Clinical anatomy, kinesiology, and the jing-jin ("sinew meridians" or myofascial tracts)
- Bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, neurology
- Posture and motion dysfunctions
- The arthritic progression: strain/sprain, derangement, degeneration
History-taking: key diagnostic questions
- "Red flag" symptoms of urgent/serious medical conditions potentially warranting referral to physician care: hemarthrosis, thromboses, infections, fractures, pediatric and adolescent conditions, and neuropathies
- Identifying the affected jing-jin ("sinew meridians" or myofascial tracts).
- Differentiating symptoms of muscles, tendons, ligament, joint and nerve injuries
- Neural hypersensitization and psycho-social factors
Physical exam of the hip, thigh and knee: how findings can guide acupuncture treatment
- Classical jing-jin and modern orthopedic observation, inspection and palpation
- Joint exam: active range-of-motion and passive stress testing of the hip, tibiofemoral, patellofemoral, and superior tibiofemoral joints
- Manual strength testing and referred pain pattern charts for 20 key muscles of the hip, thigh and knee
- Special orthopedic and neurologic tests for the hip, thigh and knee
- Clinical flow charts to facilitate efficiency and accuracy in examination
Diagnosis and pattern identification
- Hip and Buttock
- Muscle strains and myofascial pain: gluteals, piriformis, iliacus, tensor fascia lata
- "Snapping hip" syndrome and enthesitis
- Bursitis: trochanteric and iliopsoas
- Femoral acetabular syndrome
- Labral tears and capsular laxity
- Osteoarthrosis
- Neuropathies: sciatic, lateral femoral cutaneous
- Thigh
- Muscle strains and myofascial pain: quadriceps, hamstrings, sartorius, adductors, iliotibial band
- Knee
- Muscle strains and myofascial pain: popliteus
- Bursitis: patellar, iliotibial, pes anserine
- Patellofemoral syndromes
- Ligament sprains: ACL, MCL, LCL, PCL
- Meniscus injuries and degeneration
- Osteoarthrosis
- Superior tibiofibular joint laxity