University of Technology Sydney

99644 Clinic Level 3 and Acupuncture Techniques 2

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Science: Life Sciences
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): ((99643c Clinic Level 2 OR 99668 Clinic Level 2 and Acupuncture Techniques 1) AND 99641 Point Location and Acupuncture Anatomy AND 92227 Communication for Healthcare Professionals)
The lower case 'c' after the subject code indicates that the subject is a corequisite. See definitions for details.
Anti-requisite(s): 94680 Entering Professional Life (6cp) AND 94681 Entering Professional Life (8cp)

Description

The subject comprises a series of lectures, workshops and clinical placements. Lecture and in-class activities develop clinical and critical thinking skills and develop competency in a range of treatment skills and techniques, including those relating to acupuncture, tuina and other manual therapies such as cupping and gua sha. Clinical placements are undertaken at the UTS Chinese Medicine Outpatient Clinic, working collaboratively with the practitioner supervisor in the delivery of Chinese medicine health care.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. Communicate and work effectively as a member of a team while engaging in learning which enhances professional competence
2. Identify the location of acupoints using operationally defined location methods and procedures
3. Correctly apply knowledge and procedures to reduce the potential risk of harm and adverse events when needling sensitive points and applying Chinese medicine manual therapies to different body regions
4. Describe and apply knowledge of the Jing Luo pathways and associated acupoints to treatment contexts
5. Interpret, analyse and critically reflect on the clinical reasoning process using knowledge of Chinese medicine theories and the literature to identify treatment principles and develop treatment protocols for acupuncture and other Chinese medicine manual therapies
6. Describe and demonstrate the skills required for safe and effective practise of acupuncture and other Chinese medicine manual therapies according to the relevant theories and principles of treatment in Chinese medicine
7. Demonstrate the correct application of tuina techniques and their appropriate application to different body regions

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes specifically to the development of following course intended learning outcomes:

  • Apply: Demonstrate expertise in Chinese medicine’s classical and contemporary theories, research, and clinical health practices to support patient health and wellbeing. (1.1)
  • Analyse: Contextualize knowledge in clinical practice, including an integrated biomedical and Chinese medical understanding of pharmacology, human physiology, pathophysiology and differential diagnosis to inform health management strategies, as well as treatment construction and delivery. (1.2)
  • Synthesise: Integrate information and data to inform health care delivery and monitor outcomes to support patients and the community. (1.3)
  • Apply: Develop effective problem-focused assessment skills to differentiate diseases and patterns, and apply clinical reasoning to make diagnostic and therapeutic judgements. (2.1)
  • Apply: Demonstrate the integration and application of professional health care knowledge and clinical skills to safely and ethically practise Chinese medicine. (3.1)
  • Apply: Demonstrate the ability to make clinical judgements and decisions based on available evidence and practice. (4.1)

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

1.Disciplinary knowledge

You will engage in a series of weekly exercises relating to the tracing of the Jing Luo pathways in subject module 1, with particular emphasis on meeting points and the functions of those points. This builds on Jing Luo knowledge/material covered in Clinic Level 2 and helps you develop and an appreciation of the benefits and limitations of acupuncture point prescriptions.

2.Research, Inquiry and Critical Thinking

Work specific clinical-based critical thinking and reasoning skills are developed as part of the assessment structures and are vital to the later development of your professional skills as you enter clinical practice. The problem based case history task requires you to engage in a theoretical interview and treatment scenario that extends your analytical case history skills utilising both western biomedical and Chinese medicine knowledge.

3.Professional, Ethical and Social Responsibility

Your participation in weekly workshops develops your competency skills within a controlled and safe environment. This includes the correct and precise location of acupoints, needling safely specified acupoints and applying appropriately a range of tuina/manual therapy techniques to different musculoskeletal structures. You also participate in work-integrated learning within the UTS Chinese medicine clinics, assisting and observing practitioners applying their knowledge to the highest ethical and practice standards.

5.Communication

The work-integrated learning undertaken in the clinical requires you to directly interact with patients to obtain case history data and relay that information to the practitioners. You will also observe practitioners in their professional communications with patients and must interpret and note these data. These activities help build your knowledge of both biomedicine and Chinese medicine as patient communication will in most cases require a translation of Chinese medicine terminology and concepts into western models of biomedicine that are more familiar to patients.

In practical workshops you must obtain necessary data to develop your treatment protocols while informing and seeking feedback from your peers when treating each other.

Written assessment tasks require you to clearly articulate case history details and the clinical reasoning behind the development of treatment protocols.

Teaching and learning strategies

Lectures and workshop practicums

11 weeks of classes at four (4) hours per week in a combined or stand alone lecture, tutorial and/or workshop practicum format. Learning is facilitated through a blended learning model. You will be required to undertake pre-class preparation, where you will undertake structured readings and activities developing your clinical reasoning skill in preparation for practical workshops

Practical workshops provide an opportunity for the application of the neurophysiology, diagnosis and acupuncture knowledge gained in the course to date. Working collaboratively in small groups under the direct supervision of a CMBA registered practitioner, you will apply treatment techniques to different body regions, experiencing a scope of different structures and corresponding variation in treatment techniques to address the potential risks of harm at different treatment sites. Ongoing feedback and assistance by teaching staff will be provided throughout the workshops to assist you develop your technical skills.

