Five TCM experts share their unique strategies for treating neck and shoulder pain. Part 1: Acupuncture and Gua Sha therapy for adhesive capsulitis frozen shoulder (Arya Nielsen, PhD) Acupuncture is more effective for shoulder pain than sham acupuncture and more effective than no acupuncture. While we are situated to know more now than at any other time in the history about acupuncture therapy, to what extent does acupuncture research inform clinicians’ day to day practice? This talk will discuss the research on acupuncture for shoulder pain, then specifically frozen shoulder. Common points and rote point prescriptions fail to represent their effective use in informed interactive treatment where needling is rarely used alone, and points used are never the same from treatment to treatment but responsive to presentation. Blood stasis pain is characterized as fixed or recurring and requires Gua sha or Ba guan to ‘thaw’ a frozen shoulder. Part 2: Neuro-anatomical acupuncture for rotator cuff & shoulder girdle dysfunction (Poney Chiang, PhD. R.Ac. R.TCMP) Many practitioners lack confidence in treating rotator cuff problems yet it is very common in clinical practice. The shoulder is a complex joint designed for a wide range of movements: elevation, depression, internal/external rotation, abduction, adduction, protraction and retraction. This workshop will review the musculature and peripheral nerves that act on the shoulder and how to use electrical acupuncture to reduce pain, improve range of movement, enhance joint stability and muscle activation. Part 3: The treatment of frozen shoulder using Dr. tan balance method acupuncture (Adi Fromm, CM.Dip (IATCM)) Dr. Tan’s Balance Method acupuncture is one of the most useful method of acupuncture for treating pain disorders, as well as treating internal disorders. In this lecture we will focus on frozen shoulder and other common shoulder conditions, using one of the most effective acupuncture methods. Frozen shoulder is a very common complaint coming to our clinic, and while western medicine doesn’t have a very useful treatment, we Chinese medicine practitioners can give a lot of help reducing pain and increasing range of motion. helping our patients pass this time in their life’s with relative ease. helping them to heal faster and rehabilitate quickly. In this particular lecture we will review the basic of the Balance Method. We will learn the approach of the Balance Method for these kinds of conditions. We will learn about frozen shoulder and other shoulder problem from western medicine point of view, and how to translate our finding into Chinese medicine language. We will learn how to particularly use acupuncture to treat frozen shoulder successfully. We will learn some major protocols for treating frozen shoulder. We will also review some very useful training exercises for rehabilitation Part 4: A Global Approach to Treating Shoulder Pain & Rotator Cuff Tears (Tom Bisio) In this presentation we look at treating the rotator cuff using multi-modality approach that stems from global perspective of understanding the Qi Dynamics of the shoulder in relation to the internal Qi Dynamics and the body’s structural alignments and connections. This multi-modality approach includes Tui Na, acupuncture, internal and external herbal formulas, diet and rehabilitative exercise from a traditional Chinese perspective. Important concepts like the “Shoulder Well,” Nine Section Theory, shoulder and scapular structural alignment, using Wind Points effectively, and the key manipulations of Tui Na in relation to Rotator cuff problems are discussed and related to clinical treatments. Demonstrations will include a basic acupuncture protocol for the shoulder, treating wind points, a bicipital treatment and a few basic rehabilitation exercises. Part 5: Master Tung’s Magic Points: Five Different Ways to Address Shao Yang Neck and Shoulder Pain (Susan Johnson, L.Ac.) In Tung’s Acupuncture, we find some very powerful points that are located just anterior (or medial) to GB34 Yang Ling Quan. Because metal (Lung) controls wood (Liver/Gallbladder), these points are exceptionally useful in the treatment of tendons and ligaments, obtaining their strength from their proximity to GB34, the Sea of Tendons. With the Reaction Areas of Lung and Teeth, they are exceptionally for temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ). Located between the Shao Yang and Yang Ming channels, Beside Three Miles also draw from ST36 Zu San Li (Leg Three Miles), hence their name. In Tung’s body of work, many points found between the Stomach and Gallbladder channels are loosely classified as “Gallbladder channel points.” All of them have a powerful effect on the Shao Yang aspect of the head and neck, face, jaw and five senses; therefore, it is important to determine the root cause of the pathology before choosing from the following points: 77.22/77.23 Beside Three Miles, 77.05-77.07 Three Weights, 77.24/77.25 Leg Five Gold/ Leg Thousand Gold, 77.27 Outer Three Gates, 88.17-88.19 Four Horses, and 88.25 Center None Miles (aka.GB31). All Gallbladder points deal with joints, tendons and wind, especially Beside Three Miles, but we also want to think of bone and bone marrow as related to Foot Shao Yang (blood and Sea of Marrow).