The Dry Needling Plus approach to dry needling utilises effective acupuncture techniques to treat movement dysfunctions, based on a biomechanical assessment and palpation of tissues. Treatment is aimed at immediately improving range and patterns of movement. Dry Needling uses a solid, filament needle, as is used in the practice of acupuncture. It reduces the majority of the “hand breaking” manual therapy techniques commonly used in aclinical setting, preserving the therapists highly skilled hands for more subtle techniques. This course meets the requirements stipulated in the Guidelines for Safe Acupuncture and Dry Needling Practice (2007) released by the Australian Society of Acupuncture Physiotherapists Inc (ASAP).

In the hands of a skilled practitioner, dry needling can be used in most  cases the majority of the time and with less energy expenditure on behalf of the practitioner and equal or better effect than other manual techniques currently being used. If practiced well there is also a remarkable absence of the “post treatment tissue soreness” often experienced by the subject following other manual therapy interventions.

This two day program includes both theoretical and practical components of Dry Needling. You will be taught trigger point needling, and introduced to five additional effective needling techniques not taught in any other Dry Needling course in Australia. This approach addresses many of the limitations of established dry needling practice by differentiating between a variety of needling techniques and applying  them to specific changes identified in the tissue by means of skilled palpation, range of movement and neurodynamic  physical assessment .

It is suitable for Physiotherapists and Manual Therapists with no previous training in dry needling, those with limited needling experience, or practitioners who have done some dry needling training. Physiotherapists who have completed traditional acupuncture training but are yet to integrate its use into the manual therapy arena will also find this course very educational.

The theory component includes an overview of several popular approaches to dry needling, discusses Dry Needling in relation to traditional acupuncture. Other areas covered include the current proposed mechanisms of action, Health and Safety regulations and requirements, contraindications, warnings and incident management. You will also be introduced to the “Dry Needling Plus” approach to musculoskeletal needling. 

Practical components covered include basic needle insertion technique, triggerpoint needling, differentiation and practice of 5 “Dry Needling Plus” techniques. During the course you will undergo a competency assessment of needling of the vulnerable region of the thorax. Practical assessment and treatment of the upper limb, lower limb and Lumbar spine will be explored in detail.

This course is taught by Andrew Hutton, an APA Sports Physiotherapist, who also lectures on the APA Traditional Acupuncture course