When Ashi Point Needling Doesn't Work! Featuring Matt Callison, L.Ac., Brian Lau, AP, C.SMA, and Ian Armstrong L.Ac., C.SMA

In this discussion, Matt Callison, Brian Lau and Ian Armstrong from AcuSport Education and the Sports Medicine Acupuncture Certification Program share their experiences of ashi point needling and getting targeted results. It is well known that acupuncture needle stimulation to tight palpable bands in muscle tissue has a positive effect on releasing myofascial tension and relieving pain. Acupuncture to ashi points has been practiced for thousands of years and is described in Ch. 13 of Ling Shu. Ashi point acupuncture is still practiced today and has evolved into a modern day science. However, if ashi point needling doesn't get the results the practitioner and patient are needing, what can the practitioner do? In this discussion, these experienced practitioners will discuss many techniques and treatment ideas for the TCM practitioner to examine in order to troubleshoot difficult patient cases.

What you will learn:

• Being thorough with assessment guides the practitioner in getting better treatment results.
• A few key acupuncture and ashi points that take pain away from particular areas of the body will be discussed.
• Knowing the underlying anatomical tissues being palpated and needled greatly benefits treatment results in many musculoskeletal pain patterns.

About our speakers:

Matt Callison’s unique ability to blend Chinese Medicine with Sports Medicine for almost 30 years is demonstrated by his excellent reputation. This is particularly evident in his educational program, the “Sports Medicine Acupuncture Certification Program,” which is attended by acupuncturists worldwide. He has over 20 years experience in cadaver dissection that has helped him to further broaden and deepen his educational program for the acupuncturist. Mr. Callison has had a clinical practice for over 27 years and is well known for developing innovative and successful treatment protocols for musculoskeletal injury. He has published many articles including a clinical study on acupuncture and tibial stress syndromes (shin splints) as well as an article on Sports Related Muscle Tension Headaches in the Journal of Chinese Medicine. Furthermore, Mr. Callison is well-known for his work with professional athletes. Mr. Callison is the creator of the Motor Point and Acupuncture Meridian Chart as well as the author of three publications—The Motor Point Manual, Motor Point Index and now available, Sports Medicine Acupuncture: An Integrated Approach Combining Sports Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine Textbook.

Brian Lau, AP, C.SMA is certified in both Sports Medicine Acupuncture and Structural Integration. He has been on faculty since 2013 with the Sports Medicine Acupuncture Certification (SMAC) program, where he teaches anatomy and physiology, palpation, assessment and treatment of the channel sinews (jingjin), acupuncture, and myofascial release techniques. He also leads regular dissections with students both within SMAC and also in 4-5-day full-body dissection classes. From 2011-2015, he was a faculty member with East West College of Natural Medicine in Sarasota, Florida where he taught both Western and Eastern medical classes. His primary focus is on integrating Western anatomical information with the Chinese medical channel system. In addition to teaching acupuncture and manual therapy, he is also a veteran taiji and qigong instructor. He owns and operates Ideal Balance Center for Acupuncture and Sports Medicine in Tampa, Florida.

Ian Armstrong, L.Ac., C.SMA is a licensed acupuncturist, educator, and sports medicine specialist with over 15 years of experience treating everyone from active individuals to elite and professional athletes. A California native, Ian earned his Master of Science in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine (now Pacific College of Health and Science) in 2009, with a focus on sports and orthopedic injuries. He has spent more than a decade teaching in Pacific College’s Sports Medicine Acupuncture Certification Program and Treatment of Orthopedic Disorders course, and supervising acupuncture students at UC San Diego’s RIMAC center, where he works alongside athletic trainers to care for collegiate athletes. Committed to lifelong learning, Ian continues to advance his clinical and teaching expertise through ongoing study in biomechanics, movement, and rehabilitation, including DNS, PRI, SFMA, and the Eldoa Method, making him a respected leader in sports acupuncture and education.