Dry Needling Foundation Course

This comprehensive Dry Needling Foundation Course is designed to take participants from a novice level to a competent practitioner. The course integrates online theoretical learning with two days of hands-on practical training, ensuring a well-rounded understanding and application of dry needling techniques.

Participants will develop essential knowledge in:

• The fundamental mechanisms of dry needling, including physiological and neurophysiological effects.
• Safety protocols, contraindications, and risk management.
• The latest evidence-based approaches and clinical reasoning for effective practice.
• Practical application of dry needling techniques for all major muscle groups in the scapulothoracic and upper limb region, lumbopelvic and lower limb region, and cervical region.

This course provides a strong foundation for professionals seeking to enhance their clinical skills and integrate dry needling into their treatment protocols for managing musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction.

3. Target Audience / Eligibility

This course is specifically designed for licensed healthcare professionals who are involved in musculoskeletal rehabilitation and manual therapy, including:

• Physiotherapists
• Osteopaths
• Chiropractors
• Sports Therapists
• Manual Therapists
• Doctors
• Nurses
• Other allied healthcare and rehabilitation professionals

4. Course Objectives

General Objectives

The Dry Needling Foundation Course aims to:

1. Develop participants’ theoretical knowledge and clinical understanding of dry needling.
2. Enhance clinical reasoning skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving in relation to dry needling.
3. Ensure competency in the safe and effective application of dry needling techniques.
4. Enable seamless integration of dry needling into manual therapy and rehabilitation practice.
5. Improve interpersonal skills in relation to patient communication, safety, and ethical considerations in dry needling application.

Specific Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Demonstrate proficiency in the practical application of dry needling, adhering to the highest standards of safety and professional guidelines.
• Understand and explain the specific and non-specific physiological effects of dry needling, incorporating anatomical, physiological, microbiological, and pathological principles.
• Safely integrate dry needling techniques into manual therapy for the effective management of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction.

Learning Domains Addressed

• Knowledge & Understanding: Mastering dry needling theory, mechanisms, and its role in rehabilitation.
• Cognitive & Intellectual Skills: Developing critical thinking and clinical decision-making related to dry needling application.
• Practical Competency: Gaining hands-on experience and confidence in dry needling techniques.

5. Skills Acquired by Participants

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will:

• Develop a strong practical skill set in the safe and effective application of dry needling.
• Understand the theoretical framework behind dry needling, including anatomical, physiological, and pathological principles.
• Apply dry needling techniques in accordance with health and safety regulations, including risk assessment, contraindications, and infection control protocols.
• Integrate dry needling seamlessly into their clinical practice to enhance patient outcomes in musculoskeletal rehabilitation.
• Demonstrate critical clinical reasoning for patient selection, treatment planning, and ongoing patient management.

This course provides a structured, evidence-based approach to dry needling, ensuring participants gain the knowledge, confidence, and practical skills necessary to enhance their clinical effectiveness and patient care.