The Acupuncture Outsider Podcast

Three Dry Needling Cases this Week and How To Get the Best Results

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 13:33:51 -0400

Dry Needling takes skill, good assessment, good patient communication and the confidence to see it through.

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

Two ACNES Case Follow-ups and more Moti Physio Cases

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 13:22:50 -0400

I got to see both women who had what I thought was ACNES and was able to hear what happened after treatment.

I also have now been using the Moti Physio for about 7 weeks and have learned how to improve the accuracy of the scan.

Here are a couple cases where the scan was useful for many reasons.

Online Courses:

https://richardhazel.podia.com

If you want to know more about the Moti Physio you can see more here:

https://www.alignwellus.com/

Align Well

AC vs DC devices (Take Two)

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 13:33:23 -0400

I removed last week's episode because I made too many errors in talking about red leads and black leads on e-stim devices.

This episode covers the difference between Direct Current and Alternating Current, the advantages of each and the safety reasons for Electric Stimulation Acupuncture devices to be AC Biphasic.

I talk about the differences between the Pointers, the ITO ES-130 and the Pantheon and a little about microcurrent.

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

Moti Physio Research Review

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 13:17:27 -0400

For the most part, the research comparing Moti Physio to the gold standard EOS 3D X-ray was very good. There were a couple areas that were only rated at Fair and I have my opinion about why that was.

Chiropractors may still need an X-ray before treatment, but then there's huge value to using Moti regularly (no radiation) for monitoring.

Here are my thoughts for Functional Acupuncturists after another week of using the Moti Physio.

The paper I looked at most was:

Validity and Reliability of a Non-Radiographic Postural Analysis
Device Based on an RGB-Depth Camera Comparing EOS 3D
Imaging: A Prospective Observational Study

If you want to know more about the Moti Physio you can see more here:

https://www.alignwellus.com/

My Online Courses on Podia: https://richardhazel.podia.com

My Honest Review of the Moti Physio

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 13:02:06 -0400

I've been using the Moti Physio Advanced Posture Scan for a couple weeks and here are my thoughts, observations and opinions.

If you want to know more about the Moti Physio you can see more here:

https://www.alignwellus.com/

My Online Courses on Podia: https://richardhazel.podia.com

ACNES - This Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Often Gets Missed By MDs

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 12:57:39 -0400

It can be very distressing to have a fixed pain in the abdomen that feels like an internal organ pain and after all the tests, no one knows what to do about it.

ACNES should be known by everyone who treats pain.

I covered this in 2025 in my Sydney course. "Unlock the Mystery of Chronic Pain"

https://richardhazel.podia.com/peripheral-nerve-entrapments

Key Muscles for Hip Joint Centration

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 13:35:51 -0400

These are muscles you need to stay on top of even if they don't test weak yet. This is how we keep people from having hip issues in the future and they are muscles we need to treat when they do have hip pain. You'll see this dysfunction even after a hip replacement surgery. You can change the joint (hardware) but if the software (muscles) is still faulty, there will be pain.

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

The Always-On Function of the Rotator Cuff Muscles

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 12:44:01 -0400

We test the rotator cuff muscles for their internal/external rotation and abduction strength but they have a very important Always-On function too.

Just like the scapular stabilizers, the rotator cuff needs to dynamically stabilize so that other muscles like the deltoids and pectoralis muscles can have power.

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

We are in the last days of the Black Friday double discount sale.

Take 20% off any course or bundle of courses until the end of 2025

BLACKFRIDAY20 at checkout.

Bundles of courses are already discounted at 20% so you can add another 20% on top of that until the sale ends.

My courses don't expire.

Facial and Eye Symptoms that are coming from the Neck and the Occipital Nerves

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 12:36:10 -0400

Light sensitivity, watering eyes, ptosis, sinus pain, facial pain and migraine are all symptoms that can come from neck muscles via the TCC (Trigeminocervical Complex)

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

Black Friday Discount ends at the end of the year.

BLACKFRIDAY20 for 20% all courses and bundles of courses.

Treating Pain is a Failing Strategy - Fix the Movement Pattern!

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 12:45:54 -0400

Most acupuncturists can treat pain. But the pain comes back.

We need to stop obsessing about disc bulges and MRIs and start looking at the actual mechanical problem that is leading to pain.

Fix what's tight then strengthen what's inhibited and then retrain the movement pattern.

Janda already did the hard work and most are just ignoring it and treating the site of pain.

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

BLACKFRIDAY20 at checkout for 20% off until the end of the year.

Functional vs Structural - The Genius of Vladimir Janda for Treating Chronic Pain

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 13:49:08 -0400

Most people over 50 have disc bulges and degeneration and are not in pain.

30% of people in their 20s have disc bulges and are not in pain.

Janda would say that the disc is being injured by postural issues due to muscle imbalances and also because of dysfunctional movement patterns caused by those Upper and Lower Crossed Syndromes.

Treating a disc bulge only gives temporary relief. The underlying sheering force caused by a short tight psoas or a forward head placement will start to injury adjacent discs and will perpetuate pain.

Fix the Function! Correct the Crossed Patterns and retrain the movement patterns for lasting relief of chronic pain.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4464797/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3921966/

BLACKFRIDAY20 at Checkout (look for the link to click) for 20% off all Courses and Bundles of Courses on my Podia site. Bundles are already 20% discounted and you can add the Black Friday Discount on top of that until the end of the year.

https://richardhazel.podia.com

My Courses Don't Expire

Dry Needling College Athletes for Patellar Tendon and Achilles Pain

Sat, 29 Nov 2025 14:34:17 -0400

Sometimes Dry Needling is the best and fastest way to get full function back and to relieve pain. On these two college football players the electric stimulation acupuncture was barely touching their pain. Dry Needling give me instant and satisfying results.

