Orthopedic Acupuncture: Head, Neck and Thorax 
Dr. Anthony Von der Muhll, L.Ac., DAOM, DNBAO, FAIPM
specializes in sports, orthopedic and neuro-musculoskeletal injuries and pain conditions. He became Licensed as an Acupuncturist in 2003, and was the first graduate of the Five Branches University’s’ Integrative Sports Medicine program. He has served as a Clinical Instructor and Associate Professor at the Five Branches since 2005, and as an Instructor in the Doctorate of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Program of the Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences beginning in 2017. He is also a Diplomate of the National Board of Acupuncture Orthopedics, a Fellow of the American Academy of Pain Management, and certified as a Personal Trainer through the American College of Sports Medicine. He is also one of the few traditionally-trained acupuncturists who has also become certified as a Myofascial Trigger Point Therapist (dry needling) through Myopain Seminars. He has 20 years of clinical experience as a sports massage therapist, physical therapy aide, athletic training assistant, and licensed acupuncturist in multi-disciplinary clinics, including SpineMed Associates and the PRIME Pain Medicine Institute. He has also served as an Expert Witness for the California Acupuncture Board (CAB) and in civil malpractice litigation.
February 5, 2022-February 6, 2022 9:00 AM-6:00 PM
Room: 101
16 Category 1 CAB units available
Type: Online Via Livestream or Recorded Lectures
Description:
History-taking for head, neck, thorax: key diagnostic questions
- “Red flag” symptoms of urgent/serious medical conditions warranting referral to physician care
- Differentiating symptoms of muscles, joint, disc, and spinal cord, plexus and nerve root injuries
- Neural hypersensitization and psycho-social factors
- Functional capacity questionnaires for reporting to managed care insurance
Physical exam of the head, neck, thorax: key procedures
- Observation, inspection and palpation
- Joint exam: active range-of-motion, stability, and tracking assessment of the cervical and thoracic spine and TM joint
- Neurologic exam: upper motor neuron; arm reflex, sensory, and motor function; and brachial plexopathies
- Special orthopedic tests for the spine and ribcage
- Documentation of physical exam findings
- Measuring and reporting functional capacity baselines and treatment outcomes
Diagnosis and pattern identification
- Cervicogenic and tension-type headaches
- Temperomandibular joint pain and dysfunction
- Cervical and thoracic sprains/strains and chronic myofascial pain
- Cervical and thoracic disc and facet joint injuries: dysfunction, derangement, degeneration
- Nerve root and spinal cord injuries
- Intercostal sprains/strains
- Brachial plexopathies and thoracic outlet syndrome
- Myofascial trigger points and referred pain patterns for over 17 muscles of the head, face, neck and thorax
Treatment of head, neck, and thorax pain and injuries
- When and how to use distant and local needling for rapid and lasting pain relief
- Electroacupuncture for neural blockade and rehabilitation
- Releasing muscle tension through myofascial trigger point needling
- Prolo-acupuncture for spinal and TM joint stabilization and mobilization
- Using 7-star, 3-edged and lancet needles to reduce inflammation and ischemic pain
- Manual therapy: gua sha, tui na, and muscle energy techniques to reduce trigger points and restore muscle flexibility and joint range of motion
- Active suction cupping: combining cups with passive and active movement for rapid and lasting results
- Postural and ergonomic correction and exercise therapies