and tissues in AOM, and their relationships to patho-anatomy and -physiology of injuries and pain

    • Bones

    • Muscles

    • Tendons/aponeuroses

    • Ligaments

    • Bursae

    • Peripheral nerves and central nervous system

    • Joints

    • Pathologic fibrosis/scar tissue

  • Anatomical kinesiology and 6-meridian theory: how the body moves and maintains stability, in health and disease

  • The degenerative cascade: Eastern and Western natural history

Evaluation and Diagnosis of Injuries and Pain

  • History-taking for injuries and pain: objectives, challenges, and general procedures

    • Key questions for assessing risks, urgency and severity

  • Physical examination for injuries and pain: objectives, challenges, and general procedures

    • Inspection, vitals.

    • Active range-of-motion.

    • Passive range-of-motion/joint play/end-feel.

    • strength, sensory, and reflex testing.

    • Diagnosis/pattern identification in integrative acupuncture physical medicine; identifying root and branch.

Treatment Goals, Principles and Modalities.

  • Indirect vs. direct approaches to acupuncture treatment

  • Making distal acupuncture work for musculoskeletal pain

  • Neuro-anatomical needling (“dry/ trigger-point/ prolo-” acupuncture)

  • Basics of electro-acupuncture

  • Manual therapies, gua sha, cupping

Basics of Shoulder Injuries and Pain

  • Clinical anatomy of the shoulder

  • Key diagnostic issues

  • Identifying urgent/serious conditions; ruling out the neck as a contributor

  • History-taking for shoulder injuries and pain: key questions

  • Physical exam of the shoulder

    • Inspection, surface anatomy and palpation

    • Active range of motion

    • Passive range-of-motion and joint play/end-feel

    • Strength testing

    • Special orthopedic tests

  • Documenting normal and abnormal findings for the shoulder

  • Introduction to diagnosis and treatment for the shoulder

    • Gua sha, cupping, 7-star needling

    • Treatment of shoulder tendonitis, bursitis and impingement with acupuncture/electro-acupuncture.

    • Correcting posture and ergonomics

    • Exercises and taping techniques

Further evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of shoulder conditions will be covered in:

Module 2: Cervico-Thoracic Spine, Thorax, Shoulder Girdle, and Tempero-mandibular Joint

March 28-29, 2015

All classes will be held at 200 7th Ave., Santa Cruz CA, 95062