Sports Medicine Acupuncture® at TRNSFORM

What is Sports Medicine Acupuncture®?

Sports Medicine Acupuncture® (SMA) is a highly specialized system developed by Matt Callison, L.Ac. that integrates Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with Western sports medicine, orthopedics, and rehabilitation. It is the only acupuncture program in the U.S. that combines TCM with advanced anatomical, biomechanical, and functional assessments for athletes.

SMA is designed to:

  • Diagnose and treat musculoskeletal injuries with precision

  • Provide rapid pain relief and restore functional movement

  • Prevent future injuries through postural correction and muscle rebalancing

The Foundation & History

  • Created by Matt Callison, a licensed acupuncturist with over 30 years of clinical experience.

  • Developed through cadaver dissections, orthopedic research, and clinical application.

  • Recognized worldwide as the gold standard in acupuncture for sports medicine.

  • Based on a 250+ hour certification program integrating Western orthopedic testing and Chinese sinew channel theory.

The Assessment Process

At TRNSFORM, every athlete begins with a comprehensive Sports Medicine Acupuncture® assessment:

  1. Static Postural Assessment

    • Analyzes standing posture to identify imbalances (e.g., anterior pelvic tilt, rounded shoulders, scoliosis).

    • Identifies patterns that predispose joints and muscles to overload.

  2. Functional Movement Assessment

    • Observes movements such as squats, lunges, and golf swing mechanics.

    • Reveals faulty motor control or compensations that increase injury risk.

  3. Orthopedic Testing & Palpation

    • Special tests for joint integrity (labral, meniscal, impingement tests).

    • Palpation of motor points, trigger points, and fascial restrictions.

  4. Manual Muscle Testing (MMT)

    • Identifies inhibited or overactive muscles that disrupt joint alignment.

    • Example: Weak gluteus medius contributing to low back or lead knee pain in golfers.

  5. Chinese Medicine Diagnosis

    • Application of sinew channel (jingjin) theory to assess fascial and myofascial chains.

    • Integrates TCM pattern differentiation (dampness, blood stagnation, qi deficiency) with orthopedic findings.

Treatment Techniques

1. Motor Point Acupuncture

  • Directly resets inhibited or hypertonic muscles.

  • Restores proper recruitment, reducing pain and restoring function.

  • Example: Needling supraspinatus motor point improves strength in rotator cuff tears.

2. Trigger Point & Ashi Point Needling

  • Releases tight bands of muscle fibers.

  • Reduces pain and improves blood flow.

  • Effective for rotator cuff tendinopathies, golfer’s elbow, hamstring strains.

3. Electro-Acupuncture

  • Gentle current applied between needles.

  • Stimulates muscle contraction, reduces inflammation, accelerates healing.

  • Used for chronic tendinopathies and post-surgical rehab.

4. Fascial & Sinew Channel Release

  • Needling along fascial chains restores tissue glide and reduces restrictions.

  • Example: Treating Gallbladder sinew channel for hip labral irritation.

5. Adjunctive Therapies

  • Cupping & Gua Sha: Increase circulation, reduce adhesions.

  • Myofascial Release: Manual techniques to restore soft tissue mobility.

  • Corrective Exercise: Postural drills, proprioceptive training, and muscle activation to solidify acupuncture gains.

How SMA Helps Golfers and Athletes

1. Pain Relief

  • Immediate reduction in pain from motor point and trigger point acupuncture.

  • Releases tight muscles and improves circulation for faster recovery.

2. Functional Improvement

  • Restores proper neuromuscular firing patterns.

  • Improves proprioception and joint awareness for smoother, more efficient movements.

  • Enhances range of motion and stability — key for consistent swing mechanics.

3. Injury Prevention

  • Identifies imbalances before they cause injury.

  • Realigns posture, stabilizes joints, and reduces strain along myofascial chains.

  • Keeps athletes training and competing at the highest level with less downtime.

Conditions Treated with Sports Medicine Acupuncture®

  • Rotator cuff tears and tendinopathies

  • Shoulder labral injuries

  • Low back and SI joint pain

  • Hip impingement and labral tears

  • Wrist and hand injuries (TFCC, ECU tendinopathy)

  • Golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow

  • Rib stress fractures

  • Knee injuries (MCL strain, meniscal pain)

  • Ankle instability and plantar fasciopathy

  • Foot and lower leg Injuries

  • Foot Over-Pronation

Why Choose TRNSFORM?

  • Certified Sports Medicine Acupuncturist (C.SMA) trained directly in Matt Callison’s program

  • 7 years of clinical experience treating complex pain at the West Palm Beach VA

  • Athlete-centered care combining acupuncture, myofascial release, and corrective exercise

  • Immediate results for pain relief with long-term strategies for performance and prevention

At TRNSFORM Acupuncture & Wellness Clinic, we help athletes and golfers recover faster, reduce pain, and prevent injuries — so you can perform at your best.

📍 West Palm Beach | ⛳ Athlete-Centered Care
👉 Book your Sports Medicine Acupuncture® Assessment today

Schedule Now