Don't Forget, I'm running a 20% Discount on all Courses and Bundles of Courses (already discounted at 20%) until the end of the year.

Use the Code BLACKFRIDAY20 at checkout (look for the link to enter the code)

It's a great chance to get 20% already discounted bundles for huge savings on courses that DO NOT EXPIRE. You keep them as a reference anytime you need them.

Videos are indexed for fast reference.

All courses can be discounted and you can reuse the code as many times as you want until the end of the year.

https://richardhazel.podia.com

Correction: I said insipid instead of insidious onset. 😂

Sarcopenia is a Vascular Disease

Sat, 22 Nov 2025 13:54:05 -0400

I'm not diagnosing or treating anything and I'm not telling anyone what they should do or what they should tell their patients to do.

I'm sharing the research so that people can talk to their doctors about possible ways to reverse sarcopenia and fibrotic muscle and regain healthy fast-twitch muscle.

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

Black Friday discount on all courses

BLACKFRIDAY20 at checkout for 20% off courses and bundles of courses.

Unexpected Result While Treating Post-Stroke Symptoms 20 years Later

Sat, 15 Nov 2025 13:17:20 -0400

This was a little mind-blowing to see this week. I was treating someone who had a stroke 20 years ago and then this happened!

HINT: There was a musculocutaneous nerve entrapment I wasn't expecting to see.

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

Why We Shouldn't Trust a 5/5 MMT on an Athlete (And what we should do instead)

Sat, 08 Nov 2025 13:45:26 -0400

The 0-5 scale on Manual Muscle Tests was created in 1915 to find neuromuscular issues in paretic patients (like people with polio).

The MMT should not be trusted for Sports Optimization and Injury Prevention in Athletes.

Here's what the research says. (Pro tip: The MMT is more of a test of the strength of the examiner, than of the athlete)

Online Courses (that never expire) https://richardhazel.podia.com

Pain above the Knee is Very Common for Athletes - And This is What Resolves It

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 12:50:26 -0300

I rarely see pain above the knee on my average patients, but I see it very often on athletes, especially jumping sports.

Here's what I've found to work and what I think is the underlying cause.

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

Sports Performance Optimization for Overhead Sports Part 2

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 13:24:50 -0300

Part 2 of the Kinetic Chain is the shoulder elbow and wrist in the acceleration phase of pitching and the deceleration phase (where the injuries are more common)

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

Sports Performance Optimization for Over-Head Sports: Part One -The Kinetic Chain

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 14:00:09 -0300

Ground Reaction Force (GRF)

Hip-To-Shoulder Separation (HTS)

The Anterior Oblique Sling

The Posterior Oblique Sling

Setting the groundwork for Part Two about Baseball Pitching

Online Course: https://richardhazel.podia.com

Hip Optimization for Athletes - Part Three - The Transverse Plane

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 14:09:49 -0300

The Hip Internal and External Rotators are important for agility to rapidly change direction and have an important role to play in proprioception and to avoid knee injury.

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

Courses Never Expire.

Optimizing the Hip Complex for Sports Performance - Part Two - The Frontal Plane

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 12:44:02 -0300

The Abductors and the Adductors of the Hip are essential for sports with lateral movement, cutting and changing direction with Power and Agility.

Optimizing the Lateral Stabilizers will also help to avoid knee and ankle injuries.

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

Bilateral Foot Pain and Numbness on a Football Player

Sat, 27 Sep 2025 14:52:17 -0300

Interesting case this week of bilateral foot pain and numbness on an American Football Player.

I walk through my thinking, my way to assess and confirm my assumptions and the results mid-way through and the adjustment I made to get to 100% pain-free.

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

SEPT20 all month for 20% off all courses.

Optimizing The Hip Complex for Sports Performance: Part One - The Sagittal Plane

Sat, 20 Sep 2025 13:27:11 -0300

Part One of Three

How we can optimize Sports Performance by working on the Lumbopelvic Hip Complex in all Planes of Movement

Today it's about Triple Extension

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

SEPT20 for 20% all Courses until the end of Sept 2025

Back from Barcelona and an Interosseous Foot Injury

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 13:14:44 -0300

Thank you to everyone who made our Barcelona Acupuncture Congress a success!

I give a brief recap of what I talked about.

Then a college Volleyball player had an injury of the interosseous muscles of the foot.

I'm running a 20% Discount for September SEPT20 at checkout for all courses.

My courses never expire!

https://richardhazel.podia.com

We Can Treat Most Thumb Arthritis and Pain Quickly with Acupuncture

Sun, 24 Aug 2025 12:52:52 -0300

Most thumb pain can be fixed really quickly with electric stimulation acupuncture on the motor points of the thumb muscles. Here's what I do for thumb pain.

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

This Trigger Point Causes Sciatic Symptoms in the Lower Leg

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 13:55:43 -0300

I've been showing this to people in live seminars for years but I'm finally willing to say with certainty that this is repeatable and reliable for relieving the lower leg symptoms from sciatica.

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

Functional Acupuncture for Sports Performance

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 13:09:44 -0300

Until now, sports medicine has been highly influenced by the MDs who treat injury so we often follow suit as acupuncturists.

Functional Acupuncture is always looking at the whole picture. We can treat more than just the injury. We can look up the chain or into the past to find healthy muscles to optimize and improve sports performance and avoid injury.

