Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2025

Course Code: COTH5014

Course Title: Provide myofascial dry needling treatment

Important Information:

Please note that this course may have compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching activities.  

To participate in any RMIT course in-person activities or assessment, you will need to comply with RMIT vaccination requirements which are applicable during the duration of the course.

  

Please check your Canvas course shell closer to when the course starts to see if this course requires mandatory in-person attendance. The delivery method of the course might have to change quickly in response to changes in the local state/national directive regarding in-person course attendance.

School: 535T Social Care and Health

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6189 - Advanced Diploma of Myotherapy

Course Contact: Toby Glennon

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 99250320

Course Contact Email: toby.glennon@rmit.edu.au

Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 100

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:	VU23639 Provide myofascial dry needling treatment
Element:	1. Apply the central principles and practices of myofascial dry needling treatment
Performance Criteria:	1.1  Explain myofascial dry needling treatment principles and rationale of the technique to the patient  1.2  Discuss the importance of education for both therapist and patient in the technique procedure and the expected roles of each  1.3  Outline the practical application of the technique, identifying the site of treatment and the different options for treatment  1.4  Explain risk of myofascial dry needling specific to the selected treatment area to the patient  1.5  Explain immediate aftercare procedures for myofascial dry needing to the patient  1.6  Seek informed consent before commencing myofascial dry needling treatment  1.7  Evaluate myofascial dry needling treatment principles and practices in relation to the patient’s health conditions  1.8  Identify and integrate recent developments and current best practices principles into the treatment  1.9  Use measures to reduce risk, improve safety and enhance treatment outcomes
Element:	2. Work within clinic and regulation guidelines
Performance Criteria:	2.1  Identify and adhere to clinic’s guidelines and relevant legal and regulatory requirements for myofascial dry needling treatment  2.2  Source and organise all relevant documentation to communicate the key regulatory requirements to other relevant work personnel  2.3  Develop a strategy/response to a range of given clinical scenarios to ensure that appropriate guidelines are followed  2.4  Develop clinic guidelines to ensure skills and practices are periodically reviewed & maintained  2.5  Establish and practice personal hygiene and infection control guidelines
Element:	3. Assess the patient to determine if myofascial dry needling is indicated
Performance Criteria:	3.1  Collect the patient’s history in order to determine a clinical impression  3.2  Conduct an objective examination to assess function and dysfunction and reproduce presenting symptoms  3.3  Ensure myofascial trigger points are accurately palpated relevant to the presenting condition/symptoms  3.4  Determine the need to apply myofascial dry needling to improve the patient’s condition based on clinical reasoning
Element:	4. Perform myofascial dry needling and evaluate treatment
Performance Criteria:	4.1  Prepare the work environment correctly to conduct myofascial trigger point needling  4.2  Select and organise required resources for effective treatment  4.3  Ensure the correct placement of needles, cotton buds, biowaste and sharps disposal units  4.4  Utilise best practice standards and guidelines to ensure patient safety and correct administration of myofascial dry needling  4.5  Perform myofascial dry needling using the correct clinical procedures and correct needle size to ensure treatment goals are achieved  4.6  Evaluate the effectiveness of the myofascial dry needling in treating the patient’s condition  4.7  Complete required clinical notes accurately documenting dry needling application

Learning Outcomes

See Elements of competency above 

Details of Learning Activities

This course will be delivered through face-to-face classes and utilising the learning support material and resources here in Canvas.

In this class, students will learn to responsibly and safely implement Myofascial Dry Needling (MDN) into their Myotherapy treatments for myofascial trigger points, myofascial pain and other presented conditions.

Students learn the technical application of the skill, including the safe handling of needles, disposal of sharps and bio-hazards, infection control and hygiene requirements along with developing an understanding of the history of needling, its effect on the body and differences with Acupuncture. 

Students will also learn how to accurately identify and palpate trigger points, assess myofascial tension within structures of the human body, and then apply MDN techniques as appropriate.

Teaching Schedule

SEMESTER 1

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 DateTopic

Week 7	24/03/2025	MDN explained
Week 8	31/03/2025	Pain physiology Tibialis anterior & gastrocnemius MDN
Week 9	07/04/2025	Rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, Sartorius & tensor fascia latae MDN
Week 10	14/04/2025	Biceps femoris, semimembranosus, semitendinosus & soleus MDN
	21/04/2025	MID SEMESTER BREAK
Week 11	28/04/2025	Gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, piriformis & quadratus lumborum MDN
Week 12	05/05/2025	Adductor magnus, adductor longus, Gracilis & peroneals MDN
Week 13	12/05/2025	Erector spinae group, Multifidus MDN
Week 14	19/05/2025	Assessment revision
Week 15	26/05/2025	Lower body practical assessment
Week 16	02/06/2025	Mock clinic. Work on clinic skills checklist
Week 17	09/06/2025	Kings birthday public holiday - no class
Week 18	16/06/2025	C6189 - Attendance period - attendance required

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SEMESTER 2

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 DateTopic

Week 5		Revision of lower body needling
Week 6		Levator scapulae, Semi-spinalis capitis, Trapezius & Masseter MDN
Week 7		Temporalis, Sternocleidomastoid, Rhomboids, Supraspinatus MDN
Week 8		Teres major, Teres minor, Infraspinatus & Latissimus dorsi MDN
Week 8		Cervical and shoulder revision
Week 10		Pectoralis major, Subscapularis & Deltoid MDN
Week 11		Brachialis, Biceps brachii, Triceps brachii MDN
Week 12		Brachioradialis, ECRL, ECRB, Extensor digitorum, ECU & Supinator MDN
Week 13		FCR, FCU, Pronator teres, Thenar muscles
Week 14		Revision class
Week 15		Upper body practical assessment
Week 16		Mock clinic. Work on clinic skills checklist
Week 17		C6189 - Attendance period - attendance required
Week 18		C6189 - Attendance period - attendance required

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

References

Other Resources

There are two set texts for this unit. Both texts are available online via the Library and can be accessed directly using the 'Reading List' tab in the menu.

