COURSE OBJECTIVES

Pelvic Floor Dry Needling: Implementing a Specialized Approach to Pelvic Pain and Dysfunction

Upon completion of this advanced level course, the therapist will be able to:

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1. List three overlapping conditions that frequently occur with Chronic Pelvic Pain.

2. List the three most commonly associated psychological disorders that can occur with Chronic Pelvic Pain     

3. Identify the hallmark diagnostic indicator of Myofascial Pelvic Pain.

4. Describe two similarities between an active and a latent trigger point.

5. List three effects dry needling has on the chemical composition of trigger points.

6. List three effects dry needling has on the motor end plate electrical activity of trigger points.

7. List the results of the increased responsiveness of nociceptors to either normal or sub-threshold afferent inputs that occurs during Central Sensitization.

8. Discuss viscerosomatic convergence and how persistent noxious visceral input can establish a     sensitized spinal segment producing areas of allodynia, hyperalgesia, and referred pain with associated somatic dysfunction.

9. Discuss how peripheral and central sensitization affects interneurons that connect to alpha and gamma motor neurons, leading to segmental overactivity of pelvic floor muscles, spasm, and contracture.

10. Describe three effects trigger points have on muscles of the pelvic floor.

11. List three of the most common diagnoses associated with dyspareunia.

12. List the types of pelvic floor myofascial dysfunction associated with provoked vestibulodynia.

13. List the hallmark symptoms of interstitial cystitis and the interplay myofascial pelvic pain and high tone pelvic floor has on the disease process.

14. List the four National Institute of Health classifications for Prostatitis.

15. According to the Rome IV Criteria, list the three classifications of rectal pain syndromes.

16. List two predisposing factors for Coccydynia.

17. Describe myofascial pelvic pain referral patterns for 19 muscles associated with the pelvic floor.

18. Identify five indications for dry needling from the APTA Educational Resource Paper titled “Description of Dry Needling in Clinical Practice.”

19. Identify five relative contraindications to dry needling from the APTA Educational Resource Paper titled “Description of Dry Needling in Clinical Practice.”

20. Identify five absolute contraindications to dry needling from the APTA Educational Resource Paper titled “Description of Dry Needling in Clinical Practice.”

21. Describe the clinical implications of performing dry needling and electrical stimulation during pregnancy.

22. Correctly perform dry needling to 4 selected muscles of the posterior hip safely and proficiently which includes proper selection of needle, proper selection of depth, identifying regional precautions, and avoiding vital structures.

23. Correctly perform dry needling to 5 selected muscles of the anterior and medial thigh safely and proficiently which includes proper selection of needle, proper selection of depth, identifying regional precautions, and avoiding vital structures.

24. Correctly perform dry needling to 3 selected muscles of the sacrum and coccyx safely and proficiently which includes proper selection of needle, proper selection of depth, identifying regional precautions, and avoiding vital structures.

25. Correctly perform dry needling to 3 selected muscles of the anal triangle safely and proficiently which includes proper selection of needle, proper selection of depth, identifying regional precautions, and avoiding vital structures.

26. Correctly perform dry needling to 2 selected muscles of the urogenital triangle safely and proficiently which includes proper selection of needle, proper selection of depth, identifying regional precautions, and avoiding vital structures.

27. Given a case scenario of a patient with sacral and tail bone pain, the therapist will independently justify the integration of dry needling into the treatment program.

28. Correctly perform dry needling with electrical stimulation to 3 selected muscles as part of a sacral and tail bone pain treatment intervention safely and proficiently which includes proper selection of needle, proper selection of depth, identifying regional precautions, and avoiding vital structures.

29. Given a case scenario of a patient with anorectal pain, the therapist will independently justify the integration of dry needling into the treatment program.

30. Correctly perform dry needling with electrical stimulation to 4 selected muscles as part of an anorectal pain treatment intervention safely and proficiently which includes proper selection of needle, proper selection of depth, identifying regional precautions, and avoiding vital structures.

31. Given a case scenario of a patient with urogenital pain, the therapist will independently justify the integration of dry needling into the treatment program.

32. Correctly perform dry needling with electrical stimulation to 4 selected muscles as part of a urogenital pain treatment intervention safely and proficiently which includes proper selection of needle, proper selection of depth, identifying regional precautions, and avoiding vital structures.

 

Proficiency Standard:
1. Demonstrate proficiency by passing a comprehensive 25 question multiple choice examination
with a minimum passing score of 80%.
 

Course Prerequisites:
1. Successful completion of at least an introductory level dry needling course. Any accredited dry
needling course will satisfy this prerequisite.
2. Successful completion of an accredited level 1 pelvic health/pelvic floor course such as Herman
and Wallace or APTA.
3. Students must submit evidence of successful completion via a course certificate of both
prerequisites prior to participation in the course.

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