Learn more about Functional Acupuncture with my Online Courses on Podia: https://richardhazel.podia.com

Interesting and Persistent Knee Pain in a College Football Player

Sat, 02 Aug 2025 13:22:54 -0300

I'm working on a tough case of knee pain on a college football player and I'm telling you here how I went about treating and adjusting my treatment as new information became clear.

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

The New Peripheral Nerve Entrapment Course is here:

https://richardhazel.podia.com/peripheral-nerve-entrapments

Two New Cases of Hand Tingling and Numbness

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 14:56:54 -0300

I very likely resolved two cases of hand tingling and numbness in 1 or 2 sessions.

NTOS and some other interesting trigger points.

CORRECTION: I was speaking off the cuff when I called the Lower Trapezius an Downward Rotator. It is, of course, an Upward Rotator. So much for the theory of Lower Trapzius increasing compression with the help of Pec Minor and Levator Scap! Sorry about that.

The new Peripheral Nerve Entrapment course is on Podia with a discount until the end of July. Use the code JULY100 at checkout.

It's the most extensive course I've taught on PNEs

https://richardhazel.podia.com/peripheral-nerve-entrapments

Self-Treatment for Low Back Pain Prevention (and sometimes acute back pain)

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 12:49:32 -0300

In this episode I share my own self treatment to prevent low back pain with point location guidance for each point.

This is the same protocol I use for pregnant women with sciatica or SIJ pain (without the electric stimulation of course).

I'm currently running a sale on the new Peripheral Nerve Entrapment course on Podia. The Unlock the Mystery of Chronic Pain course that was recorded in Sydney this year.

JULY100 at checkout for $100 off. Good until the end of July.

https://richardhazel.podia.com

Maybe we don't need GLP-1 drugs, maybe we just need to walk more?

Sat, 05 Jul 2025 13:39:50 -0300

I think I've been exercise resistant much of the time in spite of working out and eating right.

Dr. Coyle shows us that we need at least 8500 steps a day for an hour workout to have the metabolic fat-burning effects we want it to have.

Coyle EF, Burton HM, Satiroglu R. Inactivity Causes Resistance to Improvements in Metabolism After Exercise. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2022 Apr 1;50(2):81-88. doi: 10.1249/JES.0000000000000280. Erratum in: Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2022 Jul 01;50(3):172. doi: 10.1249/JES.0000000000000295. PMID: 35025844.

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

(The new Unlock the Mystery of Chronic Pain: Peripheral Nerve Entrapment Course is on sale for the month of July. Use JULY100 at checkout for $100 off)

The Progression of Normal Muscle Tone to Muscle Contracture to Myofascial Trigger Points

Sat, 31 May 2025 14:14:24 -0300

It's important to know the progression of muscle fiber dysfunction to better understand how to treat and how long it may take to correct the problem.

The analysis of current research provides substantial evidence supporting the progression of muscle fiber dysfunction as a significant contributor to musculoskeletal pain, aligning with the hypothesized sequence: sustained muscle tone leading to long-term muscle fiber shortening, which subsequently culminates in painful myofascial trigger points.

The initial phase of this progression is rooted in the transition from normal physiological muscle tone to a state of pathological hypertonia or chronic muscle overload. Sustained low-level muscle contractions, even at submaximal levels, are shown to generate sufficient intramuscular pressure to compromise local capillary blood flow. This circulatory impairment leads to localized ischemia and hypoxia within the muscle fibers, precipitating a critical "energy crisis" due to insufficient ATP production.

This energy deficit is pivotal for the subsequent development of muscle fiber shortening. ATP is indispensable not only for muscle contraction but also for the crucial process of muscle relaxation, specifically for the detachment of myosin heads from actin and the re-uptake of calcium ions. When ATP is depleted, these relaxation mechanisms fail, resulting in sarcomeres becoming locked in a state of sustained, pathological hypercontraction. This localized shortening at the sarcomere level forms the palpable "taut band" that is a hallmark of myofascial trigger points. Over extended periods, such sustained pathological shortening can also contribute to broader structural changes like muscle contractures, involving fibrosis and a permanent reduction in muscle length.

The culmination of this progression is the development of painful trigger points. The sustained sarcomere hypercontraction, driven by the energy crisis and calcium dysregulation, creates a severely acidic local environment. This acidic milieu, coupled with tissue injury from prolonged ischemia, triggers the release and accumulation of various neuroactive and inflammatory mediators. These substances directly stimulate and sensitize muscle nociceptors, manifesting as the exquisite tenderness and characteristic referred pain associated with active myofascial trigger points.

Furthermore, the pathophysiology of myofascial trigger points is characterized by a complex, self-perpetuating vicious cycle. The energy crisis and subsequent acidic environment inhibit acetylcholinesterase, leading to prolonged acetylcholine effects and further sustained muscle contraction. Concurrently, mediators like calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) not only potentiate muscle contraction but also directly activate nociceptors. This intricate feedback loop ensures the chronicity of the condition, as the consequences of muscle shortening directly exacerbate the initial problem of sustained contraction and pain.

This comprehensive understanding of the progression from sustained muscle tone to muscle shortening and painful trigger points has significant implications for both clinical practice and future research in musculoskeletal pain. For clinicians, it underscores the importance of early identification and intervention for chronic muscle tension and overuse, aiming to disrupt the energy crisis cycle before fixed structural changes or chronic pain states become entrenched. Therapeutic strategies should not only target pain relief but also address the underlying metabolic and biomechanical dysfunctions, including restoring proper muscle length, improving local circulation, and resolving the energy deficit. For researchers, the identified roles of specific molecules like CGRP and the intricate feedback loops within the "energy crisis" model present promising avenues for developing novel diagnostic markers and targeted pharmacological or rehabilitative interventions that can effectively break the self-perpetuating cycle of myofascial

pain.

