Seminars
Janet G. Travell, MD Seminar Series
About the Courses
MPS-5: Intramuscular Manual Therapy/Trigger Point Needling
Program Overview
This four-day workshop will review all treatment techniques for muscles covered in the MPS 1-4 courses with an emphasis on dry needling / intramuscular trigger point stimulation. Relevant anatomy, palpation techniques and manual treatment options will only be reviewed briefly in this course. In addition, participants will learn additional dry needling techniques. Course attendees will practice on each other under the direction of skilled tutors. This is a training program with immediate clinical applicability upon completion.
Immediately following the 4-day program, participants will be able to take theoretical and practical examinations. The theoretical examination consists of 75 multiple choice questions. During the practical examination, participants will need to demonstrate the competent and safe treatment of two muscles using trigger point needling techniques. Upon successful completion of the examinations, participants will become “Certified Myofascial Trigger Point Therapists” (CMTPT). Participation in the examinations is not required, but is strongly recommended.
Prerequisites
To be eligible for the MPS-5, Trigger Point Needling course, participants must have completed MPS-1, MPS-2, MPS-3 and MPS-4.
Eligibility Requirements
Participants licensed to perform injection or intramuscular manual therapy are eligible to take this course. This includes all allopathic, osteopathic, naturopathic and podiatric physicians; physician assistants; nurses and nurse practitioners; and licensed acupuncturists. Chiropractors, athletic trainers and physical therapists in states where dry needling/intramuscular manual therapy has been approved are also eligible (find a list of rulings by state).
All participants must provide proof of adequate malpractice insurance. All participants are expected to participate in the hands-on portion of the course. By registering for this course, participants agree to practice the various manual and needling techniques on each other. Prior to the course, all participants must sign a waiver (view sample waiver) absolving the Janet G. Travell, MD Seminar Series, the program directors and the instructors of any liability in the event of injury.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:
- Discuss the indications and contraindications to needling and injection therapy
- Discuss the possible complications of needling and injection therapy
- Discuss the pharmacology of the different drugs and biologicals used in injection therapy*
- Discuss the theoretical basis of trigger point therapy**
- Diagnose and treat persons with myofascial pain syndrome using dry needling techniques
* All drugs used in the treatment of myofascial pain syndromes, including local anesthetics and biological toxins, are used “off-label” and are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of myofascial pain syndromes.
** To prepare for the theoretical examinations we strongly recommend that participants review the textbooks Myofascial Trigger Points: Pathophysiology and Evidence-Informed Diagnosis and Management by Jan Dommerholt and Peter Huijbregts and Clinical Mastery in the Treatment of Myofascial Pain by Lucy Whyte Ferguson and Robert Gerwin.
Schedule
Note: The actual times may vary with each program at the discretion of the instructors. Coffee breaks are provided; meals are on your own.
| Day 1 8:00 am–5:30 pm |
Registration from 8:00–8:30 am |
| Indications for trigger point needling | |
| Complication of trigger point needling | |
| Trigger point needling of the shoulder muscles | |
| Review of sensory aspects of trigger points | |
| Day 2 8:00 am–5:30 pm |
Trigger point needling of the arm muscles |
| Trigger point needling of the hand muscles | |
| Trigger point needling of the craniomandibular muscles | |
| Introduction to other needling approaches | |
| Day 3 8:00 am–5:30 pm |
Trigger point needling of the paraspinal muscles |
| Scientific update on trigger point needling | |
| Trigger point needling of the low back muscles | |
| Trigger point needling of the pelvic muscles | |
| Day 4 8:00 am–5:30 pm |
Review of motor aspects of trigger points |
| Trigger point needling of the thigh muscles | |
| Trigger point needling of the leg muscles | |
| Trigger point needling of the foot muscles | |
| Day 5 8:00 am–12:00 pm |
Theoretical Examinations |
| Practical Examinations |
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