The purpose of the Neurologic Dry Needling for Cranio-Cervical Pain & Dysfunction home study course is to obtain knowledge and clinical skills necessary to diagnose and treat cranial and cervical soft tissue pain and dysfunction.

The Integrative Dry Needling Specialty Home Study Course: Neurologic Dry Needling for Cranio-Cervical Pain and Dysfunction covers:

• Dry needling techniques- (80% of the needling technique is virtually pain-free)
• Detailed, tried and tested needling safety techniques and contraindications for dry needling therapy to avoid human error in clinical practice.
• Adaptable dry needling system that easily adapts to clinical practice and to the specific needs of each patient.
• Neuro- trigger point concept (physiological and biomechanical approach).
• Clinical scenarios of common clinical diagnoses are discussed and dry needling treatment techniques demonstrated.

Lecture 1: Introduction of the systems: Physiological mechanisms of Neurologic Dry Needling (NDN), including neurogenic inflammation; peripheral and central mechanisms 

Lecture 2: Craniofacial- Trigeminal and Greater Auricular nerve distributions: Effect on Migraine and Cervicogenic pain – 3D Anatomy lecture- Needling technique lab demo.

Lecture 3: Temporomandibular Dysfunction: Lateral and Medial Pterygoids, Masseter, Temporalis, Suprahyoids – 3D anatomy lecture – Needling technique lab demo.

Lecture 4:  Posterior cervical spine including suboccipital region; Greater, Lesser and. Third Occipital Nerves and their effect on cranial pain – 3D anatomy lecture – Needling technique lab demo.

Lecture 5:  Anterior Cervical Plexus Transverse and Supraclavicular Nerves, Spinal Accessory Nerve (UT/SCM) and their influence on Cervico-Cranial pain referral – 3D anatomy lecture – Needling technique lab demo.

1. Integrate the physiological mechanisms of dry needling when developing a treatment plan for a given craniocervical condition.
2. Independently identify a minimum of three peripheral cranio-cervical neuro-trigger points in a given case study.
3. Independently identify and deliver dry needling to each of the three types of craniocervical neuro-trigger points (homeostatic, paravertebral and symptomatic) in a given case study.
4. Discuss and demonstrate the prevention and management of adverse responses to craniocervical dry needling based on OSHA requirements with 100% accuracy during case study.
5. By the conclusion of the course the participant will be able to correctly defend the IDN system for treatment of neuromusculoskeletal pain based on the unique neurology and physiology of neuro-trigger points.
6. Independently integrate the IDN system into the participant’s clinical practice based on the current clinical guidelines.

This is an Advanced level DN course so prior DN training/experience is required to participate in this course. Your training can be with a different DN education provider; you do not need to be trained specifically by  IDN.