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

Are you missing this muscle when treating mid-back pain?

Sat, 17 May 2025 14:37:30 -0300

I almost never hear discussion about this muscle for midback pain.

My two cents about this muscle and how to assess and treat it.

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

A Complex Case of Nerve Entrapment Pain (Post-Surgery)

Sat, 10 May 2025 15:45:19 -0300

I'm walking you through how I assessed and treated a complex case of cluneal, sciatic and possibly pudendal nerve symptoms. As well as managing the patient's anxiety when symptoms flare.

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

Interesting Sural Nerve Entrapment Case, Possibly Caused by Cipro

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 13:26:55 -0300

Have you seen neuropathy and chronic myalgia that patients believe happened after taking Cipro? I've seen it several times.

This might be one of those cases.

Best sleep he's had in 20 years after the first treatment of what looked like Sural Nerve Entrapment.

I'm covering the Sural Nerve Entrapment in Sydney at the end of March.

https://chinesemedicineeducation.com/product/motor-point-acupuncture-trigger-point-needling-nerve-entrapments/

Online Courses on Podia: https://richardhazel.podia.com

For the month of March (my birthday month) I'm giving discounts.

20% off any courses and bundles with the code MARCH20

50% off the Motor Point Location Video Course with the code BIRTHDAY50

A case of Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet and Tinnitus

Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:14 -0400

I had an interesting case this week of NTOS and he also had tinnitus that improved from the treatment.

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

IG: @richhazel

Crooked and the Back Pain Industrial Complex

Sat, 15 Feb 2025 14:57:49 -0400

The book Crooked by Cathryn Jackobson Ramin is a must-read book for anyone who works with back pain patients or is considering a back surgery for low back pain.

I talk about research the author mentioned and some other research that will blow your mind.

Crooked is available on Audible if you prefer an audio book.

https://www.cathrynjakobsonramin.com/

The Value of Magnetic Resonance Imaging of The Lumbar Spine to Predict Low-Back Pain in Asymptomatic Subjects

The catastrophization effects of an MRI report on the patient
and surgeon and the benefits of ‘clinical reporting’: results
from an RCT and blinded trials

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

Anterior Shoulder Pain from Pecs and Lats

Sat, 08 Feb 2025 12:37:08 -0400

Anterior shoulder pain on shoulder flexion

Anterior shoulder pain on planting a ski pole

Pseudo Frozen Shoulder

Restricted Shoulder Flexion

All cases I saw this week.

Pec Major and Lats for the win!

(Some dry needling was necessary)

Online Courses and Mentorship Group on Podia:

https://richardhazel.podia.com

Is it really Frozen Shoulder? Sometimes it's not.

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 13:07:20 -0400

Is it frozen shoulder or an impingement?

Can we fix a frozen shoulder with acupuncture?

Here are my 2 cents.

Thank you, to Feedspot for selecting The Acupuncture Outsider for the Top 15 Acupuncture Podcasts on the Planet.

https://podcast.feedspot.com/acupuncture_podcasts/

Online Courses for Functional Acupuncture: https://richardhazel.podia.com

Double Crush Syndrome Misconceptions

Sat, 11 Jan 2025 15:25:57 -0400

Double Crush Syndrome is mostly seen in the medical field as something rare that happens to people in an earthquake when a building collapses on them.

In the world of successfully treating peripheral neuropathies with Functional Acupuncture it's helpful to take a less restrictive definition of Double Crush.

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

My website: https://www.richhazel.com

Functional Acupuncture and a Real Pain Case

Sun, 05 Jan 2025 12:35:03 -0400

Why I'm calling my style of acupuncture Functional Acupuncture.

Janda famously said that there are 2 schools of thought in musculoskeletal medicine. Stuctural and Functional. Most are still using the Structural approach (and our patients are paying the price - literally)

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

Trigger Points for Knee Pain

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 15:59:37 -0400

The functional approach to knee pain will look for movement dysfunction and attempt to correct it.

Others might blame arthritis, the patient's weight, L4-5 issues...

I'm going to look at joint pain as an issue of how the joint moves.

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

Nerve Entrapments and Heart Attack Symptoms

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 13:44:15 -0400

Very interesting case this week.

And a second case of crippling pain where all the doctors threw their hands up and said, "there's nothing we can do."

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

BlackFriday Discount good until Dec 31

BLACKFRIDAY20 for 20% off All Courses and Bundles

More Great Reasons To Treat Suboccipital Muscles

Sat, 14 Dec 2024 15:11:28 -0400

I recently treated my own suboccipital muscles and am now realizing how important it is to treat them on people with neck pain and restricted range of motion.

These are now in my arsenal for quality of life / mobility treatments.

Online courses

BLACKFRIDAY20 for 20% off all courses and bundles.

https://richardhazel.podia.com

I Don't Treat Pain!

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 12:47:24 -0400

Sounds strange but I don't treat pain.

I see patients for pain every day, but I'm not trying to treat their pain.

There's more to it than that.

Online Courses:

BLACKFRIDAY20 Discount Code for 20% Off all Courses and Bundles until December 31.

https://richardhazel.podia.com

Adductor Longus Knee Pain and Instability

Sun, 03 Nov 2024 11:22:36 -0400

Interesting case on a college athlete. How I assessed and treated this issue.

