IMA Course Program Outline

The International MyoPuncture Academy organizes basic and master courses for medical doctors, physiotherapists and complementary health practitioners seeking to reach professional excellence in the management of disorders and pain that occurs in the human musculoskeletal system. The therapeutic methods feature advanced dry needling, joint manipulation techniques and orthopedic massage. Due to our teaching strategy, the participants will be able, immediately after the course, to start a successful practice of these comprehensive systems of diagnosis and treatment.

Instructional Methods

· Lecture / Demonstrations

· Practical sessions: examination, needling, manual techniques.

Module Objectives

The practitioner will gain knowledge of:

1. The Basic Anatomy of the Musculoskeletal System.

2. Description of "Pain" and the three phases of pain - Immediate, Acute and Chronic.

3. Three common causes of pain:

· Ongoing nociception

· Inflammation

· Neuropathy (Cannon's Law and Denervation Hyper-sensitivity.)

4. Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain of Neuropathic Origin.

5. Clinical Manifestations:

· Sensory

· Motor (Consequences of Muscle Shortening – Contractures); pain in muscle caused by

  shortening/spasm in striated muscle; vasoconstriction caused by shortening in vascular

  smooth muscle. The large variety of pain syndromes caused by the mechanical pull of

  shortened muscles, including spondylosis and the prolapsed intervertebral disc)

· Autonomic (Sudomotor, Vasomotor and Pilomotor Activity)

· Trophic (changes & collagen degradation in neuropathy)

6. The importance of:

· Muscle shortening and its release

· Vasoconstriction and its reversal

· Vasovagal reactions.

7. Implications of spasm in paravertebral muscles, radiculopathic dysfunction and the 

    necessity to release shortened paravertebral muscles in spondylotic conditions such as disc 

    degeneration.

8. Response in Long Standing Disorders e.g., osteoarthritis.

9. Basic Needle technique:

· Sterilization. 

· Choice of Needles

· Use of needle injector

· Finding Points

· Needle Insertion Techniques

  Other Objectives

Participants will be evaluated in:

· Skills of examination

· Demonstrating effective and safe needling techniques

Upon successful completion of the program, a diplom for practice and certificate for CPD will be granted.

International Myopuncture Academy© 2009