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The Best in Sports Medicine Acupuncture Education
In the field of sports medicine acupuncture education, the Sports Medicine Acupuncture Certification (SMAC) program is designed to provide the highest level of advanced training in the assessment and treatment of sports, work and orthopedic injuries.
The SMAC Program is comprised of four modules:
- MODULE I—The Spine
- MODULE II—The Low Back, Hip and Groin
- MODULE III—The Lower Extremity
- MODULE IV—The Neck, Shoulder and Upper Extremity
The SMAC Program is now being offered exclusively as a hybrid offering consisting of 10 recorded webinars and four live, in-person classes.
Below are detailed descriptions of each class in the ALL IN-PERSON program. You have two program years to complete all required classes if you are pursuing the certification track, and do not need to start with any particular module or take modules in order. Participants also have the option to matriculate in SMAC Program classes at any time and to take individual courses either in-person or online. All live, in-person and recorded courses are NCCAOM and CAB CEU/PDA approved!
THE SPINE
Assessment and Treatment of Injury: Huatuojiaji Points: Vertebral Fixations and Facilitated Segments
Instructor—Matt Callison, L.Ac.
The practitioner taking this 2-day course will learn how normal degenerative changes in the spine (spondylosis and a decline of the du mai qi) is a direct contributor to many musculoskeletal injuries and zang fu pathologies.- The practitioner will assess the signs, symptoms and ascertain the location of spondylosis and if a commonly found perpetuating factor, a vertebral fixation is contributing to pain and dysfunction.
Chronic musculoskeletal injury and/or zang fu pathology can create the western concept of a facilitated segment. It is of great benefit for the acupuncturist to understand the segmental relationship with the spinal cord, the zang fu, and the myofascial tissues that can support health or be adversely affected by their inherent neural and channel interrelationships. Diagnosis and treatment of facilitated segments will greatly benefit the TCM practitioner for even the most difficult of musculoskeletal injuries and zang fu disharmonies. - Participants will learn and practice specialized Huatuojiaji point needling techniques, in combination with Extraordinary Vessels, acupuncture and motor point prescriptions that will help to release vertebral fixations, restore spinal mobility and break the perpetuating cycle of a facilitated segment.
- The practitioner will learn common postural imbalances that can lead to the development of vertebral fixations and prescribe therapeutic exercises to reduce the spinal stress, adding movement to the fixated spinal region.
- Spinal mobilization techniques and specialized myofascial techniques that greatly enhance and solidify the effects of acupuncture treatment will be demonstrated and practiced.
- This workshop provides information that is integrated into subsequent assessment and treatment workshops in Modules II-IV.
THE LOW BACK, HIP & GROIN
Assessment and Treatment of Injury: Low Back, Hip and Groin
Instructor—Matt Callison, L.Ac.
- The practitioner taking this live, in-person course will understand that injuries involving the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex must be observed as one complex and not separated in assessment or treatment. Balancing the relationship between the lumbar spine, the pelvis and the hip will not only help decrease pain in those regions but also affect most low back, hip and groin injuries.
- Many sport and work-related injuries will be discussed from assessment through treatment. We will examine the mechanical “how and why” injury occurs using postural examination, orthopedic physical examinations and manual muscle testing to assess the musculoskeletal system. Radiographs, MRI and ultrasound images will be presented and discussed.
- Referred pain is a common symptom that an acupuncturist will treat. The practitioner will learn to accurately differentiate radicular pain from referred pain and locate the fixed pain site that is causing the pain. With a correct diagnosis of the affected tissue, the practitioner can then accurately apply successful treatment protocols to the affected tissues and the channels and collaterals (jing luo jingjin) for long-lasting clinical results.
- Innovative treatment protocols will be introduced consisting of advanced needle techniques to the involved tissues.
- The experience of this workshop will refine the practitioner’s assessment and treatment skills, expand their knowledge of needle techniques, and greatly enhance the success rate in treating low back, hip and groin injuries.
THE LOWER EXTREMITY
Assessment and Treatment of Injury: The Lower Extremity
Instructor—Matt Callison, L.Ac.
- This live, in-person intensive workshop combines the information presented from this Module into a comprehensive assessment and treatment protocol for sports and orthopedic injuries of the lower extremity.
- The practitioner taking this course will understand that many injuries involving the lower extremity are due to an imbalance in the lumbo-pelvic hip region as well as the ankle/foot complex. Balancing the relationship between these anatomical structures will greatly affect the outcome of treating lower extremity injuries.
- Many sport and work-related injuries will be discussed from assessment through treatment. We will examine the mechanical “how and why” injury occurs using postural examination, orthopedic physical evaluations and manual muscle testing to assess the musculoskeletal system. Radiographs, MRI and ultrasound images will be presented with evaluative medical reports to referring physicians.
- Referred pain in the lower extremity is a common symptom that an acupuncturist will treat. The practitioner will learn to accurately differentiate the primary tissue that is causing the referred pain. With a correct diagnosis of the affected tissue, the practitioner can then accurately apply successful treatment protocols to the affected channels and collaterals (jing luo) for long lasting results.
- Innovative treatment protocols will be introduced consisting of advanced needle techniques to the involved tissue, as well as reinforcing (bu fa) and reducing (xie fa) techniques to the motor and acupuncture points.
- The experience of this workshop will refine the acupuncturist’s assessment and treatment skills, expand their knowledge of needle techniques and greatly enhance the success rate in treating lower extremity injuries.
THE NECK, SHOULDER AND UPPER EXTREMITY
Assessment and Treatment of Injury: Neck, Shoulder & Upper Extremity
Instructor—Matt Callison, L.Ac.
- This live, in-person intensive workshop combines the information presented from this Module into a comprehensive assessment and treatment protocol for sports and orthopedic injuries of the neck, shoulder and upper extremity.
- The practitioner taking this sports medicine acupuncture course will understand that many injuries involving the neck, shoulder and upper extremity involve the postural position of the spine, ribcage and the lumbo-pelvic region. Balancing the relationship between these anatomical structures will greatly affect the outcome of treating neck, shoulder and upper extremity injuries.
- Many sport and work-related injuries will be discussed from assessment through treatment. We will examine the mechanical “how and why” injury occurs using postural examination, orthopedic physical evaluations and manual muscle testing to assess the musculoskeletal system. Radiographs, MRI and ultrasound images will be presented with evaluative medical reports to referring physicians.
- Referred pain in the upper extremity is a common symptom that an acupuncturist will treat. The practitioner will learn to accurately differentiate the primary tissue that is causing the referred pain. With a correct diagnosis of the affected tissue, the practitioner can then accurately apply successful treatment protocols to the affected channels and collaterals (jing luo) for long lasting results.
- Innovative treatment protocols will be introduced consisting of advanced needle techniques to the involved tissue, as well as reinforcing (bu fa) and reducing (xie fa) techniques to the motor and acupuncture points.
- The experience of this workshop will refine the acupuncturist’s assessment and treatment skills, expanding their knowledge of needle techniques and greatly enhancing the success rate in treating neck, shoulder and upper extremity injuries.