Clinical Placement

The 40 hours of clinic placement are additional to the four (4) hours a week of teaching, and must be completed before progressing to Clinic Level 4. In the Clinic, you will assist the practitioner and observe the application of Chinese medicine frameworks to patients presenting with a range of health concerns. You will be required to assist in running the Clinic and undertake patient history taking, recording patient information and assisting the supervising practitioner with patient care.

Content (topics)

Module 1 Acupuncture Techniques 2
You will engage in a series of practical workshops which involve:

  • basic symptomatic application of acupuncture,
  • energic application: regulation of qi as indicated by the pulse, use of command points and movement of energy, use of special groups of points etc,
  • identification of the major channel pathways and points of connection
  • revision of acupuncture point location.

Module 2 Tuina (manual therapies)

The subject module information is presented via a series of combined workshops and tutorials with a practical focus. This will include theoretical information regarding each individual massage technique, how and where to apply the technique, and approaches to treatment with respect to presenting signs and symptoms. The tutorial part of the class will involve tuina practice in combination with acupuncture and other manual therapy techniques.

Module 3 Clinic intern assistant
You will assist practitioners as directed and in accordance to the learning objectives and strategies noted above.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Module 1 Acupuncture Quiz

Intent:

The intent of this assessment task is to review and demonstrate discplinary knowledge of the Jing Luo theory and its clinical applicaiton in relation to diagnosis and the development of acupuncture treatment protocols.

The following graduate attributes are addressed in this assessment:

1. Disciplinary knowledge

2. Research Inquiry and Critical Thinking

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s):

4 and 5

This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s):

2.1 and 3.1

Type: Quiz/test
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 10%
Criteria:
  • demonstration of depth of understanding of Jing Luo theory
  • extent of clinical reasoning
  • clarity of articulation of theory in clinical application

Assessment task 2: Module 1 Acupuncture Problem Based Case History

Intent:

The intent of this task is to provide you an opportunity to demonstrate the development of your clinical reasoning skills, using an inquiry oriented approach to determine and justify treatment protocols.

The following graduate attributes are addressed in this assessment:

1. Disciplinary knowledge

2. Research, Inquiry and Critical Thinking

6. Communicaiton

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s):

5

This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s):

1.2

Type: Case study
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 40%
Length: There is no set minimum or maximum length.
Criteria:

. The basic criteria include:

  • comprehensiveness of the case study
  • extent of clinical reasoning and clarity of articulation of theory in clinical application
  • appropriateness and justification of the suggested treatment protocol
  • referencing, appropriate use of language including medical and Chinese medicine terminology, academic English language expression and grammar

Assessment task 3: Module 1 Acupuncture Point Location Practical Exam

Intent:

This assessment focuses on the appropriate application of acupoint location methods to precisely identify acupoints using a combination of anatomical landmarks and proportional measures.

The following graduate attributes are addressed in this assessment:

1. Disciplinary knowledge and its appropriate application.

3. Professional skills and their appropriate application

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s):

2

This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s):

1.1

Type: Examination
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: Mandatory task that does not contribute to subject mark
Length: 20 minutes
Criteria:

Students must accurately locate and describe the functions of 23 points out a randomly selected 25 points within specified time limits.

Further detail is in the course notes.

Assessment task 4: Module 2 Tuina (manual therapies) Report

Intent:

The intent of this task is to document the critical analysis process to arrive at a correct diagnosis and to determine an appropriate treatment strategy using tuina (manual therapy) treatment techniques. You are required to document the process in a written report.

The following graduate attributes are addressed in this assessment:

1. Disciplinary knowledge

2. Research, Inquiry and Critical Thinking

3. Professional, Ethical and Social Responsibility.

6. Communication

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s):

4, 5, 6 and 7

This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s):

1.3, 2.1, 3.1 and 4.1

Type: Report
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 50%
Criteria:

The marks are awarded on the basis of your:

  • Critical analysis of key diagnostic information;
  • Clear and concise explanation of the condition.

Specific breakdown of the criteria and mark allocation are provided on UTSOnline.

Minimum requirements

Minimum requirements

The standard UTS Minimum Requirements apply, whereby you must:

  • obtain a minimum of 50% in the overall subject mark,

In addition, for the CM Program’s ongoing clinical placement attendance and case history competency tasks, you are required to meet subject thresholds to the satisfaction of your clinic supervising practitioners and subject coordinator.

Failure to meet this subject’s required threshold tasks before the end of the teaching session may result in an ‘X grade’ fail. An X grade may be due to incomplete clinic placement hours, clinic case reports, or both.

