With Instructor Anthony Von der Muhll, L.Ac., DAOM, DNBAO, FAIPM

The classical 经 筋 jing-jin ("sinew meridians") of Chinese medicine describe tracts of myofascial tissues that roughly follow the jing-luo ("primary meridians").

Understanding the jing-jin can guide clinicians from where pain is felt, to distal and proximal locations that also may need treatment. Knowing the muscles, tendons, joints and ligaments of each jing-jin, and how to examine and treat them is a valuable complement to the cross-sectional approach of contemporary orthopedics, and opens up avenues towards holistic rehabilitation from injuries, pain and disability, including:

• Decreased muscle-tendon pain and tension, and improved strength and function
• Decreased joint pain, and increased flexibility and range-of-motion
• Improved posture, movement, and whole-body biomechanics

This introductory class prepares students to get the most out of the 4-part Jing-Jin series by reviewing the general structure and functions of the jing-jin, as well as classical and modern examination and treatment techniques, including:

• Comparison of ancient descriptions of the jing-jin with contemporary dissection studies and functional analyses of myofascial tracts and kinematic chains
• Clinical significance of postural vs. phasic muscles and balance between agonist/antagonist muscle groups
• Clinical assessment of the movement, strength, and joint stabilization functions of jing-jin muscles and joints
• Introduction to anatomical charts of myofascial referred pain patterns, including muscle attachment sites and functions, innervation, and trigger, motor and Chinese new/miscellaneous points. (The full series covers over 100 muscles and connective tissue structures.)

Treatment of jing-jin injuries and pain with traditional and modern acupuncture and other AOM therapies.

• Classical needling of the jing-jin, including “crack needling,” “short puncture,” “superficial puncture,” hegu puncture, and shu-point/periosteal puncture
• Myofascial trigger point and joint stabilization/mobilization ("prolo-acupuncture") needling
• Cupping, gua sha, and other manual therapies