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A 3-Day Deep Dive into Functional Acupuncture, Motor Points, Neuromuscular Re-Education, and Peripheral Nerve Entrapments
If you’re tired of being the “acupuncture version of ibuprofen”—providing temporary relief for a few days only to have patients return with the exact same pain—it’s time to shift your paradigm.
Most musculoskeletal pain isn't a structural mystery or a disc issue that requires endless palliative care. The joint is simply the victim of muscle imbalances. When postural and performance muscles become chronically short, ischemic, or inhibited, movement patterns break down. Joint centration is lost, peripheral nerves become entrapped, and pain becomes inevitable.
In this comprehensive 3-day masterclass, Richard Hazel breaks down the exact science-backed, open-source protocol he uses with professional athletes (including NFL wide receivers, pro squash players, and bodybuilders) and chronic pain patients who have failed every other medical intervention.
Functional Acupuncture bridges Western sports biomechanics, neuroanatomy, and precision needle therapy. We don't rely on pseudoscience or proprietary secrets—everything taught in this course is rooted in published research, anatomy, and physiology.
Motor Point Acupuncture vs. Trigger Point Deactivation: Learn when to jumpstart an inhibited muscle with motor point E-stim and when to mechanically release fibrotic trigger points.
Reversing Neuromuscular Inhibition: How to bypass the Henneman Size Principle using targeted E-stim to force fast-twitch power fibers and dormant stabilizers back online.
The Physics of Electro-Acupuncture: Deep dive into AC vs. DC currents, symmetrical vs. asymmetrical waveforms, and how to choose the right frequencies and devices (Ito ES-130, Pantheon, Pointer Excel) for targeted clinical outcomes.
Joint Centration & The "Rotator Cuff of the Hip": How the deep rotators (Obturator Internus, Gemelli, Glute Minimus) act as the sensory GPS of the lower body.
Peripheral Nerve Entrapments: Unlock the precise anatomical choke points for ACNES, Superior Cluneal Nerves, Pudendal mimics, Baxter Nerve, Superficial Peroneal, Sural, and Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.
Objective Assessment Over Guesswork: Why standard 5/5 Manual Muscle Testing fails elite athletes and how to master Muscle Length Testing (MLT) and Range of Motion (ROM) screening.
This course isn't just theory—it was filmed live with attending acupuncturists stepping up as patients. You’ll watch complete assessments, real-time needle applications, and immediate post-treatment re-tests on real conditions:
Laura’s Chronic Low Back Pain (Years of Dysfunction): Demonstrating the Lower Cross Protocol. After addressing her QL, Glute Medius, Piriformis, and unlocking her restricted Psoas, Laura walked around the room stating: "It's like it's not even there!"
Aaron’s 20-Year Restricted Hip & Groin Restriction: Former volleyball/martial arts athlete with near-zero internal hip rotation and chronic groin tightness. Through targeted work on the TFL, Glute Minimus, Pectineus/Obturator Externus, Psoas, and Adductor Magnus, Aaron achieved immediate, dramatic restoration of hip internal rotation.
Student with Bilateral Labral Tears: On Day 2, a participant with chronic left and acute right labral tears reported 80% pain reduction following the lower cross and lateral chain protocols!
Heel Pain & Tarsal Tunnel Entrapments: Live resolution of severe heel and tarsal tunnel pain using precision needling of the Tibialis Posterior and Abductor Hallucis.
Focus: Neurobiochemistry, E-stim physics, muscle dysfunction mechanics, and mastering the lower back and pelvic girdle.
Biochemistry of Injury & Repair: How E-stim upregulates BDNF (new neurons), VEGF (angiogenesis), and ATP, while clearing pain chemicals (Substance P, CGRP, Potassium).
Nitric Oxide & Sarcopenia: Why blood flow is everything for aging muscles and neuropathies.
Electro-Acupuncture Demystified: Alternating Current (AC) safety vs. Direct Current (DC) risks, symmetrical vs. asymmetrical biphasic waves, and device selection.
From Hypertonicity to Fibrosis: The Cinderella Hypothesis, capillary compression, sarcoplasmic calcium traps, and loss of muscle resting length.
Pioneers of Movement: Integrating Vladimir Janda (Cross Syndromes), Janet Travell (Trigger Points), Joseph Wong (Father of Motor Points), Andry Vleeming (SI Joint Slings), and Andrea Trescott (Nerve Entrapments).
