Course Title: Provide myofascial dry needling treatment

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2022

Course Code: COTH5012

Course Title: Provide myofascial dry needling treatment

School: 535T Social Care and Health

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6159 - Advanced Diploma of Myotherapy

Course Contact: Laura Yeomans

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4289

Course Contact Email: laura.yeomans@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Bianca Alivizatos

bianca.alivizatos@rmit.edu.au


Nominal Hours: 60

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None.

Course Description

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to administer myofascial dry needling treatment.

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

VU21879 Provide myofascial dry needling treatment

Element:

1 Apply the central principles and practices of myofascial dry needling treatment.

Performance Criteria:

1.1   Myofascial dry needling treatment principles and role of therapy and the therapist are specified to the client

1.2   Myofascial dry needling treatment principles and practices are evaluated in relation to the client’s health conditions

1.3   Recent developments and current best practices principles are integrated into the treatment

1.4   Measures to reduce risk, improve safety and enhance treatment outcomes are employed by the therapist

Element:

2 Work within clinic and regulation guidelines.

Performance Criteria:

2.1   Clinic’s guidelines and relevant legal and regulatory requirements for myofascial dry needling treatment are identified and adhered to

2.2   All relevant documentation is sourced and organised to communicate the key regulatory requirements to other relevant work personnel

2.3   A strategy/response to a range of given clinical scenarios is developed to ensure that appropriate guidelines are followed

2.4   Clinical guidelines are developed to ensure skills and practices are periodically reviewed & maintained

2.5   Personal hygiene and infection control guidelines are established and practised

2.6   Informed consent is sought from the client before commencing myofascial dry needling treatment

Element:

3 Assess the client to determine if myofascial dry needling is indicated

Performance Criteria:

3.1   The client’s history is collected to accurately describe and determine the condition

3.2   An objective examination is conducted to assess function & dysfunction and reproduce presenting symptoms

3.3   Myofascial trigger points are accurately palpated relevant to the presenting condition/symptoms

3.4   The need to apply myofascial dry needling to improve the client’s condition is determined

Element:

4 Perform myofascial dry needling

Performance Criteria:

4.1   The work environment is correctly prepared to conduct myofascial trigger point needling

4.2   Required resources are organised for effective treatment

4.3   Needles, cotton buds, biowaste and sharp’s disposal units are placed correctly

4.4   Myofascial dry needling is performed with the correct clinical procedures to ensure treatment goals are achieved

4.5   Best practice checks and balances are utilised to ensure client safety

4.6   Clinical guidelines for correct administration of myofascial dry needling are adhered to

4.7   Effectiveness of the myofascial dry needling in treating the client’s condition is evaluated


Learning Outcomes


See Elements of competency above 


Details of Learning Activities

All class learning materials, notes and other key learning resources can be accessed via myRMIT at www.rmit.edu.au/learninghub. 

A combination of activities will support student’s learning in this course, such as:
• Face-to-face &/or online lectures to cover theoretical and practical concepts for each topic in the course
• Students will learn to apply their skills and knowledge to work integrated learning (WIL) in the student & clinical practice environment, during simulations and classroom based learning
• Work experience &/or placements observation of performance in the workplace will be a valuable part of your learning experience
• Tutorial activities (individually and in teams) to discuss, debate, critique and consolidate your ideas and extend your understanding around key concepts within specific topics
• Online discussions and activities to support and collaborate with other students in your course and debate and discuss ideas
• Utilise and develop critical research and cognitive skills to find credible sources of health information
• Self-directed study time (eg. readings or activities around theory) to enhance and strengthen your knowledge and understanding of theoretical concepts
• To further facilitate learning students are strongly encouraged to use a range of communication tools between themselves and their course instructor as well as between themselves and fellow students by using the online learning platform
• It is strongly recommended that students partner up with fellow students in order to practice assessment, treatment and palpation techniques


Teaching Schedule


 

Myofascial Dry Needling 

 

      Class topics and Assessments 

Week 1  

Orientation: Subject guide discussed 

MDN and Acupuncture explained legal and ethical considerations 

Week 2 

Pain Physiology, Trigger Point and Dermatome Theory 

Dermatome Needling: Upper and Lower limb 

Week 3 

MDN: Tibialis Anterior, Gastrocnemius 

Week 4  

MDN: Rectus Femoris, Vastus Medialis, Vastus Lateralis,  

Week 5 

MDN: Biceps Femoris, Semimembranosus, Semitendinosus, Gluteus Maximus  

Week 6  

MDN: Gluteus Medius, Soleus, Peroneals, TFL 

Week 7 

MDN: Adductor Longus, Adductor Magnus, Piriformis 

Week 8  

MDN: Quadratus Lumborum and Erector Spinae Group 

Class Treatment Record to be submitted via turnitin  

Week 9  

Practical Case Study 1 – Lower Body 

MDN: Rhomboids, Levator Scapulae, Supraspinatus, Deltoids 

Week 10 

Scientific Evidence:  

