SmartCARE Education

This course is designed as a pre-scheduled two-weekend course to learn, master and utilize Dry Needling in clinical practice for Chiropractors and Physical Therapists professionals and students.

This course is NOT an acupuncture course, and will not count towards any Acupuncture continuing education.  

During the two prescheduled weekends, we will review relevant regional and three-dimensional anatomy with the aid of ultrasound technology. 

During each weekend we will discuss the pathophysiology of common muscle, joint and ligament disorders and injuries.

The course will cover the use of Dry Needling techniques in trigger points, myofascial pain syndromes and its use in musculoskeletal injuries and dysfunctions.  Also included will be musculotendinous, tenoperiosteal and ligamentous applications. 

Safety and the proper handling of potential blood borne pathogens associated with Dry Needling applications will be emphasized during both weekends. 

The course is designed to place heavy emphasis on practical, hands-on practice.    

Participants will review clinical anatomy and practice Dry Needling treatments of each tissue and region covered throughout the course.  Each attendee will be expected to complete and sign a waiver and practice Dry Needling on a lab partner.

The art of palpation will be covered. This includes identifying different subdermal tissues as the tip of the needle advances into the body including normal and abnormal muscle tissue, scar tissue, ligaments, tendons, musculotendinous junction, and adipose tissue. 

PREREQUISITES

*Active malpractice insurance (If you are covered by Employer /Clinic/Company/University/College malpractice insurance, then you can also take the class)

*Signed liability waiver by all attendees.  Female attendees must sign to certify they are not pregnant.

*Non-licensed professional (students) must be enrolled in an accredited Doctor of Chiropractic or Doctor of Physical Therapy program. 

OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, attendees will be able to:

1. Have a thorough understanding of Dry Needling history and clinical applications.
2. Understand normal and abnormal muscle contraction physiology.
3. Identify precipitating and perpetuating factors in trigger point (TP) syndromes.
4. Identify muscle attachments and trigger points by surface anatomy and muscle testing.
5. Identify ligamentous and tenoperiosteal tissues by surface anatomy.
6. Properly insert needles into each tissue identified including depth and angle of penetration.
7. Understand and apply Joint Centration concepts into treatment.
8. Understand absolute and relative contraindications to Dry Needling therapy.
9. Identify type of tissue encountered at the end of a needle using “needle palpation.”
10. Utilize the different needling techniques and stimulations performed across the field.
11. Discuss and apply electrical stimulation to inserted needles.

Course Preparation:

• Each courses is pre-scheduled for two-weekends. Lectures and resources are available 7 days prior to the first day of the scheduled course and are expected to be completed as instructed.  On Saturday and Sunday the course begins at 8 am and concludes by 7 pm.

• Each participant is responsible for their own lunch on all days. Meals will be not be provided. There will be water and coffee provided throughout the day.

• All of our labs are experiential, which requires all attendees to perform dry needling as well as receive needling during the course.

• Plan to dress in comfortable and lose clothing every day to allow access to the entire spine, upper and lower extremities. No jewelry or other bling needed.

• The seminar locations, and dates can be found on the registration page under each corresponding course dates.

• The seminar host location will be e-mailed 14 days prior to each course date. SmartCARE Education reserves the right to update and change the host location at any minute prior to the beginning of the course. 

• The manuals and handouts are available online a week before the beginning of the course. Printing is not required. You can use the soft copy and bring it to the class on a tablet, computer, iPad, etc.

• Class materials like needles, biohazard containers, alcohol swabs, etc will be provided free of cost.

• Participants must complete all online lectures and videos from the online modules accordingly. We will be referring to a lot of video files during the class to help you understand the course better.

•  Participants must bring a massage/chiropractic/portable treatment table. 

Certification will only be awarded upon successful completion of the two weekends, providing participants with 52 hours of hands-on dry needling education in total.

Our dry needling courses are PACE certified for Chiropractors and meet all the APTA requirements for Physical Therapists in Missouri.  Individual state accreditation must be requested if your state is not listed. 

For the purpose of this course, dry needling will be taught as one part of the treatment package for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions.  An introduction to corrective load management, rehabilitation and stimulation via exercise medicine will be provided to the participants.

Participants who complete the course obtain access to all online materials and updates for lifetime. 

*Students and pre-licensed discounts available.  Please email [email protected] with proof of enrollment or recent graduation (within 12 months) before enrolling in the course. 

Students must be enrolled in an accredited chiropractic or physical therapy program to attend this course.