Come to the 3rd European Orthopaedic and Sports Acupuncture Congress in Barcelona:

Space will be limited to 40 people.

https://integrative-acu-seminars.com/3rd-european-orthopaedic-and-sports-acupuncture-congress/

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

Some Thoughts About Treating an Older Population

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 13:02:20 -0300

Treating Seniors is a skill you need to learn and there are no books or courses to take.

Treating Pro Athletes gets you some prestige but the true test of your assessment and treatment skills as an acupuncturist (as well as your people skills) will be in treating an older population with sub-optimal health statuses.

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

OCTOBER10 until the end of the month for 10% off everything.

My First Inferior Cluneal Nerve Entrapment Case!

Sat, 19 Oct 2024 12:43:16 -0300

My First Inferior Cluneal Nerve Entrapment Case!

And an update on my ACNES patient.

online courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

OCTOBER10 for 10% off everything until the end of October.

Most Low Back Pain Starts at the Pelvis

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 14:04:56 -0300

"Most (musculoskeletal) issues start at the Pelvis" - Vladimir Janda

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

OCTOBER10 for 10% off Everything Until the End of October.

What Your Doctor (Probably) Doesn't Know About Pain

Sat, 05 Oct 2024 14:47:07 -0300

The unfortunate gap in understanding pain is the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system's response to overuse, pain and injury.

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

OCTOBER10 discount code for 10% off everything on the site until the end of October

My Latest Updates on Tough Pain Cases: Back Pain and Sciatica

Sat, 21 Sep 2024 13:46:00 -0300

Some tough pain cases are getting better (fast)!

Here is the link to Podia. My new course just went live.

https://richardhazel.podia.com

Posterior Knee Pain and Hip Compensation

Sat, 14 Sep 2024 14:57:42 -0300

I saw a new patient this week with posterior knee pain and his leg would internally rotate when he had been playing golf for a while.

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

Mysterious Upper Mid-back Pain

Sat, 31 Aug 2024 12:35:34 -0300

It's not easy to treat a pain that the patient only feels at times when they are not in the clinic with you.

You have to go on their memory of where it hurts and what they are doing at that time.

On palpation there was no pain to reproduce. Length testing and muscle testing showed nothing.

I had to rely on Dr. Travell to figure it out.

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

Functional Leg Length Discrepancy and Other Cases

Sun, 25 Aug 2024 14:06:32 -0300

Just a review of how I usually treat a leg length discrepancy and some of my tough cases. Foot neuropathies, Cauda Equina Syndrome, Migraines

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

He (or She) Who Treats the Site of Pain is Often Lost!

Sat, 17 Aug 2024 13:41:21 -0300

If you're sticking needles into the site of pain you're waving the flag of surrender.

If you know the cause of the pain, you should be getting good/great results in your first treatment and have it resolved or greatly improved very quickly soon after, in most cases.

If you are sticking needles into things where they hurt, you're likely missing the real cause of the problem.

Yes, I'm going to piss people off. But Janda and Lewit were right. "He who treats the site of pain is often lost"!

Online courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

Should We Treat the Psoas Motor Point or Only Use Distal Points?

Sun, 04 Aug 2024 13:24:23 -0300

I recently saw a discussion about treating the psoas with acupuncture techniques like fascial pecking on the abdomen, treating the segment, addressing other issues like the abdominals and core, distal points.

What should we do and why?

All of the above are good, but there are times when the motor point is essential. Here's my take.

Hint: it's a matter of muscle tone vs muscle shortening.

Online Courses: https://richardhazel.podia.com

Deep Branch and Superficial Radial Nerve Entrapments

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 15:38:10 -0300

More gold from Dr. Trescot's book.

There are many ways to entrap the radial nerve. The ones we can address with acupuncture can respond very quickly.

Here's Dr. Trescot's Book on Amazon. (The Springer site has it for about $100 more than Amazon)

https://a.co/d/2QN64U4

My online courses are here: https://richardhazel.podia.com

This Nerve Entrapment Can Cause Numbness on the Bottom of the Foot and Big Toe

Sat, 20 Jul 2024 15:05:14 -0300

Something I was teaching in Amsterdam recently.

Easy to miss, but easy to treat.

As I mentioned, you can learn more about Dr. Jenny Nieters' Courses here:

https://alamedaacupuncture.com/learn-sports-acupuncture-with-jenny-nieters/

My courses are here: https://richardhazel.podia.com

My First Line of Assessment for Hip Dysfunction

Sat, 06 Jul 2024 13:11:16 -0300

This is my favorite way to find hip dysfunction for people who have hip pain or for athletes who want to avoid injury and have better sports performance.

My online courses are here: https://richardhazel.podia.com

Amsterdam Orthopedic and Sports Acupuncture Congress Recap and Glute Min facts

Sat, 22 Jun 2024 12:38:28 -0300

Just got back from Amsterdam. We had a great Congress. I'm discussing what you missed and then some details I wanted to mention about the Gluteus Minimus that you won't hear most of the time.

https://richardhazel.podia.com

Janda: There are two schools of thought in musculoskeletal medicine: Structural and Functional

Mon, 27 May 2024 12:37:54 -0300

Most likely your doctor looks at your pain as a structural issue. i.e. Joint inflammation needs an anti-inflammatory.

Unless you need a surgical intervention, Janda would have seen your pain as a functional problem. Your sensorimotor system is having problems.

This is why I'm 100% in the Janda camp and why it gets such great, lasting results.

If you are an acupuncturist and are wanting to learn motor points, come to Amsterdam in June:

https://integrative-acu-seminars.com/2nd-european-orthopaedic-and-sports-acupuncture-congress/

Is there a connection between The Superficial Peroneal Nerve and Restless Leg Syndrome?

