SMA Foundational Courses
Two-day continuing education courses that teach Sports Medicine Acupuncture assessment and treatment protocols, plus recorded webinars you can take anytime.
Foundational Sports Medicine Acupuncture, two days at a time
These foundational courses give you Sports Medicine Acupuncture assessment and treatment protocols you can use in practice right away. There are many to choose from, with new courses in development.
All in-person foundational courses are taught by qualified C.SMA practitioners who have completed AcuSport Education teacher training. Every course is NCCAOM PDA approved.
Want to go further? The SMAC Program is the full Sports Medicine Acupuncture certification.
In-person courses
Live, in-person two-day continuing education courses that teach hands-on Sports Medicine Acupuncture assessment and treatment protocols, plus recorded courses and webinars you can take anytime. Check the class calendar for upcoming dates, or contact us about hosting one.
The neck and shoulder are observed as one complex and must not be separated in assessment or treatment. Neck injury often involves shoulder symptoms, and shoulder pain frequently stems from the cervical spine.
Injuries covered include cervical degeneration, fallen pillow syndrome (luozhen), cervical strain and sprain, muscle tension headaches, rotator cuff and bicipital tendinopathy, and common muscle imbalance syndromes. We will examine injuries from a mechanical “how and why” using orthopedic physical evaluations and manual muscle testing to assess the integrity of the musculoskeletal system.
Innovative treatment protocols use needle techniques to the involved motor and acupuncture points, refining your assessment and treatment skills and greatly enhancing your success rate with neck and shoulder injuries.
The low back and hip are observed as one complex and must not be separated in assessment or treatment. Low back injury often involves hip symptoms, and hip pain frequently stems from the lumbar spine; viewing them as one unit greatly benefits treatment outcomes.
Imbalance of the musculature acting on the hip and low back is discussed, with treatment protocols to correct these imbalances and relieve pain. We will examine injuries from a mechanical “how and why” using orthopedic physical evaluations and manual muscle testing to assess the integrity of the musculoskeletal system.
Advanced needle techniques, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitated (PNF) stretching and myofascial release techniques are presented and practiced.
Referred pain from lumbar spondylosis is reviewed because of its relationship with several lower extremity pain patterns. Injuries covered include greater trochanter bursitis, adductor and hamstring strains, knee pain including cartilage and ligament injuries, shin splints, ankle sprains and fractures.
We examine the mechanical “how and why” injury occurs using orthopedic physical evaluations and manual muscle testing. Advanced needle techniques, PNF stretching and myofascial release techniques are presented and practiced, combining Western and Eastern diagnostic and treatment techniques.
MMT I: Neck, Shoulder and Upper Extremity. MMT II: Low Back, Hip and Lower Extremity.
MMT is an integral part of assessment, providing important diagnostic information and a prognosis for many musculoskeletal injuries. When a muscle or tendon injury is suspected, MMT indicates specific tender sites from a soft tissue lesion, giving you an accurate location to treat the affected tissue and involved channel.
Each workshop covers the anatomy, palpation and fundamentals of manual muscle testing for over 45 muscles, with acupuncture protocols, needle technique and motor point locations for many of them. The class is about 20% needling; the emphasis is on mastering MMT through many case studies.
Referred pain is a common complaint, and one of the most challenging parts of clinical work is accurately determining the primary injury behind neck, shoulder and arm pain. Orthopedic evaluations, manual muscle testing and anatomical knowledge help determine the source of radicular and non-radicular pain.
This seminar helps you identify, diagnose and treat radicular and non-radicular paresthesia pain patterns: for example, lower cervical disc injury, cervical spondylosis, facet joint referral patterns, scalene syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome, and common trigger points that refer paresthesia pain patterns.
Protocols include acupuncture to motor, trigger and traditional points to treat both the injury and the patient, for long-lasting results. Myofascial release techniques are discussed and practiced.
This seminar covers the differentiation of radicular and non-radicular pain patterns. Paresthesia in the hip and lower extremity can make it difficult to diagnose the source and develop a treatment protocol.
You will learn to assess and treat pain patterns ranging from radicular pain caused by lower lumbar disc injury to non-radicular pain from lumbar facet joint pathology, the sacroiliac joint, trochanteric bursitis and more.
The seminar discusses the biomedical cause of the referred pain, with an integrated TCM approach to assessment and treatment.
A hands-on workshop on identifying, palpating and needling myofascial trigger points of the head, neck and shoulder. The techniques are invaluable for many pain conditions and easily incorporated into an existing practice.
You will leave with an anatomical understanding of trigger points and of peripheral and central sensitization, the role trigger points play in the channel system, key clinical signs for when to use trigger point needling, and confidence needling sensitive structures of the head, neck, chest and upper back.
Learn to palpate, locate and treat pain-producing myofascial trigger points of the abdominals, low back, hip and thigh. The emphasis is on technique and on integrating it into a full treatment to improve outcomes for common pain syndromes and movement dysfunctions of these regions.
