Acupuncture Treatment with Rehabilitative Exercise
with Matt Callison, L.Ac.

Amongst all the different techniques of acupuncture, press needles, also known as intra-dermal needles, provide the practitioner with a unique and effective tool when it comes to combining acupuncture treatment with rehabilitative exercise or with athletic performance.  Intra-dermal needles can be inserted into specific points that will continuously stimulate the proprioceptive systems and promote the movement of qi and blood in the jing luo.

It is important that the patient is comfortable with the press needles during exercise.  I have used Pyonex intra-dermal needles made by SEIRIN on professional athletes for performance enhancement and also with patient’s home rehabilitative exercise program. The 0.20mm x 1.2mm sized needles are large enough to stimulate the channel’s signaling systems for pain reduction and normalizing range of motion and small enough to be comfortable for the patient to perform the exercise.

Strategies for Press Needle Use

In this video, Pyonex needles are applied to a point combination using the Du Mai/Yang Qiao Mai and Ren Mai/Yin Qiao Mai master points.  These eight Extraordinary Vessel master points work very well to decrease pain and improve proprioception related to movement patterns in the sagittal plane. The practitioner can use press needles on a patient that is having difficulty performing the prescribed exercise due to mild pain or a lack of proprioceptive awareness.
For more information on TCM based acupuncture treatments for rehabilitative exercise, visit us at www.sportsmedicineacupuncture.com.  Lhasa OMS is the proud sponsor of the Sports Medicine Acupuncture Certification program.

About the author:

Matt Callison, L.Ac. 

Matt Callison’s unique ability to blend Chinese Medicine with Sports Medicine for over 26 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 26 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, in press, The Sports Medicine Acupuncture textbook.

Matt Callison earned his Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education/Sports Medicine from San Diego State University in 1985. He worked in the Sports Medicine field at Alvarado Sports Medicine clinic in San Diego and Scripps Hospital in La Jolla, CA for six years. In 1991, Mr. Callison received his Master’s Degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, where the class he developed, “Treatment of Orthopedic Disorders,” is still being taught. Mr. Callison continues to guest lecture in many acupuncture doctoral programs across the United States. 

As Clinic Supervisor for Pacific College at the University of California’s San Diego Sports Medicine RIMAC Center, Mr. Callison guides acupuncture interns in providing Sports Medicine Acupuncture to their athletes.