Lower Cross Syndrome Deep Dive: Comprehensive mapping and needling of Psoas, Rectus Femoris, QL, TFL, Glute Medius, Glute Minimus, Piriformis, Erector Spinae, Transverse Abdominis, and Obliques.
Focus: Maximizing athletic power, speed, agility, eccentric deceleration, and solving complex hip, knee, and foot conditions.
Skeletal Muscle Qualities: Contractility, Extensibility (eccentric loading), and Elasticity (resting length).
The Human Spring & Triple Extension: Harnessing the Stretch-Shortening Cycle across the hip, knee, and ankle for explosive power and injury prevention.
The 3 Movement Planes: Sagittal (linear drive), Frontal (lateral stability/ACL protection), and Transverse (pivoting and rotation).
Rotator Cuff of the Hip: Achieving 0mm joint centration using the Obturator Internus, Gemelli, and Glute Minimus.
Why 5/5 Manual Muscle Testing Fails: Testing the tester vs. testing the athlete—why Muscle Length Testing (Thomas Test, ROM) is the true gold standard.
The "S-Link" & Foot Mechanics: The calf-calcaneus-plantar fascia connection; differentiating Plantar Fasciitis from Baxter Nerve Entrapment and Soleus Sling Syndrome.
The Impossible Hip Impingement: Unlocking the Pectineus and Obturator Externus to resolve deep groin pain and restricted internal rotation.
Lateral & Anterior Chain Protocols: Complete needling protocols for Adductor Magnus/Longus/Brevis, Gracilis, Quadriceps, Tibialis Anterior, Peroneals, and Tibialis Posterior.
Focus: Solving complex nerve entrapments that baffle conventional medicine—from deep gluteal syndrome to suboccipitals.
Sciatica & Deep Gluteal Syndrome: Why 95% of sciatica is peripheral entrapment (not disc herniation) and why treating L5/S1 often fails.
The Superior Gemellus Secret: Deactivating the hidden trigger point that knocks out radiating leg pain.
Pudendal Nerve Mimics: How trigger points in the Adductor Magnus, Glute Medius, and Piriformis create pelvic floor, genital, testicular, and bladder symptoms.
Superior Cluneal Nerve Entrapment: Identifying and treating "pseudo-sciatica" and low back/hip burning pain.
Lower Leg Neuropathies: * Superficial Peroneal Nerve: Dorsal foot numbness, burning, and Restless Leg Syndrome.
Sural Nerve: Outer foot/pinky toe numbness post-sciatica.
Soleus Sling & Tarsal Tunnel: Re-establishing blood flow and sensation for plantar foot numbness.
Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS): Uncompressing the Brachial Plexus by addressing Upper Cross Syndrome (Scalenes, Pec Minor, Lats, SCM, Serratus Anterior).
Migraine & Cervicogenic Dizziness Protocol: * Entrapment zones of the Greater, Lesser, and Third Occipital Nerves.
Precision suboccipital needling (RCP Major, OCI) to resolve migraines, eye pain, and cervicogenic vertigo/unsteadiness.
Full Video Recordings: High-definition footage of all lectures, anatomical breakdowns, and live clinical demonstrations.
Complete Slide Decks & Reference Manuals: PDF downloads covering all motor point locations, needle depths, E-stim parameters, and nerve pathways.
Treatment Protocols & Flowcharts: Step-by-step guides for Lower Cross, Upper Cross, Sciatica, Lateral Chain, Anterior Chain, and Migraine/TOS protocols.
Discord Community Access: Join our private Discord server to discuss complex patient cases, share wins, and get ongoing support directly from Richard Hazel and a global network of functional acupuncturists.
Richard Hazel, L.Ac., is a licensed acupuncturist and the founder of Range of Motion Acupuncture in Buffalo, NY. With over 15 years of clinical experience, Rich specializes in sports medicine, motor point acupuncture, and peripheral nerve entrapments. He collaborates directly with University at Buffalo NCAA Division I athletics teams (football, basketball, track & field, swimming, wrestling) as well as NFL wide receivers, pro squash players, and elite bodybuilders. Rich is also the host of the popular podcast Acupuncture Outsider and teaches Functional Acupuncture internationally.
Stop chasing symptoms. Start fixing movement patterns, restoring mobility, and getting your patients out of chronic pain for good.
Richard Hazel's Courses on Podia Do NOT Expire.
Day One
Core Essentials
Lower Crossed Syndrome