Sat, 18 May 2024 11:43:05 -0300

There are some new devices for Restless Leg Syndrome that use electric stimulation to stimulate the afferent nerves of the low leg.

What's the connection to the Superficial Peroneal Nerve and Restless Leg? I'm not sure, but I'm willing to start treating patients with this in mind.

Also, some updates on tough nerve entrapment cases.

If you are an acupuncturist and are wanting to learn motor points, come to Amsterdam in June:

https://integrative-acu-seminars.com/2nd-european-orthopaedic-and-sports-acupuncture-congress/

My online courses are here: https://richardhazel.podia.com

Chronic Pain Patient with symptoms of an Ilioinguinal Nerve Entrapment

Sat, 27 Apr 2024 12:47:32 -0300

Recognizing symptoms of peripheral nerve entrapment is critical for chronic pain patients who have gotten no relief from the usual standard of care and diagnostic exams.

When you know the symptoms, you can rule in or out a peripheral nerve entrapment and then palpate the typical entrapment zones to confirm you are on the right track.

If you are an acupuncturist and are wanting to learn motor points, come to Amsterdam in June:

https://integrative-acu-seminars.com/2nd-european-orthopaedic-and-sports-acupuncture-congress/

My online courses are here: https://richardhazel.podia.com

My Thoughts about Electric Stimulation of Motor Points - the Why and How and How Long

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 12:49:00 -0300

People often ask questions about how to use electric stimulation of an acupuncture needle in the motor point of a muscle. They want to know why and how and for how long.

I attempt to give some answers based on what I have seen. There are so many opinions about it that I thought it would be best to give you the basic explanation that has worked well for me. If you're happy with your results, that's what you should do.

I leave it to others to dispute the minutiae of frequencies and points and length of treatment.

If you are an acupuncturist and are wanting to learn motor points, come to Amsterdam in June:

https://integrative-acu-seminars.com/2nd-european-orthopaedic-and-sports-acupuncture-congress/

My online courses are here: https://richardhazel.podia.com

SIJ pain caused by the Psoas

Sat, 13 Apr 2024 12:39:14 -0300

Some updates about Amsterdam and the recordings on Podia and the Mentorship Membership on Podia.

Here's the registration link for Amsterdam in June: https://integrative-acu-seminars.com/2nd-european-orthopaedic-and-sports-acupuncture-congress/

Here's the Podia link:

https://richardhazel.podia.com

This episode is about a recent patient with SIJ pain and it was due to the psoas being tight.

Coracobrachialis Issues to Watch For

Sat, 06 Apr 2024 12:26:33 -0300

Coracobrachialis issues that are often missed for pain and mobility and cutaneous nerve symptoms.

Here's the Amsterdam Link:

https://integrative-acu-seminars.com/2nd-european-orthopaedic-and-sports-acupuncture-congress/

Podia Online Courses Here: https://richardhazel.podia.com

Treating My Own Neck Pain and Headaches This Week

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 16:58:21 -0300

I had a rough week trying to sleep with terrible neck pain that was giving me a right-sided headache almost like a migraine.

https://chinesemedicineeducation.com/event/motor-point-acupuncture-mastery-using-jandas-crossed-syndromes-as-a-roadmap-to-success-plus-advanced-treatments-for-nerve-entrapment-syndrome/

https://integrative-acu-seminars.com/2nd-european-orthopaedic-and-sports-acupuncture-congress/

For the month of March 2024 everything on Podia is 20% off with the discount code MARCH20 at checkout. You can use it as many times as you want.

https://richardhazel.podia.com

Intrinsic Muscles of the Foot and Plantar Fasciitis (and other foot pain)

Sun, 03 Mar 2024 11:52:27 -0400

Know the signs of issues with these intrinsic foot muscles.

They will help with plantar fasciitis and other foot pain.

Also, here are the live seminar links I mentioned:

https://chinesemedicineeducation.com/event/motor-point-acupuncture-mastery-using-jandas-crossed-syndromes-as-a-roadmap-to-success-plus-advanced-treatments-for-nerve-entrapment-syndrome/

https://integrative-acu-seminars.com/2nd-european-orthopaedic-and-sports-acupuncture-congress/

For the month of March 2024 everything on Podia is 20% off with the discount code MARCH20 at checkout. You can use it as many times as you want.

https://richardhazel.podia.com

Superficial Peroneal Nerve Entrapment - Dorsal Foot Numbness

Sat, 24 Feb 2024 13:31:31 -0400

Sometimes that low leg pain and numbness is an entrapment of the superficial peroneal nerve. It's not always an L5-S1 radiculopathy.

Pain on plantar flexion and inversion can be a sign of superficial peroneal nerve entrapment.

https://linktr.ee/richhazel

Everything on Podia is 20% off until the end of March. Use the discount code MARCH20 as many times as you want until March 31.

Wong, Gunn, Travell and other Important MDs

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 12:40:23 -0400

Everyone who uses motor points and trigger points in their acupuncture treatments owes their thanks to these MDs.

https://richardhazel.podia.com

Tonic Phasic and Janda's Crossed Patterns

Sat, 03 Feb 2024 16:42:11 -0400

Why should we care about the Upper and Lower Crossed Patterns?

How does it help to know the difference between a tonic and a phasic muscle?

https://richardhazel.podia.com

https://www.richhazel.com

Upper Crossed Syndrome and Pseudo Frozen Shoulder

Sun, 31 Dec 2023 12:49:35 -0400

Some people say that posture has no connection to pain. I disagree.

Happy New Year!!

https://richardhazel.podia.com

He Who Treats the Site of Pain Is Often Lost!

