Equine Dry Needling

The Equine Dry Needling - Hybrid (EQ-DN) course is designed for veterinarians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and chiropractors interested in equine myofascial pain management. The 1+2-day Equine Dry Needling hybrid online and in-person course includes a 1-day online section that students must complete before the course's live section. This course will introduce health professionals to the management of equine myofascial pain using dry needling therapies. The EQ-DN course includes the management of 20 equine muscles. Future advanced-level equine dry needling courses will expand upon the treatment options dependent upon interest.

NOTE: In the US, Canada, and other countries, physical therapists may be unable to use equine dry needling without a veterinarian. Before using equine dry needling in clinical practice, please check your national, state, and provincial laws and regulations.

The class size is limited to 24 students.

The course instructors are Dr. María Resano and Maria Calatayud, two Spanish clinicians and researchers who specialize in equine physiotherapy and rehabilitation. 

There are no required textbooks for this course, but we recommend

Dommerholt, J & Fernández De Las Peñas, C 2018. Trigger point dry needling; an evidenced and clinical-based approach. Edinburgh, Elsevier/Churchill Livingstone.  Available at checkout.

Pauli Gronberg 2015. ABC of the Horse Atlas. 6th edition. Otava Book Printing Ltd.

None

This is a 3-day course starting each day at 8:00 am until 5:30 pm. This course includes theoretical classes and practical sessions with horses. Each day will have two 15-minute Q&A sessions and one hour for lunch.

Note: Actual times may vary with each program at the discretion of the instructors. Coffee breaks are provided; meals are on your own.

Day 1 - Introduction to Myofascial Pain

07:30-08:00          Registration

08:00-08:50          Lecture: Introduction to Myofascial Pain

08:50-09:10          Lecture: The Integrated Trigger Point Hypothesis

09:10-09:30          Lecture: Etiology, clinical aspects, and diagnosis

09:30-09:50          Lecture: Treatment                   

09:50-10:10          Questions & Answers

Introduction to Equine Dry Needling techniques

10:10-10:30      Lecture: Palpation techniques: Identification of taut bands, TrPs, and pain

10:30-10:50      Lecture: Description of the technique; Indications and contraindications

10:50-11:10      Lecture: Rules, hygiene, and safety

11:10-11:40      Lab: Practice of Dry Needling in participants

11:40-12:40      Clinical cases

12:40-02:00      Lunch

02:00-03:00      Demonstration dynamic assessment (arena)

03:00-05:30      Lab: Dry needling of neck muscles

Day 2 - Introduction to Equine Myofascial Pain

08:00-08:20      Lecture: Biomechanics and TrPs

08:20-08:40      Lecture: Pain measurements in horses

08:40-09:10      Lecture: Anatomy and Dry Needling technique of the back

09:10-09:40      Lecture: Anatomy and Dry Needling technique of the forelimb

09:40-10:00      Questions & Answers

10:00-10:30      Clinical cases

10:30-12:30      Lab: Dry Needling technique of back muscles

12:30-02:00      Lunch

02:00-04:00      Lab: Dry Needling technique of forelimb muscles

04:00-05:30      Review of DN

Day 3 - Dry needling of the hindlimb

08:00-08:30      Lecture: Anatomy and Dry Needling technique of the hindlimb

08:30-09:00      Questions & Answers

09:00-10:00      Theoretical examination

10:00-10:20      Questions & Answers

10:20-12:30      Lab: Dry Needling technique of hindlimb muscles

12:30-02:00      Lunch

02:00-03:00      Review of DN

03:00-05:00      Practical examination

05:00-05:30      Summary and Conclusion

Veterinarians

Residents of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation

Physical Therapists

Occupational Therapists

Chiropractors

Familiarity with or a strong interest in equine therapy is required.

The Equine Dry Needling course has been approved by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards RACE committee for 25 hours (Veterinary - Medical). CE Broker Tracking #: 20-921121.

The course instructors have also been approved by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards RACE committee.

Residents of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation receive a $200 discount. Please check the box at checkout confirming that you are a resident. We may ask for verification of residence status.

In the US, physical Therapists and occupational therapists receive a $200 discount. Please check the box at checkout confirming that you are a physical therapist or occupational therapist. We may ask for verification. Note that this discount is only available in the US!

Participants should dress casually and comfortably. Proper shoes are recommended. Although this is an equine course program, course participants will practice a few basic dry needling treatment techniques on each other prior to working with the horses.

At the conclusion of this course, students will be able to:

• Describe all studied muscles in the course: origin and insertion, innervation, function, and dry needling precautions
• Describe three aspects of the contribution of myofascial trigger points to soft tissue pain and dysfunction
• Describe the key components of the Integrated Trigger Point Hypothesis
• Demonstrate proper identification of all the muscles studied in the course
• Demonstrate high standards of palpation of the muscles studied in the course: applicable to most soft tissue abnormalities
• Demonstrate proper identification of the three key features of a trigger point
• Describe three basic principles (technique, indications/contraindications,  hygiene and safety) of dry needling
• Demonstrate safe and accurate dry needling of each included muscle