Facilitation and MDN of Upper Trapezius, Lower Trapezius, Teres Minor, Multifidus 

Week 11 

MDN: Splenius Capitus & Cervicis, Semispinalis 

Week 12 

MDN: Teres Major, Infraspinatus, Triceps, Biceps 

Week 13 

MDN: Brachioradialis, ECRL, ECRB, ECU and Supinator 

Week 14 

MDN: FCR, FCU, Flexor Digitorum and Pronator Teres 

Week 15 

MDN: SCM, Masseter and Temporalis 

Assessment Revision 

Week 16 –  

Practical Case Study 2 – Upper Body 

Week 17 –  

Myo AxRx GHJ Case Study Assessment – Scapulo-thoracic MDN component 

Reassessments 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

Recommended Texts.

  • Travell, JG Simons, DG & Simons, PT 1999, Myofascial  pain and dysfunction. The trigger point manual. Vol 1, 2nd edn, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore.
  • Travell, JG Simons, DG & Simons, PT 1999, Myofascial  pain and dysfunction. The trigger point manual. Vol 2, 2nd edn, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore.
  • Butler, D & Moseley, L, 2003, Explain Pain, NOIGROIP, Adelaide, Australia.


Overview of Assessment

To be deemed competent you must demonstrate an understanding of all aspects required of the competency. Assessment methods have been designed to measure your achievement of each competency in a flexible manner over multiple tasks.


Assessment 1: Clinic Observation Skills Checklist    

Assessment 2: Practical Assessments - Case Studies

Assessment 3:  Class Treatment Record

Assessment 4: Myofascial Dry Needling Assignment

Assessment 5:  Practical Assessment 



Assessment Tasks

  1. Clinic Observation Skills Checklist

There are a number of tasks to be completed within the Myotherapy student clinic by your last shift in the student clinic to demonstrate your practical application in a clinical setting.    

                                                                                                                                 

  1. Practical Assessments

These tasks are a practical assessment of your trigger point needling skills and knowledge. 

            2.1        Practical Case Study test 1 – Lower Body                   

            2.2        Practical Case Study test 2 – Upper Body                      

                                                                                             

  1. Class Treatment Record

During all MDN classes you will be required to fill in a treatment record sheet. On this document you will gain written consent from your partner in each class and fill out the treatment performed. You must have evidence of 10 different treatments, under supervision in MDN or AxRx class, recorded in this document. This must be submitted via turnitin before you are able to complete your first practical assessment.                                                                                               

 

  1. Myofascial Dry Needling Assignment

See assessment tool on Canvas for details of this assessment.                             

 

  1. MyoAxRx Practical Assessment 3 – MDN component

Part of the practical assessment for this unit will occur in your MyoAxRx GHJ case study assessment. You will use the skills and knowledge acquired in MDN to treat scapulohumeral rhythm after assessing your partner with the skills and knowledge learnt in MyoAxRx.                 


Course guides for Semester 1, 2022 were finalised and published before the semester started with all the teaching, learning and assessment information current at that time. Please note that some course guides may have small differences between Part A and Part B because of necessary changes (related to COVID-19) made to Part B during the semester.


Assessment Matrix

Other Information

Important information regarding Assessment Tasks:

 

Each individual assessment may only be resubmitted once. 

Resubmissions are not automatic and will only be approved at the discretion of the Program Coordinator, after consultation with the teacher.

All students will be contacted with 7 days by their course coordinator in regards to  resubmission completion dates.

   

Please note an opportunity to repeat clinical placement is not guaranteed and will be at the discretion of the Clinical Coordinator/Program Manager.


EXTENSION OR SPECIAL CONSIDERATION

If due to illness or other unforeseen circumstance, you are unable to attend on the due date of an assessment (e.g. test, examination, oral, etc.) OR you do attend, but your performance has been affected, you may submit an APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL CONSIDERATION within 5 working days of the due date. If Special Consideration is granted, you will be given the opportunity to complete/repeat the assessment task at a later date. For advice on this application please visit www.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration or speak to your Program Coordinator.
If due to illness or other unforeseen circumstance, you are unable to submit by the due date (e.g. assignment, report, project etc.):
you may submit an APPLICATION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME FOR SUBMISSION OF ASSESSABLE WORK for an extension of time of up to seven (7) calendar days or less. This must be lodged with the Program Coordinator 1 working day before the original due date. If granted, you will have the opportunity to submit up to 7 days later than the original due date. For advice on this application please visit www.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/extension or speak to your Program Coordinator.

Where an extension of greater than seven days is needed, you must apply for SPECIAL CONSIDERATION. 

If you require further information please contact your teacher or Program Coordinator.


Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

RMIT has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to 

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/rights-and-responsibilities/academic-integrity

Course Overview: Access Course Overview