Sun, 24 Dec 2023 13:29:42 -0400

Dr. Vladimir Janda and Karel Lewit were pioneers of musculoskeletal medicine who have given us a roadmap to understand assessment and treatment of pain.

Assessment and Treatment of Muscle Imbalance: The Janda Approach https://a.co/d/0JCe9vt

https://richardhazel.podia.com

Updates on My Migraine Protocol and some Recent Success Stories

Sat, 16 Dec 2023 15:51:28 -0400

I'm really happy to see a daily migraine patient cancelling appointments because they have gone a month without a migraine!

I've updated how I treat migraines. It's always a work in progress. I have to learn from clinical experience and doctors like Dr. Andrea Trescott so I'm sharing what I have learned so far in hopes it will help others.

https://RichardHazel.podia.com

Some shoulder assessment tips for your elderly patients

Sat, 18 Nov 2023 14:57:12 -0400

I see patients in their 70s 80s and 90s that I don't run through a range of manual muscle testing for their pain.

This is how I prefer to assess and treat. And it works very well.

https://richardhazel.podia.com

Bilateral Obturator Tunnel Case and a Foot Pain Case

Sat, 11 Nov 2023 12:36:17 -0400

Two interesting cases this week to share.

Here's my website link for the Seminar in Italy: https://richhazel.com/live-seminars/

https://richardhazel.podia.com

Some Ideas about Treating Foot Neuropathy

Sat, 28 Oct 2023 14:21:55 -0300

There are some key considerations that have helped me with foot numbness, tingling, hot/cold sensations.

Online Courses and Mentorship Community

https://richardhazel.podia.com

Bone On Bone Knee Osteoarthritis Helped by Treating Muscles

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 11:56:16 -0300

Isn't it likely that osteoarthritis is due to unaddressed muscle imbalances?

It seems to be the case clinically. This is a case from this past week of an 87 year old woman with constant knee pain that has her now in a wheelchair.

Learn from the Source Like You’re Going to Teach

Sat, 07 Oct 2023 12:41:33 -0300

I think that learning a subject from the source material, research, science has been the key to getting excellent results for me.

I think when you learn a "system" from someone, you are limited by their system, especially if they don't share their source material so that you can keep learning.

https://richardhazel.podia.com

Is it Gua Sha or IASTM?

Sat, 02 Sep 2023 14:26:01 -0300

Gua Sha is soft tissue manipulation but all not all soft tissue manipulation is Gua Sha.

There is a difference and here's what it is.

https://richardhazel.podia.com

The Plantar Aponeurosis and Foot Biomechanics to Consider for Foot Pain

Sun, 27 Aug 2023 12:38:56 -0300

A patient with a diagnosis of Plantar Fasciitis will have different symptoms from the last one you saw with the same diagnosis and different from the next as well.

We need to think about foot biomechanics, nerves, the plantar aponeurosis and we need to know specifically where the patient is having pain.

https://richardhazel.podia.com

Superior Cluneal Nerve Entrapment (Pseudo-sciatica or chronic low back pain)

Sun, 20 Aug 2023 13:55:57 -0300

Entrapment of the superior cluneal nerve can be a source of chronic low back pain, especially after lumbar disc surgery.

It can be a source of psuedo-sciatica as well.

https://kangfu.eu/european-orthopaedic-and-sports-acupuncture-congress/

https://richardhazel.podia.com

Come to Amsterdam in September!

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 12:27:56 -0300

I'll be in Amsterdam teaching at the 1st European Orthopedic and Sports Acupuncture Conference.

NCCAOM CEUs available.

You should come!

I'll be covering Sciatica, Meralgia Paresthetica, Ilioinguinal Nerve Entrapment, Obturator Tunnel Syndrome, 2 Peudo-Sciaticas: Superior Cluneal Nerve Entrapment and Superior Gluteal Nerve Entrapment

And also Migraines and their nerve entrapments

https://kangfu.eu/european-orthopaedic-and-sports-acupuncture-congress/

Pseudo-Sciatica from Superior Gluteal Nerve Entrapment

Sun, 30 Jul 2023 15:00:24 -0300

Ever resolve sciatica (or what you thought was sciatica) by treating the gluteus medius or by releasing trigger points in the gluteus medius?

Now I know what was likely happening.

https://richardhazel.podia.com

Join The Acupuncture Outsiders Mentorship Membership for Group Zoom Meetings each month to discuss tough cases and other things of interest.

Double Crush Syndrome and a Thank You to All Who Have Sent Messages

Sun, 16 Jul 2023 13:37:26 -0300

Double Crush Syndrome: It might be controversial but I believe.

And Thank You to all who have sent me messages of support!

https://richardhazel.podia.com

Upper and Lower Crossed Syndromes and Migraines

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 11:47:55 -0300

Can we improve our results for migraines by addressing the Upper and Lower Crossed patterns for patients?

Let's walk through it.

Correction : I said the Millennial Tower is tilting 24 degrees. I meant inches. And when I looked it up it's actually tilting 29 inches. 😮

https://richardhazel.podia.com

New Mentorship Program on Podia. Look for the Acupuncture Outsider Community.

Some Course Updates, Mentorship and 2 Tough Cases

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 14:32:07 -0300

Future Courses, Mentorship Subscription on Podia and 2 Cases that I'm struggling with but learning from.

https://richardhazel.podia.com

Palpation is Essential for Me When Doing an Assessment

Sun, 18 Jun 2023 13:38:12 -0300

I don't always trust muscle testing, especially if the symptoms don't match with a strong test where I think there's some over-use injury.

