ABOUT
” Our mission is to provide a course that imparts practical and valuable knowledge on the subject matter, in a highly comprehensive manner so that practitioners are confident in utilising their new skills immediately to achieve tangible results for their patients “

Dr Jon Marshall
B.App Sci (Comp Med), M.Osteo, M.App Sci (Acupuncture)
Founder / Course Tutor
Dr Jon Marshall’s education in pain, healing and movement started at age 10 when his study of the Japanese martial art of Aikido began. His passion for Aikido took him to Japan, where he lived for seven years, and was ultimately the catalyst that guided Dr Jon Marshall to study Osteopathy and Acupuncture.
The strong connection between martial arts and healing in Asia led Jon to complete a Diploma in Acupuncture during his time in Japan. His teacher was also very skillful in manipulation which initiated Jon’s interest in Osteopathy.
Dr Jon Marshall graduated from RMIT university with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Complementary Medicine – Osteopathy), followed by a Master’s degree in Osteopathy.
In 2011, he was appointed the Osteopath for the Australian Olympic Taekwondo Team and travelled to Azerberjian for the Olympic Qualification Tournament in July 2011, New Caledonia in September 2011, and Egypt for the World Junior Championships in 2012. More recently, Jon has travelled with the team to Turkey for the Olympic Qualification Tournament leading up to the Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro in 2016.
His continuing interest in Chinese Medicine saw Jon enrol in a Master of Applied Science (Acupuncture), which he completed in November 2011. He is among only a handful of Osteopaths that are also formally qualified Acupuncturists.
He uses a wide range of Osteopathic techniques as well as Acupuncture, Diet Therapy, Cupping and Traditional Chinese Manipulative Technique (Tuina) to tailor effective treatments for his patients.
He has lectured in both the Chinese Medicine and the Osteopathy departments at RMIT University in Melbourne, and the International College of Osteopathy in Tokyo, Japan.
He founded Manual Medicine Australasia in 2012 in response to increasing demand for reputable high quality CPD courses amongst manual medicine practitioners. Dr Jon Marshall now teaches Dry Needling, Cupping, Acupuncture and Osteopathic Techniques throughout Australia, Southeast Asia and Japan, expanding the knowledge and treatment repertoire of Osteopaths, Chiropractors, Physiotherapists and other allied health professionals throughout Australasia.
These seminars are designed to introduce practitioners to the basics of musculoskeletal needling, myofascial cupping, advanced dry needling and electrotherapy that will have you armed with the technique, confidence and know how to immediately incorporate these amazingly effective modalities into your treatment repertoire!
Our courses focuses on correct needling fundamentals with an emphasis on:
- Correct needling technique
- Methods of needle stimulation and adequate needle retention
- Safety and hygiene
- Treatment protocols
- Up to date research and treatment methods
- Indications and prescription
- Contraindications to needling and cupping
To excel at myofascial needling, there are several attributes that are critical to master. These include:
- Confidence
- Precision
- Speed
- Lots of practice!
The majority of the seminars involves practical needling. The theory and pre-reading component is done before the workshop which allows for a more comprehensive and targeted mode of learning with the sole aim of getting you as proficient in needling, cupping, and electrotherapy as soon as possible, not to waste time and sit through PowerPoint presentations.
Despite what you may have heard, the purpose of dry needling is not to give your “hands a rest”, to be used as a substitute for soft tissue or to free up your time in the clinic to relax in treatments. The neuro-physiological therapeutic effects of myofascial dry needling and cupping are very powerful and greatly enhanced when used in conjunction with your existing manual techniques.
In addition to the deactivation of trigger and overactive motor points, other far reaching benefits include:
- Strengthen tendons and ligaments
- Stimulate Golgi Receptors and muscle spindles
- Provide blood and growth factors to hemodynamically disturbed tissues (commonly seen in myofascial pain syndromes)
- Reset motor points and neural control
- Stimulate other reflex mechanisms
Manual Medicine Australasia has been among the first to integrate myofascial cupping, dry needling and electrotherapy into an easy to learn seminar for Osteopaths, Chiropractors, Physiotherapists and remedial massage therapists.
Our success has led to a trend in other providers offering similar seminars which is inevitable… The revolution has begun and we are proud to be the pioneers behind it!
These courses are open to qualified osteopaths, chiropractors, physiotherapists, medical doctors, massage therapists, as well as senior students of these related health professions.
Please note that the prerequisite for our Level 2 course is successful completion of Level 1 – Myofascial Needling & Cupping and a minimum of 3 months needling experience.
There is pre-course reading of approximately 3 hours to allow for a more time getting you as proficient in needling, cupping, and electrotherapy as soon as possible, rather than sit through PowerPoint presentations. Students must read the safety guidelines prepared by the AACMA as well as revise the related anatomy to re-acquaint themselves with the course content.
The course is delivered over a two day period. Students are presented with the theory, procedure and application of two main components: Myofascial dry needling and Myofascial cupping.
For the dry needling component, topics covered are safe needling practice, different types of points, point location, needling technique and application, indications and contraindications of needling treatment.
The myofascial cupping component consists of introduction to the theory, procedure, application, indications and contraindications of cupping treatment.
The course material is delivered by a 78 page manual and accompanied with lectures, demonstrations and student handouts. There will be a maximum of 15 participants during hands-on practical sessions.
