Integrative Healing Approaches to Shoulder Pain with Non-Local Acupuncture Protocols

Overview

This clinically oriented course introduces physiotherapists to the theory and application of non-local and distal acupuncture points to assess and treat shoulder pain, including frozen shoulder and various neuropathic or inflammatory presentations.

Unlike traditional local needling, distal acupuncture targets points away from the site of symptoms, often producing more immediate clinical benefits while minimizing adverse reactions in acute or sensitized tissues. This approach also enables clinicians to combine needling with concurrent manual therapies while needles are retained, expanding treatment options within a biomechanically informed, integrative framework.

The course presents a myofascial model for understanding distal point selection and introduces systematic strategies that physiotherapists can apply to shoulder conditions with confidence and precision.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Design systematic acupuncture treatment strategies for shoulder conditions using non-local and distal points.

2. Explain how distal needling can influence distant musculoskeletal and neurologic pathways to support pain modulation.

3. Assess and choose clinically relevant point groups tailored to shoulder disorders.

Audience

This course is ideal for:

• Physiotherapists trained in acupuncture and dry needling seeking advanced assessment and treatment strategies.

• Clinicians treating complex shoulder pain presentations in orthopaedic, sports, or musculoskeletal practice.

• Physiotherapists interested in integrative and distal needling approaches as part of comprehensive pain management.

• Practitioners aiming to enhance clinical reasoning and diversify treatment options beyond local tissue needling.

Why This Course Matters

Shoulder pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints seen in physiotherapy. However, conventional local needling alone may not always produce lasting results, especially in cases with central sensitization, neuropathic features, or acute inflammatory responses.

Distal acupuncture and integrative healing frameworks offer physiotherapists alternative pathways for therapeutic intervention by drawing on non-local points that can:

• Modulate pain through interconnected fascial and neurological pathways.

• Provide rapid symptom improvement even in complex shoulder conditions.

• Permit concurrent manual therapy, expanding treatment versatility.

This course gives clinicians the tools to integrate these evidence-informed strategies into a broader clinical reasoning model, enhancing outcomes and patient satisfaction

About the Presenter

James Spears, M.S

James has practiced acupuncture, somatic therapies, and yoga for over 20 years. In 2001, he graduated from the International Institute of Chinese Medicine with a Masters degree in Oriental Medicine. He has also studied in five university hospitals in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Hangzhou.

From 2008 - 2011 he lead educational tours to China for doctors and post-graduates. He has spent the last 14 years in Asia learning from a variety of teachers in related disciplines including acupuncture, manual therapies, and herbal medicine.