Course Overview

In this course, Whitfield Reaves discusses five common types of needle and point combinations used for treating joint pain and dysfunction. Whitfield has been teaching for over 30 years, and is known for his depth of knowledge and yet simplicity of treatment. And these treatments work in the clinic. Just take note of the reviews for this and other courses!

The presentation emphasizes the use the local and adjacent tissues to reduce pain and enhance joint mobility. Understanding the anatomical significance of these structures offers a path for increasing needle precision and enhancing clinical effectiveness. Whitfield will discuss the following five general protocols that can be easily integrated into clinical practice.

1. Threading the needle along the joint space
Example: The acromial-clavicular joint
Transverse needling between LI 16 and LI 15 at the AC joint line

2. Direct puncture into the synovial joint capsule
Example: The talar sinus of the ankle joint
Perpendicular insertion at GB 40, with deep penetration

3. Puncture the muscles that cross the joint
Example: The hip joint
Needling in the region of the extraordinary point Jiankua and GB 29 in the gluteus medius

4. Puncture the local ligaments
Example: The SI Joint
Lateral oblique needling in the region of Bl 27 and Bl 28

5. Puncture points adjacent to the joint
Example: The shoulder joint
Needling adjacent points SI 9, SI 10, and Jianqian

We feel that all practitioners will learn a trick or two in this course!

Course Objectives

• To be able to describe the protocol "threading the joint line".
• To learn how to treat into the synovial capsule of a joint.
• To describe joints where treatment is to the muscles that cross the joint.
• How to treat ligaments that support a joint.
• Be able to describe adjacent needling to a joint.

Course Outline

0 hrs - 45 minThreading the joint line in the case of the acromial-clavicular joint. Other joints include the medial knee and the sternal-clavicular joint.

45 min - 1.5 hrsTreating directly into a synovial capsule of a joint, including the shoulder capusle and the ankle joint.

1.5 hrs - 2 hrsTreatment to muscles that cross a joint, such as the gluteus medius in the case of the hip joint.

2 hrs - 2.5 hrsTreating the sacral-iliac joint with emphasis on the posterior SI joint ligaments.

2.5 hrs - 3 hrsThe shoulder joint, and using local points both anterior and posterior that are adjacent to the capsule.