Adhesive Capsulitis: An Acupuncturist’s Guide to Assessment & Treatment
Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) is a painful, inflammatory condition with loss of active and passive shoulder motion caused by thickening and contracture of the joint capsule. Rotator cuff tears, glenohumeral arthritis, crystalline arthropathy and cervical radiculopathy can produce similar symptoms.
We examine assessment strategies that differentiate adhesive capsulitis from these conditions, leading to an effective treatment strategy: local, adjacent and distal point prescriptions, myofascial release, facilitated stretching and basic rehabilitative exercises.
Each participant takes part in a 3-day cadaver dissection: four dissections run at the same time, with 5–6 participant dissectors per specimen. Everyone in the group can dissect, palpate and needle important structures under the guidance of Brian Lau.
Each day opens with a short presentation on the channel systems’ myofascial structures, motor points, target tissue, nerve pathways, needle depths and the goals of the day’s dissection. Each practitioner dissects a region of the body to completion, creating a learning opportunity for every member of the group.
The focus is to discover anatomical insights, learn how injuries occur, which tissues are involved and how myofascial tissues connect, with open-forum discussions between dissection groups. Comparing anatomy between specimens is an incredible learning opportunity, and nothing replaces dissecting first-hand. You will return to your practice with a new vision of your patients that improves treatment outcomes.
Priority, early registration is given to students currently enrolled in the SMAC Program.
SMA Foundational Online Courses and Webinars
Take these anytime, from anywhere, for continuing education credit. Buy them on the Foundational recorded webinars and Motor Point Needle Protocols pages.
The quadratus lumborum (QL) is a crucial structure of the lumbar spine. Despite its importance, its role in stability and its contribution to low back pain are controversial and not fully understood. The QL is reported to be more of a postural muscle that acts as an intersection of tensional force than a prime mover in any particular action.
Because all muscles interconnect through the fascial system, the practitioner must look beyond treating the QL as an individual pain generator. This presentation covers the latest research on the muscle, its complex structure and relevant neurology, its myofascial connections to neighboring tissues and its sinew channel connections.
We also discuss assessment, acupuncture point protocols and local anatomy related to proper needling, plus targeted myofascial release and corrective exercise protocols to help correct postural imbalances, restore function and reinforce the acupuncture.
The psoas major is involved with the stability and balance of the lumbar spine, pelvis and hip joint. Because of its central location, imbalances in this muscle can affect the entire body, and understanding its influence is especially important when working with low back, hip and groin pain.
This class covers the functional anatomy of the psoas major and its role in spinal and hip mechanics. We explore how imbalances of the muscle affect the spine and pelvis, and how the psoas is involved with injury due to lordosis, spinal rotations, spinal bends and pelvic tilts.
We also explore the channel and organ relationships of the muscle, integrating the anatomy into the TCM channel system. Comprehensive treatment approaches use local, adjacent and distal acupuncture, myofascial release techniques and corrective exercises.
Motor entry point locations and needle protocols for the muscles associated with vertebral and sacral fixations: the psoas, gluteus maximus, popliteus, middle deltoid, lower trapezius, splenius capitis, semispinalis capitis and splenius cervicis.
Supportive muscles are also presented, such as the transversospinalis group at the Huatuojiaji points, the suboccipitals, the longissimus thoracis (inner UB channel), iliocostalis thoracis (outer UB channel) and levator scapula. You will see many motor entry points in human tissue from AcuSport Education’s cadaver dissections, which helps build skill and an appreciation of needle depth.
Motor entry point locations and needle protocols for many low back, hip and groin muscles. Matt Callison discusses the latest research on motor entry point locations and needle depths.
You will see many motor entry points in human tissue from AcuSport Education’s cadaver dissections, including a bifurcated piriformis and sciatic nerve. Observing where the motor nerve enters the muscle helps build skill and an appreciation of needle depth.
The latest research on muscle motor entry point (MEP) locations, how to find them and effective needle protocols for over 33 motor entry points of the lower extremity and foot, with many cadaver specimen videos showing where the nerve enters the muscle.
Matt Callison is a pioneer in motor point acupuncture and has spent over 30 years researching, refining and treating motor entry points through the lens of Western biomedicine and TCM, using surface electrical stimulation, research and his own cadaver dissections.
Understanding where the motor nerve enters the muscle gives the TCM practitioner insight into needle depth and obtaining de qi sensation.
Motor Point Needle Protocols: Neck, Shoulder & Upper Extremity Muscles
Motor entry point locations and needle protocols for over 50 muscles of the neck, shoulder and upper extremity, with many motor entry points shown in human tissue from AcuSport Education’s cadaver dissections.
Not included in this recording: the pectoralis major, rhomboid major and minor, and the middle and lower trapezius. These muscles are shown and practiced under guidance in the live SMAC courses.
Find your next course
Live in-person classes, recorded webinars and the full SMAC certification.