I want to put my fingers or thumb on a muscle to feel for hypertonicity before I rule it out as a part of the problem.

It's easy to miss a hypertonic muscle if the manual muscle tests seem normal and you don't palpate to confirm.

https://richardhazel.podia.com

Reciprocal Inhibition on a Drop Foot and other cases

Sun, 11 Jun 2023 12:15:20 -0300

Reciprocal Inhibition is an interesting thing and I think I think a lot about treating antagonists muscles but maybe I don't always consider reciprocal inhibition for every case. I'm going to be thinking more about reciprocal inhibition for some cases in case it can help me improve my results for muscle activation once someone is pain-free.

Here's the article I mentioned:

https://journals.physiology.org/doi/epdf/10.1152/jn.00424.2017

My Podia Online Courses are here: https://richardhazel.podia.com

Muscle Fiber Orientation and Why It Matters

Sun, 04 Jun 2023 13:41:17 -0300

I was just thinking about how the infraspinatus can help shoulder flexion. The fiber orientation is a clue. It's an external rotator, so how does it get involved in shoulder flexion?

How does the Pectoralis Major flex the shoulder? Look at the fiber orientation.

How does Gluteus Minimus (abducts and internally rotates the hip) which doesn't flex the hip, cause an anterior pelvic tilt? Fiber orientation.

https://richardhazel.podia.com

Do Acupuncture Patients Need Physical Therapy?

Sun, 28 May 2023 11:57:49 -0300

Sometimes patients have not done well even after trying Physical Therapy for their pain.

Once we have gotten them out of pain and restored their mobility, do they really need Physical Therapy? Are we a replacement for Physical Therapy?

Also, I mentioned in the podcast that I would be interested in doing some podcasts in German and/or French if there's an audience that you think doesn't listen in English.

If you think it would help me reach more people, please let me know. rich@richhazel.com

Thanks!

https://richardhazel.podia.com

Sacroiliac Joint (SIJ) Dysfunction

Mon, 22 May 2023 11:31:23 -0300

There's more to the SI Joint than just nutation and the pain some people get there.

Many issues like back pain, hip pain, hamstring pain, even shoulder pain can be due to dysfunction at the SIJ.

Movement, Stability & Lumbopelvic Pain: Integration of research and therapy https://a.co/d/cuyLspO

https://richardhazel.podia.com

My Knee Pain Protocol that will likely Piss People Off

Sat, 13 May 2023 11:56:58 -0300

"The perfect is the enemy of the good." - Voltaire

Here's an imperfect protocol that gets great results a high percentage of the time.

If you're new to Contemporary Acupuncture or just feeling overwhelmed by all the possibilities, try this protocol.

It covers a lot of the basics and I get great results with it most of the time.

I know I'll get perfectionists complaining but the goal is to help more people help more people. Too many outliers to knee pain can make people doubt themselves.

Try this protocol and when the patient feels better you have time to think about the underlying segmental, postural, ankle or hip or core issues that led to the pain.

https://richardhazel.podia.com

Check Gracilis for Medial Knee Pain

Sat, 06 May 2023 14:02:33 -0300

Gracilis is the only hip adductor that can flex the knee.

It often gets short after a knee replacement surgery.

Quads glutes TFL and glute minimis are usually my go-to for knee pain but gracilis is usually part of the solution as well.

https://richardhazel.podia.com

Characteristics of Skeletal Muscle and Electric Stimulation Acupuncture

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 11:41:44 -0300

Skeletal Muscle is Elastic, Excitable and Contractile. Does Electric Stimulation Acupuncture at the Motor Points of the muscle restore those qualities after injury has made the muscle short, weak and inhibited?

The German word for "numb" is "taub". I think muscle inhibition may be due to the muscle being deaf, not listening to the nerve signals. What if it's not the nerve, but the muscle that is causing muscle inhibition?

https://richardhazel.podia.com

Gluteus Medius and Minimus Are More Postural Than Phasic

Sun, 23 Apr 2023 12:28:41 -0300

You and I have probably already seen it daily in the clinic. Gluteus medius and minimus get very tight and they restrict the hip and cause pain.

We have always heard that the glutes get inhibited. But when it comes to the glute medius and minimus, while they might be inhibited they are also short and tight like other postural muscles.

Research backs up that the glute med and minimus are primarily Type 1 slow twitch fibers like other postural muscles.

https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/anatomy/issue/68435/1152716

https://richardhazel.podia.com

The Suboccipital Muscles and Their Dysfunction

Sat, 15 Apr 2023 14:54:50 -0300

These little muscles can cause a lot of big pain and dizziness (and other things that I talk about here).

https://richardhazel.podia.com

Dry Needling - ”skimming” technique

Sun, 09 Apr 2023 14:22:16 -0300

This is a very effective technique I use for muscles that feel restricted and that don't release with just motor point acupuncture or IASTM.

https://richardhazel.podia.com

Two Recent Migraine Patients

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 14:51:28 -0300

Some good results on the first visit for 2 different migraine patients.

https://richardhazel.podia.com

Feedback on my Sydney course and Some Thoughts about treatment methodology

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 20:09:13 -0400

I got some feedback from several people about the Sydney course and wanted to share that.

Also, I want to give my opinion about how Janda influences my thoughts about adding or not adding extra needles for local inflammation.

https://richardhazel.podia.com

My Two Cents on How to Assess Hip Pain

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 02:50:06 -0400

I probably don't assess hips the way you were taught to assess hips.

I organize my thoughts around the assumption that the glutes are weak and don't need me to muscle test them. If they were firing, the patient wouldn't be in my office with hip issues.

https://richardhazel.podia.com