• Develop diagnostic tools and complementary treatment approaches to Achilles tendinopathy and related Achiiles tendon issues
• Outline a complete approach to treatment from assessment to acupuncture to patient advice
• Discover major points and regions used most to treat Achilles tendon issues
• Apply palpation and needling concepts to regions affecting/affected by Achilles tendinopathy
• Devise treatment plans specific to the patient’s Achilles tendon issue

• Develop diagnostic tools and complementary treatment approaches to tarsal tunnel syndrome
• Outline a complete approach to treatment from assessment to acupuncture to patient advice
• Discover major points and regions used most to treat issues related to the tarsal tunnel of the foot
• Apply palpation and needling concepts to regions affecting/affected by tarsal tunnel syndrome
• Devise treatment plans specific to the patient’s medial foot/tarsal tunnel complaint

• Develop diagnostic tools and complementary treatment approaches to heel pain, plantar fasciitis and plantar fascia disorders
• Outline a complete approach to treatment from assessment to acupuncture to patient advice
• Discover major points and regions used most to treat plantar fascia disorders
• Apply palpation and needling concepts to regions affecting/affected by heel pain, plantar fasciitis and plantar fasciopathy
• Devise treatment plans specific to the patient’s plantar fascia complaint

• Develop diagnostic tools and complementary treatment approaches to Metatarsophalangeal joint pain, Turf toe and first Metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint issues
• Outline a complete approach to treatment from assessment to acupuncture to patient advice
• Discover major foot points and regions used most to achieve better treatment outcomes
• Apply palpation and traction needling concepts to regions affecting the first metatarsophalangeal joint
• Devise treatment plans specific to patient’s first metatarsophalangeal joint complaint

• Develop diagnostic tools and complementary treatment approaches to Morton’s metatarsalgia, capsulitis and forefoot pain
• Outline a complete approach to treatment from assessment to acupuncture to patient advice
• Discover major foot points and regions used most to achieve better treatment outcomes
• Apply palpation and “grid” needling concepts to regions affecting/affected by Morton’s metatarsalgia, capsulitis and forefoot pain
• Devise treatment plans specific to patient’s forefoot complaint

• Develop diagnostic tools and complementary treatment approaches to lateral ankle issues, inversion injuries and sinus tarsi syndrome
• Discover the association between lateral ankle injuries and sinus tarsi syndrome
• Outline a complete approach to treatment from assessment to acupuncture to patient advice
• Gain a better understanding of the distribution, pathology and function of the six leg muscle channels
• Devise a treatment plan specific to patient’s lateral ankle injury and sinus tarsi syndrome

• Develop diagnostic tools and complementary treatment approaches to common foot disorders
•  Outline a complete approach to treatment from assessment to acupuncture to patient advice
•  Discover major points and regions used most to achieve better treatment outcomes
•  Apply palpation and needling concepts to regions affecting/affected by foot disorders
•  Devise treatment plans specific to patient’s foot complaint

• Review the 2 major afferent pain pathways
• Discuss the local, segmental and cortical responses to pain and a painful stimulus
• Describe the major, descending inhibitory pathways for pain including the enkephalinergic, serotonergic and noradrenergic pathways
• Describe the cholinergic inhibitory pathway for pain
• Explain how acupuncture affect these pain pathways

• Acquaint the clinician with the physiological effects of acupuncture and needling
• Provide supportive literature for the physiological effects of acupuncture and needling
• Present the concept of central desensitization as it relates to acupuncture and needling
• Discuss how needling affects pain modulation, range of motion, muscle activation and the chemical environment surrounding trigger points

Hour 1:

• Review and expand on, from a Western perspective, the neurophysiological basis of acupuncture
• Outline the pain pathway from the periphery to the central nervous system
• Review excitation/contraction coupling and muscle contraction theory
• Discuss the functions and distribution of alpha and gamma motor neurons

Hour 2:

• Explain and emphasize the functions of interneurons in the spinal cord
• Discuss muscle spindles and golgi tendon organs anatomy
• Explain the role of muscle spindles and golgi tendon organs in acupuncture
• Contrast slow versus fast stretch
• Introduce the concept of the “central integrated state” as it relates to acupuncture and acupuncture therapy
• Emphasize the relevance of cerebellar function to acupuncture as it relates to cerebellar output and modulation

• Discuss the Ren Mai’s overall function
• Introduce a selection of clinically useful points on the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) meridian
• Discuss the Du Mai’s overall function
• Introduce a selection of clinically useful points on the Du Mai (Governing Vessel) meridian
• Explore the anatomy and indications surrounding LV14

• Examine the origin of the Qi symbol
• Define Qi Identify and describe the types of Qi
• Explain Qi as it relates to triple warmer metabolism
• Describe and compare the types of Qi pathology
• Review the pertinent points on the Pericardium channel
• Explain how the neurological development of the brachial plexus relates to the pericardium meridian function
• Demonstrate the local anatomy of the pericardium channel in the upper extremity

• Explain how needle manipulation works on a physiological basis and extrapolate as to when to apply these techniques
• Summarize some of the more relevant literature surrounding the use of one of the most commonly used acupuncture points: Stomach 36
• Describe the physiology of tongue color, shape, coating and spirit (movement)
• Compare clinical examples of tongue appearance and identify key components of the tongue exam
• Interpret the meaning of clinical findings during the tongue exam and correlate them to physiology