Course Overview

Hamstring strain is most commonly diagnosed under the category of accident/trauma, and is a sports injury frequently seen by the acupuncturist. The trauma is at the level of the muscles and tendons, with qi and blood stagnation in the channels and collaterals. Hamstring strain is clearly Bladder meridian pathology, although the Kidney meridian may also be involved. Occasionally, strain and muscle tightness may be a repetitive stress disorder due to the accumulation of micro-trauma. Both cases are treated with similar points and techniques.

Treatment of the hamstring demonstrates the diversity of point selection for local and adjacent treatment in acupuncture sports medicine. Often, the point Bladder 37 is useful in releasing the entire hamstring group. This point is an example of “yin” techniques, needling into the space between the medial and lateral hamstrings. However, sometimes both the motor points and the trigger points are necessary. This is a “yang” technique, and involves treatment to ashi points located in the taut bands of muscle, slightly medial or lateral to the Bladder channel. Hamstring treatment is also is a good example of how simple orthopedic assessment, including manual muscle testing and passive stretching, can be integrated into the diagnostic process.

This series was introduced in 2011, and is based upon single individual sports injuries. Each course provides simple and direct video for first time viewing as well as to increase precision through repetition. Even if you have taken the newer series, Mastering the Treatment of Injury and Pain, this old series is still an excellent resource for review and is filled with clinical gems.

Course Objectives

• To perform manual muscle testing that assist in the assessment of hamstring involvement.
• To use palpation in order to diagnose hamstring involvement, differentiating between the lateral and the medial portions of the muscle.
• To know two non-local treatments that may be used in the treatment of the hamstring strain.
• To be able to describe needle technique on the point Bladder 37
• To be able to describe needle technique on the taut bands of the motor points and the trigger points.

Course Outline

0 hrs - 15 minReview anatomy of hamstring muscle group: Location, action, and indications for all local and adjacent acupuncture points; Bladder 36, Bladder 37, trigger points, motor points.

15 min - 30 minClinical assessment of pathology of the hamstring muscle group: Common western diagnosis — Tendinopathy, tendonitis, strain (tears), muscle strain (pulled hamstring). Understanding signs and symptoms: Signs and symptoms of hamstring muscle belly pathology (at Bladder 37), signs and symptoms of the hamstring tendon pathology (at Bladder 36). Orthopedic testing for the hamstring muscle and manual muscles testing, passive stretch.

30 min - 45 minDemonstration of assessment techniques

45 min - 1 hrsDemonstration of needling techniques: Needle technique of Bladder 37 and its region (the belly of the muscle, motor point, trigger point) and Needle technique for Bladder 36 (the tendon).