Course Details

Entry-point DN course focused on safety, anatomy, and first-principles clinical reasoning for the UQ.  

Dry Needling Upper Quarter is an introduction to dry needling. Students are introduced to the risks of DN, safety of needle handling, and anatomy review. Students apply knowledge in performing DN under the watchful eye of experts in the field. Additionally, evidence to support DN is discussed and case-based learning is utilized. 

For: PTs, OTs, ATCs. Check with your practice act regarding your state’s stance on DN. 

General schedule (individual course iterations may vary- check the schedule carefully before booking)

• Friday 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM

• Saturday 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM

• Sunday 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM

CEU: 28 hours

You’ll learn how to:

• Apply dry needling safely using anatomy-driven decision-making and clear risk-mitigation strategies

• Select appropriate patients and muscles using test–treat–retest and clinical reasoning frameworks

• Perform accurate palpation, needle handling, and stimulation techniques (including pistoning, coning, and e-stim integration)

• Identify precautions, contraindications, and regional neurovascular risks in the upper quarter

• Integrate dry needling into a broader plan of care alongside exercise, education, and manual therapy

• Interpret and apply current evidence for dry needling across shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand and cervical conditions

Discounts are available (student physical therapists, University of Utah employees, UU alumni) - contact us @ pureperformancerehab@gmail.com

Muscles instructed:

Cervical Spine

• Upper Trapezius

• Levator Scapulae

• Splenius Capitis

• Splenius Cervicis

• Semispinalis Capitis

• Cervical Multifidus

Shoulder / Scapular Region

• Deltoid (Anterior, Middle, Posterior)

• Supraspinatus

• Infraspinatus

• Teres Minor

• Teres Major

• Subscapularis

• Rhomboid Major

• Rhomboid Minor

• Serratus Anterior

• Latissimus Dorsi

Thoracic Spine

• Thoracic Multifidus

• Erector Spinae (Iliocostalis, Longissimus)

Prerequisites: None