Successful completion allows graduates to obtain professional indemnity insurance cover to faciliate the treatment of members of the public.

Overview

This advanced certification qualification, delivered by the College of Complementary Medical Education (CCME) offers participants the opportunity to become involved in the area of intramuscular trigger point stimulation, or dry needling as it is more commonly known.

This programme consists of two weekend modules (Saturday and Sunday) with both a practical and written examination on the second day of module 2.

Some of the course participants of the Dry Needling Course

This educational program will prepare clinicians to treat myofascial trigger points by dry needling (intramuscular trigger point stimulation). Participants will learn various dry needling techniques using solid acupuncture needles. Course attendees will practice on each other under the direction of skilled tutors. Relevant anatomy, palpation techniques and manual treatment options will only be reviewed briefly in this course. This is a training programme with immediate clinical applicability upon completion.

This programme is relatively new in Ireland and it is anticipated that demand from medical and complementary medical practitioners from all disciplines will significantly exceed the number of places available. As a result early enrolment is strongly advised.

Entry Requirements

Individuals wanting to participate on the National Qualification in Trigger Point Needling programme must hold the National Qualification in Neuromuscular Therapy or equivalent.

Individuals who do not hold the National Qualification in Neuromuscular Therapy but who have a background in medicine, physiotherapy, osteopathy, acupuncture etc. can complete an additional two day educational weekend regarding Trigger Points which, upon successful completion, will allow participation. Participants licensed to perform injection or dry needling therapy are eligible to take this additional weekend. This includes all allopathic, osteopathic, naturopathic, and podiatric physicians, physician assistants, nurses and nurse practitioners, acupuncturists, and physiotherapists, chiropractors etc.

Graduates must hold valid professional indemnity insurance. All participants are expected to participate in the hands-on portion of the course.

Trigger Point Examination Weekend

This is a seperate programme for individuals who DO NOT have any background in Trigger Points. All other individuals do not need to participate on the Trigger Points Examination Weekend and can skip to the next section by clicking here

Conclusion

Myofascial pain syndromes (MPS) affect muscles, joints and skeletal structures, leading to pain, loss of function and movement impairments. The myofascial trigger point, the characteristic and diagnostic feature of MPS, is the physical entity by which MPS is identified. Treatment involves inactivating myofascial trigger points, correcting biomechanical and postural dysfunction, and restoring normal movement patterns. This two-day workshop is presented to teach the techniques of trigger point identification, effective manual techniques of inactivation of trigger points, and restoration of function. Each teaching block consists of an introductory lecture and demonstration, followed by supervised hands-on practice in small groups.

Higher Diploma in Neuromuscular Therapy

What can I do with this qualification ?

Offer consultancy services to primary conventional and complementray bodywork practitioners as well as offer advanced intervention procedures to patients with chonic soft tissue, muscle and nerve pain.

Overview

This course aims to provide qualified practitioners with step by step protocols for the successful treatment of somatic dysfunction. Utilising the expertise of leading authorities in the area of Neuromuscular Soft Tissue Manipulation, this course will include the theories, validation and techniques of manual complementary medical treatment for both chronic and acute neuromuscular pain.

World class tutors, including Leon Chaitow, DO, Judith DeLany, LMT, and John Sharkey, NMT will offer you an opportunity to gain the most up to date, evidence based and fully referenced information and education available.

Audio-Visual equipment will deliver real time, detailed, close ups of advanced digital soft tissue manipulation, ensuring that all participants are afforded an unobstructed view of the tutors intricate hand placements. The video taken during tutorials will be available to students afterwards for study purposes.

Entry Requirements

The course is exclusively available to qualified bodywork therapists. Qualifying individuals include

# Doctors

# Dentists

# Rolfers

# Osteopaths

# Occupational Therapists

# Certificate Level Neuromuscular Therapists

# Orthopaedic Sports Massage Therapists

# Physiotherapists

# Chiropractors

All applications will be considered on an individual basis.

CCME students who are approaching the end of their course are also eligible to apply.