Auricular Approach to Shoulder Pain and Dysfunction

Overview

Shoulder pain and dysfunction remain among the most common musculoskeletal complaints seen in clinical practice. This Embodia course introduces clinicians to the auricular (ear-based) approach for addressing shoulder symptoms, blending neurophysiologic insights with practical needling techniques.

Drawing from contemporary evidence and clinical experience, this course explores how auricular acupuncture and dry needling can influence pain modulation, neuromuscular control, and functional recovery when integrated into comprehensive shoulder care. Clinicians will gain a structured framework to apply auricular strategies alongside traditional assessment and treatment methods.

Whether you already use needling in practice or are expanding toward integrative pain approaches, this course provides clinically applicable rationale and technique selection, enhancing your toolbox for addressing persistent shoulder presentations.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the neuroanatomy and clinical rationale for auricular approaches

2. Describe evidence supporting auricular acupuncture and dry needling for shoulder pain and dysfunction

3. Identify auricular points relevant to shoulder symptom patterns

4. Integrate auricular needling techniques within a broader clinical management plan

5. Apply safety principles and contraindication screening for ear-based needling

6. Evaluate outcomes and adjust point selection based on patient presentation

Audience

This course is designed for:

• Physiotherapists and rehabilitation clinicians

• Practitioners using or interested in acupuncture and dry needling

• Clinicians managing persistent or complex shoulder pain

• Manual therapists seeking advanced neurophysiologic approaches

• Allied health professionals exploring integrative pain modulation techniques

Clinicians should have a foundational understanding of shoulder assessment and needling principles to gain the most from this material.

Why This Course Matters

Traditional shoulder rehabilitation often focuses on local biomechanics and joint-specific exercises. While these remain essential, pain modulation and central neurophysiologic mechanisms play a crucial role in persistent symptoms. Auricular approaches provide clinicians with a non-segmental pathway to influence nervous system activity and pain perception.

By integrating evidence-based auricular acupuncture and dry needling methods, clinicians can:

• Expand treatment options for patients with persistent shoulder pain

• Target broader neurophysiologic systems involved in pain modulation

• Complement existing exercise, manual therapy, or dry needling strategies

This course emphasizes clinical reasoning over technique alone, helping clinicians understand when and why auricular approaches may benefit specific shoulder presentations.

About the Presenter

Dave Maybee, RMT
Academic Director & Lead Instructor, Canadian Institute of Auricular Medicine

Dave Maybee brings a deep and evolving passion for Auricular Medicine, grounded in the work of medical pioneers such as Paul Nogier, Frank Bahr, Beate Strittmatter, and other leading researchers. He excels at translating complex concepts into engaging learning experiences, using clinical examples, demonstrations, and interactive Q&A to meet diverse student interests while ensuring clear objectives and measurable outcomes.

In his clinical practice, Dave combines auricular medicine with craniosacral therapy and myofascial release to address unresolved chronic pain and other challenges in therapy-resistant patients—those who have “tried everything”—offering innovative and integrative approaches to care.