Donelly, J, 2019, Travell, Simons & Simons' Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction : The Trigger Point Manual, 3rd edn, Wolters Kluwer Health, Philadelphia.

Dommerholt, J, 2018, Trigger Point Dry Needling E-Book : An Evidence and Clinical-Based Approach, 2nd edn, Elsevier.

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

Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester. Your knowledge and understanding of course content is assessed through participation in class exercises, written assignments and through the application of learned skills and insights. Full assessment briefs will be provided and can be found on CANVAS.      Students enrolled in Vocational Education and Training qualifications are assessed for Competency. To be assessed as Competent means you have consistently demonstrated the required knowledge and skills at a standard expected in the workplace.      To be assessed as Competent in this course, you will need to complete each assessment task to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback from the teacher at the conclusion of each assessment task.     Every task must be completed satisfactorily for competence to be achieved. Unless otherwise advised you must submit all work via the RMIT issued assessment tool which is located in Canvas for you to populate.    Resubmissions are at the discretion of the teacher and/or coordinator. Please see below statement under Resubmission    You should refer to the assessment brief which is available through Canvas for full assessment criteria and due dates 

 

Task 1 Class Treatment Record

Due date: 23/05/2025

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 all muscles that have been taught in class have been performed under supervision in MDN or AxRx class and recorded in this document. This must be submitted via CANVAS before you are able to complete your first practical assessment.

 

Task 2 Practical Assessments

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

2.1 Practical Assessment 1 – Lower Body 

Due date: 26/05/2025

2.2 Practical Case Study test 2 – Upper Body 

Due date: 31/10/2025

 

Task 3 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.

 

Task 4 Written Assignment

Due date: 17/08/2025

See assessment tool on Canvas for details of this assessment.

 

Results that apply to courses that are delivered and assessed in accordance with competency-based assessment are:   CA: Competency Achieved  NYC: Not Yet Competent  DNS: Did not Submit for Assessment     Resubmissions    You will be given two (2) attempts for each assessment to demonstrate the required skills. If a student does not submit an assessment on the first date provided however submits on the resubmission date this submission will be the only attempt allowed.    A supplementary assessment can only be offered after discussions between teacher and the Program Coordinator and is not automatic.  Supplementary assessments are at the discretion of the Program Coordinator and Program Manager after a conversation is had by the teacher, Program Coordinator and Program Manager. A supplementary assessment will take into account class attendance (80-100% requirement), interaction within class and communication with the class teacher. 

Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant unit of competency. These mapping documents are available through Program Administration if required.   

Other Information

Attendance: 

Your learning experience will involve class-based teaching, discussion, demonstration and practical exercises.    It is strongly advised and expected that you attend all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully. If you attend late to a lab/clinic/practical teaching session you must wait to be allowed entrance to the lab/clinic as this can pose a WHS issue, especially if specialised equipment is being used and demonstrated. Teachers are permitted to not allow you to use equipment if formal training has been missed, if this happens you must request a meeting with the teacher and program coordinator to discuss moving forward.  If you miss an assessment or assessable practical class you need to apply for special consideration. The special consideration department will ask you to provide a medical certificate or give other evidence to support your request. Once Special consideration has been applied for the students will wait for the results and then contact their teacher on the outcome of the result. Information about your studies:   You can access My Studies through the RMIT website for information about timetables, important dates, assessment dates, results and progress, Canvas etc.     https://www.rmit.edu.au/students     Extensions of time for submission of assessable work:  If you are prevented from submitting an assessment on time by circumstances outside your control you may apply for an extension of up to seven (7) calendar days in writing (email) to your teacher and Program Coordinator one working day BEFORE the due date. Please provide evidence  and /or valid reasonings why you were unable to complete the submission on time within this email. Extensions cannot be guaranteed if evidence or valid reasons are not given. Eligibility criteria for application and the form is available from the link: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/extensions-of-time-for-submission-of-assessable-work    Where an extension of greater than seven days is needed, you must apply for special consideration.      

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.), 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. 

    

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism:   

    

RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.  

    

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/academic-integrity  

    

Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning:   

    

Credit transfer is the recognition of previously completed formal learning (an officially accredited qualification).  

    

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process that allows you to demonstrate competence using the skills you have gained through experience in the workplace, voluntary work, informal or formal training or other life experiences.    

    

Please speak to your teacher if you wish to discuss applying for Credit Transfer or RPL for the unit(s) of competency addressed in this course.  

    

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/enrolment/apply-for-credit  

Course Overview: Access Course Overview