Neck & Upper Back Pain: Advanced Assessment and Treatment Skills

Course Description:

     This 2-day workshop will provide participants with the fundamentals needed to assess, treat, and prevent a variety of common injuries to the neck and upper back. The course will consist of lecture, demonstration, and hands-on practice integrating a variety of physical examination and acupuncture techniques. Participants can expect to gain proficiency in clinical anatomy, palpation, range of motion assessment, orthopedic testing, and ashi/trigger point needling.  

  

Course Outline:

Day 1:

9:00 – 9:30 AM: Introduction, Orthopedic and Trigger Point Acupuncture Basics

9:30 – 10:30 AM: Clinical Anatomy and Inspection of the Neck/Upper Back

10:30 – 12:30 PM: Range of Motion (ROM) Assessment and Muscle Length Testing

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12:30 – 1:30 PM: LUNCH BREAK

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1:30 – 2:30 PM: Muscle Assessment, Palpation, and Trigger Point Acupuncture Needling Demonstration

2:30– 5:30 PM: Supervised Practice: Assessment, Palpation, and Needling Technique for Trigger Points

of the Upper Back

Day 2:

9:00 – 11:00 AM: Orthopedic Testing, Demonstration, and Practice

11:00 – 12:30 PM: Neurological Exam: Myotomes, Dermatomes, and Reflexes

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12:30 – 1:30 PM: LUNCH BREAK

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1:30 – 2:30 PM: Muscle Assessment, Palpation, and Trigger Point Acupuncture Needling Demonstration

2:30– 5:30 PM: Supervised Practice: Assessment, Palpation, and Needling Technique for Trigger Points

of the Neck