The required clinic placement hours and clinic case reports for Clinic Level 3 are as follows:

  • 40 clinical placement hours, comprising:
    • 10 herb clinic hours
    • 30 acupuncture clinic hours
  • 6 clinic case reports, comprising:
    • four (4) from acupuncture clinic
    • two (2) from herb clinic

If you fail to satisfy the subject’s prescribed clinic attendance and wiki requirements, you may within 10 working days, submit an online Application for Special Consideration in line with the requirements and in the manner prescribed in the online Special Consideration Student Guide (http://www.uts.edu.au/current-students/managing-your-course/classes-and-assessment/special-circumstances/special ). It is your responsibility to demonstrate that you have been prevented from meeting prescribed threshold requirements as a result of illness or other circumstances beyond your reasonable control (Rule 3.8.3).

In such cases, where outstanding clinic hours or clinic case reports remain, a ‘Q result’ may be awarded. A ‘Q result’ may also be awarded in cases where your clinic hours and clinic case reports submission were not confirmed in time for the official release of results.

Q result means the result is pending. In this case the result cannot be awarded until the satisfactory completion of clinical practicum hours and/or wiki case histories.

X grade (X > 45) denotes unsatisfactory performance in a compulsory component of the subject. This grade is applied by the Results Ratification Committee in cases where the student has gained a mark of 45 or more but failed a subject overall. There is no formal upper limit for this grade.

Recommended texts

Module 1 Acupuncture Techniques 2

  • Deadman P & Al-Khafaji (2007), A Manual of Acupuncture, East Essex, Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications.
  • Low, Royston (1983), The Secondary Vessels of Acupuncture, New York, Thorsons Publishers. (Library Closed Reserve)
  • Rogers C & Rogers C. (2012), Point Location and Point Dynamics Manual, Sydney: Acupuncture Colleges Publishing.
  • Wang, J.Y & Roberston, J.D. (2008), Applied Channel Theory in Chinese Medicine, Eastland Press, Seattle

Module 2 Tui Na (Manual therapies)

  • Travell, J and Simons (1992). Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: the Trigger Point Manual – Lower Extremities. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins. (Library Closed Reserve)
  • Travell, J and Simons, D (1992) Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: the Trigger Point Manual – Upper Extremities. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins. (Library Closed Reserve)

Module 3 Clinic intern assistant

  • UTS: Chinese medicine (2016). Clinical Procedures and Safe Clinical Practice (3rd Edition). Sydney: University of Technology Sydney.
  • Walsh S, King E (2008) Pulse Diagnosis: A Clinical Guide. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
  • Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA): Chinese medicine Board of Australia (CMBA)
    • Infection prevention and control guidelines for acupuncture practice. Dated: 20 May 2013.
    • Guidelines for patient records. Dated: 27 July 2013
    • Code of conduct for registered health practitioners. 8 May 2012
  • Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare (2010). Cited: NHMRC, 14 February 2014

Other resources

Module 1 Acupuncture Techniques 2

Auteroche B, Gervis G. Auteroch N, Navailh P, Toui-Kan E (1992). Acupuncture and Moxibustion. A Guide to Clinical Practice. Churchill Livingstone, London.

Chen E. (1995). Cross-sectional Anatomy of Acupoints. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

Ellis A, Wiseman N, Boss K (1989). Grasping the Wind, Brookline, Mass: Paradigm Publications.

Legge D (2010). Jingjin: Acupuncture Treatment of the Muscular System using the meridian sinews. Sydney: Sydney College Press.

Maciocia G (1994). The Practice of Chinese Medicine. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

Maciocia G (2006). The Channels of Acupuncture. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

Qiu ML (1993). Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

Rogers C, Rogers C (2012). Point Location Workbook. Sydney: Acupuncture Colleges Publishing.

Xinnong C (1987). Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion. Foreign Languages press, Beijing.

Module 2 Tuina (Manual therapies)

Backer M, Hammes M (2010) . Acupuncture in the treatment of pain: An integrated approach. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

Baldry PE (2005). Acupuncture, Trigger Points and Musculoskeletal Pain. (3rd Edition). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

Batavia M. Contraindications for therapeutic massage: do sources agree? Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. 2004;8:48-57.

Chaitow L, Fritz S (2007). A Massage Therapist's Guide to Understanding, Locating and Treating Myofascial Trigger Points. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

Dommerholt J, Fernandez de la P (2013). Trigger point dry needling: An evidence and clinical-based approach. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

Garrido V, Munoz M (2015). Advanced Techniques in Musculoskeletal Medicine & Physiotherapy: using minimally invasive therapies in practice. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

Hopwood V, Donnellan C (2010). Acupuncture in Neurological Conditions. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

Irnich D (2013). Myofascial Trigger Points: Comprehensive diagnosis and treatment. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

Ma YT (2010). Biomedical Acupuncture for Sports and Trauma Rehabilitation: Dry Needling Techniques. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

Ma YT, Cho ZH (2005). Biomedical Acupuncture for Pain Management. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

Mackereth P (2007). Massage and Bodywork - Adapting Therapies for Cancer Care. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

Szmelskyj I and Aquilina L (2014). Acupuncture for IVF and Assisted Reproduction: An integrated approach to treatment and management. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

Van Griensven H, Strong J, Unruh A (2013). Pain: a textbook for health professionals. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

Zhou X (2006). Atlas of Chinese Massage Therapy. Shanghai: Shanghai University of TCM Press.