Dates: April 18–19, 2026
Times: 8:00am-5:00pm Saturday; 8:00am-4:00pm Sunday
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Venue: To be determined
Format: In-person seminar + pre-requisite videos

Early bird through January 15th, 2026

Course Description

This class is the ideal introduction to myofascial and neuromuscular acupuncture. It is the first in a series of seminars with Darren O’Rourke on treating pain through trigger points, myofascial needling, and electroacupuncture. Anatomy, palpation, and needling techniques—crucial to being an effective musculoskeletal practitioner—are introduced and practiced in this class.

Attendees will be able to identify certain types of pain and the structures involved, and will be able to locate, palpate, and needle safely and effectively. Additional skills are introduced with electroacupuncture, further expanding the practitioner’s toolbox.

In addition to the in-person class, attendees will receive pre-requisite videos to watch prior to the seminar. This will assist them in preparing for, and having a more fruitful experience at, the seminar.

Course Objectives

• Learn and understand the myofascial anatomy of the structures needled
• Learn and perform needling techniques used in Orthopedic, Myofascial, and Electro-Acupuncture
• Learn trigger point locations and referral patterns
• Be able to locate and palpate muscles, ligaments, and other anatomy covered in class
• Be able to find bony landmarks
• Learn cautions & contraindications for safe and effective trigger point and electro-needling
• Locate and palpate trigger bands and trigger points
• Review muscles and joints involved in different ranges of motion
• Understand application and indications for electroacupuncture
• Understand and safely use electro-acupuncture devices

Conditions Covered

• Headaches
• Low back pain
• Hip pain
• Knee pain
• Referred pain patterns
• Muscle strains, tears, recovery
• Ankle pain
• Scars
• Groin pain
• Calf strains
• IT band / Runner’s knee

Itinerary

Saturday

7:45–8:00am: Sign-in
8:00–8:30am: The fascia lecture
8:30–9:00am: Lecture – Rectus capitis, Splenius, Cervicis, SCM
9:00–9:20am: Demos – Needling Rectus capitis, Splenius, Cervicis, SCM
9:20–10:00am: Lab – Supervised practice
2 hours

10:00–10:30am: Lecture – Deltoids, biceps, infraspinatus, supraspinatus, upper traps, lats
10:30–11:00am: Demos – Locating and needling above structures
11:00–11:30am: Lab – Supervised practice
11:30am–12:00pm: Lecture – Quadratus Lumborum
12:00–1:00pm: Lunch
2 hours

1:00–1:20pm: Demo – Quadratus Lumborum (QL)
1:20–1:45pm: Lab – QL
0.75 hours

1:45–2:10pm: Lecture – Multifidi, Iliolumbar ligament, Sacrotuberous ligament
2:10–2:35pm: Demo – Locating and needling above structures
2:35–3:00pm: Hands-on practice
1.25 hours

3:00–3:20pm: Lecture – TFL, Glutes, Quadratus femoris (QF), IT Band
3:20–3:50pm: Demos – TFL, Glutes, QF, IT Band
3:50–4:10pm: Lab – TFL, Glutes, QF, IT Band
4:10–5:00pm: Lecture + Demo – Quads, hamstrings (5), rectus femoris (3), intermedius, VMO, VL
2 hours

Sunday

8:00–8:30am: Lab – Quads, hamstrings (5), rectus femoris (3), intermedius, VMO, VL
8:30–8:50am: Lecture – Adductors
8:50–9:20am: Demos – Adductors, Adductor Magnus, Adductor Longus
9:20–10:00am: Lab – Adductors
10:00–10:20am: Lecture – Gastrocnemius, Tibialis Anterior, Soleus
10:20–10:40am: Demo – Gastrocnemius, Tibialis Anterior, Soleus
10:40–11:00am: Lab – Gastrocnemius, Tibialis Anterior, Soleus
11:00am–12:00pm: Lunch
3 hours

12:00–12:25pm: Lecture – Ankle ligaments (PTFL, ATFL, Deltoid), Tibialis Posterior, Peroneals
12:25–12:50pm: Demo – Ankle ligaments & associated musculature
12:50–1:15pm: Lab – Ankle ligaments & associated musculature
1.25 hours

1:15–2:00pm: Lecture – Intro to Electroacupuncture
Topics include:
– When & why to use electroacupuncture
– Benefits, physiology, indications
– Contraindications
– Frequencies & types
– Equipment: Pointer, ES-2
– Applications: ligaments, bone, muscle/tendon, trigger points, motor points (differences explained), scars

2:00–2:15pm: Break

2:15–2:45pm: Demos:
1 – IT band (runner’s knee)
2 – Ankle joint
3 – Upper traps
4 – Glutes
5 – Scars

2:45–4:00pm: Electroacupuncture hands-on practice
2.75 hours

Instructors

Darren O’Rourke, L.Ac. — Instructor

Darren O’Rourke, L.Ac., NMPT, R.Herb, has been a licensed acupuncturist in Dublin, Ireland since 2013 and a Neuromuscular Physical Therapist since 2015. He graduated from the Acupuncture Foundation of Ireland and completed an internship in the Neurological Department of the 2nd Provincial Hospital of Nanjing, China.

Darren specializes in treatment of the musculoskeletal system including orthopedics, pain, sports injuries and performance, and pelvic floor. He runs a private practice in Dublin and works with professional athletes including fighters and football teams.

He is passionate about integrating dry needling and manual therapeutic techniques into the acupuncture field, helping establish acupuncturists as primary providers for musculoskeletal care. He is currently in his 3rd year of an MSc in Physiotherapy program in Dublin.

Lora Lolane Glundal, L.Ac. — Teaching Assistant

Lora Lolane Glundal, L.Ac. is a licensed Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbalist with over 17 years of experience. She has extensive training in orthopedics, dry needling, and pelvic floor acupuncture.

Lolane is also a certified Hatha/Vinyasa and Kundalini Yoga teacher. She maintains a private practice in Central New York, assists in ASE Seminars’ Dry Needling and Pelvic Floor programs, and will teach Pelvic Floor Yoga starting in 2025.