There will be adequate time for Q and A during the lectures, practical sessions and at the end of both days.
You will acquire the skills to:
• Identify and select a variety of point locations
• Prepare the patient for needling including correct position and swabbing
• Apply correct needling insertion and manipulation methods including insertion depth, angle and retention time
• Perform various types of myofascial cupping including fixed, mobile and flash methods of cupping
You will gain the knowledge to:
• Understand the mechanism, procedure and application of myofascial dry needling and myofascial cupping
• Understand the importance of safety procedures
• Understand the importance of infection control
• Understand the skin penetration act
• Identify indications and contraindications to needling and cupping
• Comprehend the different kinds of points and methods of selecting them
The Manual medicine Australasia Dry Needling course is divided up into 2 modules (Module 1 – 2) and will be taught over 2 days.
DAY 1 COURSE OUTLINE
Theory component:
• Neurophysiology of Dry Needling, different approaches to needling (Traditional, trigger point, motor point, segmental needling)
• Safety guidelines for needling
• Myofascial Pain Syndromes
Practical component:
• Superficial Dry Needling Techniques
• Deep Dry Needling of the Gluteals , Piriformis, Gastroc and Soleus muscles
• Needling techniques for the lumbar spine, QL (Segmental techniques)
• Needling techniques for the thigh; Hamstrings, Quadriceps and Adductors.
• Introduction to Myofascial cupping
DAY 2 COURSE OUTLINE
Prerequisite: Completion of Day 1 Dry Needling course
Theory component:
• Myofascial Syndromes of the Cervical, Shoulder and upper limb region
Practical component:
• Needling techniques for the thoracic spine and lung fields
• Needling techniques for the rotator cuff and upper limb
• Review of all areas covered in the series of case history
• Participants will be able to apply techniques they have learnt on the course immediately in their clinical situations
Registration is required with the relevant professional board where dry needling falls within your scope of practice and whereby you are insured by your own professional body or private health insurance to practice dry needling on completion of the course.
There is pre-course reading of approximately 3 hours to allow for a more time getting you as proficient in needling, cupping, and electrotherapy as soon as possible, rather than sit through PowerPoint presentations. Students must read the safety guidelines prepared by the AACMA as well as revise the related anatomy to re-acquaint themselves with the course content.
The course is delivered over a two day period. Students are presented with the theory, procedure and application of two main components: Advanced myofascial dry needling and the application of electrotherapy.
For the dry needling component, topics covered are review of key concepts from Level 1 including safe needling practice, different types of points, point location, needling technique and application, indications and contraindications of needling treatment.
The electrotherapy component consists of introduction to the theory, procedure, application, indications and contraindications of electrotherapy treatment.
The course material is delivered by a 112 page manual and accompanied with lectures, demonstrations and student handouts. There will be a maximum of 20 participants during hands-on practical sessions.
There will be adequate time for Q and A during the lectures, practical sessions and at the end of both days.
You will acquire the skills to:
• Identify and select a variety of point locations
• Prepare the patient for needling including correct position and swabbing
• Apply correct needling insertion and manipulation methods including insertion depth, angle and retention time
• Perform and understand the correct application and indications for electrotherapy
You will gain the knowledge to:
• Understand the importance of safety procedures
• Understand the importance of infection control
• Understand the skin penetration act
• Identify indications and contraindications to needling and electrotherapy
• Comprehend the different kinds of points and methods of selecting them
The Manual Medicine Australasia Dry Needling course is divided up into 2 modules (Module 1 – 2) and will be taught over 2 days.
DAY 1 COURSE OUTLINE
Theory component:
• Review basic concepts covered in Level 1 and question time
• Safety guidelines for needling
• Introduction to Electrotherapy
• Treatment protocols for TMJ, cervical, head and facial needling
• Treatment protocols for anterior chest, sternum and ribs
Practical component:
• Superficial Dry Needling Techniques
• Needling techniques to massater, Ptreygoids, TMJ, temporalis, procureus and frontalis
• Needling techniques for the cervical spine (Sub-Occipitals, cervical erector spinae, multifdus
• Needling techniques for the anterior neck (SCM, scalenes)
• Needling techniques for the anterior chest (pectoralis major/minor), anterior deltoid and the delto-pectoral groove, serratus anterior, sternalis, ribs)
DAY 2 COURSE OUTLINE
Prerequisite: Completion of Day 1 Dry Needling course
Theory component:
• Treatment protocols for common clinical presentations for the upper limb and anterior chest
• Treatment protocols for common clinical presentations for the neck, cervical spine, and headaches
• Treatment protocols for common clinical presentations for the Thoracic spine, lumbar spine and abdominal region
• Treatment protocols for common clinical presentations for hip and gluteal region
• Treatment protocols for common clinical presentations for knee, ankle and foot pain
Practical component:
• Needling techniques for the upper limb and anterior chest
• Needling techniques for the neck, cervical spine, and headaches.
• Needling techniques for the Thoracic spine, lumbar spine and abdominal region
• Needling techniques for hip and gluteal region
• Needling techniques for knee, ankle and foot pain
• Review of all areas covered in the series of case history
• Participants will be able to apply techniques they have learnt on the course immediately in their clinical situations
Registration is required with the relevant professional board where dry needling falls within your scope of practice and whereby you are insured by your own professional body or private health insurance to practice dry needling on completion of the course.