TDPT 7205 - Dry Needling for Physical Therapist

The focus of this elective course is on introducing students in the Post Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy Program (PPDPT) to Dry Needling (DN), or intramuscular manual therapy, used in the Physical Therapy profession. Students will learn to use pertinent findings from a comprehensive musculoskeletal examination that includes a thorough History, Systems Review, musculoskeletal examination including Tests and Measures, and clinical reasoning to best identify patients that will respond favorably to DN. This course will review theories of pain control in general and pain science as it relates to DN theory. This course will emphasize the safe and effective clinical application of DN to selected muscles, tendon, and fascia of the upper and lower Extremities, facial and selected trunk musculature. The course will provide first-time exposure and education through lecture, lab practical, case studies, and skills check-offs on DN technique based on the basic minimal competency standards, including OSHA clean needle technique, as regulations dictated by the Georgia Board of Physical Therapy. This course will review potential complications from the invasive nature of DN by providing ample lab time on surface anatomy and palpation to ensure accurate location of relevant regional anatomy and safety of the technique. This course will integrate contemporary knowledge and skills from various sources including textbooks, clinical experience of the instructors, and written guidelines from the FSBPT, APTA, and the WCPT. This course will offer a Certification of Training to the students following competency evaluation through quizzes, written exams, and OSCE’s to ensure safe and effective entry-level knowledge and skills of DN technique.

Hours:
3