Traditional Curriculum

MT 1

Course Contents

This 3-day indroductory course covers the foundations of manual trigger point therapy and the myofascial pain syndrome. The course is a hands on course. Participants practice manual trigger point therapy of trunk, spine, pelvis, and shoulder muscles among each other. This is a training program with immediate clinical applicability upon completion.

Duration of the Course

22.5 hours

Prerequisites

The course is designed for PTs, MDs, DCs and DOs

Course Objectives

Upon completion of the course, participants will ...

• understand the basic scientific backgrounds of the myofascial pain syndrome and of trigger points
• be able to identify muscles of the trunk, spine, pelvis, and shoulder by surface anatomy, palpation and by function and know their clinical symptoms and perpetuating factors
• be able to identify the features of trigger points by physical examination and apply this knowledge to muscles of the trunk, spine, pelvis, and shoulder
• understand the specific indications and contraindications of manual trigger point therapy
• be able to perform manual trigger point therapy for muscles of the trunk, spine, pelvis, and shoulder
• know possible side effects and complications of manual trigger point therapy and will be able to react appropriately
• have updated their anatomy skills and knowledge

MT 2

Course Contents

This 3-day advanced course covers manual trigger point therapy of the extremity muscles. The course is a hands on course. Participants practice manual trigger point therapy among each other. This is a training program with immediate clinical applicability upon completion.

Duration of the Course

22.5 hours

Prerequisites

• MT1
• or an equivalent course from another course provider. Please ask the organizer of your course

Course Objectives

Upon completion of the course, participants will ...

• understand the basic scientific backgrounds of the myofascial pain syndrome and of trigger points
• be able to identify muscles of the extremities by surface anatomy, palpation and by function and know their clinical symptoms and perpetuating factors
• be able to identify the features of trigger points by physical examination and apply this knowledge to muscles of the extremities
• understand the specific indications and contraindications of manual trigger point therapy
• be able to perform manual trigger point therapy for muscles of the extremities
• know possible side effects and complications of manual trigger point therapy and will be able to react appropriately
• have updated their anatomy skills and knowledge

MT 3

Course Contents

This 3-day advanced course includes muscles of the head, face, neck and cervical spine muscles. Additional topics are muscular entrapments of peripheral nerves, myofascial chains and the management of TMJ dysfunctions. The course is a hands on course. Participants practice manual trigger point therapy among each other. This is a training program with immediate clinical applicability upon completion.

Duration of the Course

22.5 hours

Prerequisites

• MT1 & MT2
• or an equivalent course from another course provider. Please ask the organizer of your course

Course Objectives

Upon completion of the course, participants will ...

• understand the basic scientific backgrounds of the myofascial pain syndrome and of trigger points
• be able to identify muscles of the head, face and neck by surface anatomy, palpation and by function and know their clinical symptoms and perpetuating factors
• be able to identify the features of trigger points by physical examination and apply this knowledge to the head, face and neck muscles
• understand the specific indications and contraindications of manual trigger point therapy
• be able to perform manual trigger point therapy for muscles of  the head, face and neck muscles
• understand the concept of myofascial chains
• be able to diagnose and treat entrapments of peripheral nerves
• know possible side effects and complications of manual trigger point therapy and will be able to react appropriately
• have updated their anatomy skills and knowledge

MT Refresher Course

Course Contents

This 1-day refresher course is a prerequisite for the manual trigger point therapy exam.

Duration of the Course

8 hours

Prerequisites

• MT1 & MT2 & MT3 
• or equivalent courses from another course provider. Please ask the organizer of your course.

Exam Manual Trigger Point Therapy

Board of Examiners

Examiners are DGSA senior instructors. Independent co-examiners may be present as well.

Prerequisites

PTs, MDs, DCs, DOs who have attended the MT refresher or professional course and have at least 55 hours of training in manual trigger point therapy with the DGSA or another course provider. Self-study is required but will not be credited. For further information please contact your local course organizer.

Contents

A) Theoretical exam: Structural, functional and topographical anatomy of muscles, nerves, vessels and joints, physical examination and diagnosis of trigger points, foundations of manual trigger point therapy (techniques, indications, contraindications, side effects, complications), up to date knowledge of the scientific background of the MPS and trigger points
B) Practical exam: Assessment of a patient with MPS, treatment of a patient with MPS with manual trigger point therapy

Procedure of the Exam

A)  Theoretical exam: 60 multiple choice questions in 1 hour
B)  Practical exam: 30 minutes on a fictitious patient

DN 1

Course Contents

This 3-day indroductory course covers the foundations of dry needling, the myofascial pain syndrome and trigger points. The course is a hands on course. Participants practice dry needling of the extremity muscles among each other. This is a training program with immediate clinical applicability upon completion.

Duration of the Course

22.5 hours

Prerequisites

• MT1
• or an equivalent course from another course provider. Please ask the organizer of your course

Course Objectives

Upon completion of the course, participants will ...

• understand the basic scientific backgrounds of the myofascial pain syndrome and of trigger points
• be able to identify the extremity muscles by surface anatomy, palpation and by function and know their clinical symptoms and perpetuating factors
• be able to identify the features of trigger points by physical examination and apply this knowledge to the extremity muscles
• understand the specific indications and contraindications of dry needling
• know and be able to apply the safety rules for dry needling
• be able to perform dry needling of the extremity muscles
• know possible side effects and complications of dry needling and will be able to react appropriately
• have updated their anatomy skills and knowledge

DN 2

Course Contents

This 3-day advanced course covers dry needling of the trunk, spine, pelvis, and shoulder muscles. The course is a hands on course. Participants practice manual trigger point therapy among each other. This is a training program with immediate clinical applicability upon completion

Duration of the Course

22.5 hours

Prerequisites

• MT1 & DN1
• or an equivalent course from another course provider. Please ask the organizer of your course

Course Objectives

Upon completion of the course, participants will ...

• understand the basic scientific backgrounds of the myofascial pain syndrome and of trigger points
• be able to identify the trunk, spine, pelvis, and shoulder muscles by surface anatomy, palpation and by function and know their clinical symptoms and perpetuating factors
• be able to identify the features of trigger points by physical examination and apply this knowledge to the trunk, spine, pelvis, and shoulder muscles
• understand the specific indications and contraindications of dry needling
• know and be able to apply the safety rules for dry needling
• be able to perform dry needling of the trunk, spine, pelvis, and shoulder muscles
• know possible side effects and complications of dry needling and will be able to react appropriately
• have updated their anatomy skills and knowledge

DN Refresher Course

Course Contents

This 1-day refresher course is a prerequisite for the dry needling exam.

Duration of the Course

8 hours

Prerequisites

• MT1 & DN1 & DN2 
• or equivalent courses from another course provider. Please ask the organizer of your course.

Dry Needling Exam

Board of Examiners

Examiners are DGSA senior instructors. Independent co-examiners may be present as well.

Prerequisites

PTs, MDs, DCs, DOs who have attended the DN refresher or professional course and have at least 55 hours of training in dry needling with the DGSA or another course provider. Self-study is required but will not be credited. For further information please contact your local course organizer.

Contents

A) Theoretical exam: Structural, functional and topographical anatomy of muscles, nerves, vessels and joints, physical examination and diagnosis of trigger points, foundations of dry needling (techniques, indications, contraindications, side effects, complications, safety rules), up to date knowledge of the scientific background of the MPS and trigger points
B) Practical exam: Assessment of a patient with MPS, treatment of a patient with MPS with dry needling

Procedure of the Exam

A)  Theoretical exam: 60 multiple choice questions in 1 hour
B)  Practical exam: 30 minutes on a fictitious patient