Tactical Physio Training Event
TP1.5 Bridge Dry Needling Course in Traverse City, Michigan — May 22, 2027
Three days of dry needling education built on the Radiculopathic Model of Orthopedics — less guesswork, more clinical reasoning. Take the TP1.5 Bridge on Friday or the TP1 Foundations weekend.
Course Date
Saturday, May 22, 2027
Format
1 day in person · 17 contact hrs
Location
Traverse City, Michigan
Instructors
Tyler Waterway & Edo Zylstra
About This Event
Built for clinicians who are done guessing
Every clinician knows the feeling: the treatment worked — but you're not entirely sure why. Or it didn't, and you're not sure why not. Tactical Physio is bringing both of its core dry needling courses to Traverse City to close that gap. Whether you're new to dry needling or already trained, both courses teach the Assess → Treat → Verify model and the Radiculopathic Model of Orthopedics (RMO) — so you can identify the most relevant driver of dysfunction, treat it with intention, and verify the response before your patient leaves the table. Results you can explain, reproduce, and stand behind.
Saturday, May 22
TP1.5 Bridge — RMO Integration of Dry Needling
One-Day In-Person Course + Online Pre-Course Content · 17 Contact Hours
Already trained in dry needling? Bridge into the framework.
For licensed clinicians with prior dry needling education from any provider.
Who This Course Is For
Clinicians who already use dry needling but sometimes can't explain why it worked — or why it didn't. If you struggle to reproduce your best outcomes, second-guess patient selection or dosing, or want more certainty about when and where to needle, the Bridge connects your existing training to a reasoning framework that makes your results explainable and repeatable.
Previous Training Requirements
Completion of a foundational dry needling course from any recognized education provider. You do not need to have trained with Tactical Physio previously. Unsure whether your training qualifies? Contact us and we'll confirm.
What You Will Learn
- Connect assessment findings — neurological, movement, and regional — to clear treatment decisions
- Apply the Radiculopathic Model of Orthopedics to determine central vs. peripheral treatment
- Dose dry needling based on irritability and treatment tolerance
- Sequence interventions using the Triple R model: Reset → Reinforce → Reload
- Recognize when treatment isn't working and apply the Time to Pivot model
Schedule
Saturday, May 22. Registration opens at 7:30 AM; the course runs 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Date
Saturday, May 22, 2027
Format
Online pre-course + 1 day in person
Contact Hours
17 approved contact hours
$995
Register for TP1.5 Bridge
Full TP1.5 course description →
Your Instructors
Learn from the clinicians who built the system
Tyler Waterway
PT, DPT · Co-Founder, Tactical Physio
Dr. Waterway is co-founder of Tactical Physio, co-owner of KinetaCare Physiotherapy, and co-developer of the Radiculopathic Model of Orthopedics. He is the primary author of Treatment Guidelines and Decision Tree for Dry Needling Musculoskeletal Conditions: A Consensus Statement (IJSPT, 2026), and his clinical work centers on identifying the true root causes of pain and dysfunction through structured assessment, targeted intervention, and objective reassessment.
Edo Zylstra
PT, DPT, OCS · Co-Founder, Tactical Physio
Dr. Zylstra is co-founder of Tactical Physio and founder of KinetaCare Physiotherapy, with over 26 years of experience in orthopedic rehabilitation and dry needling. He founded KinetaCore, a Functional Dry Needling® education company later acquired by Evidence In Motion, and has trained clinicians across private practice, corporate healthcare, military environments, and providers working with athletes in the NFL, MLB, NBA, MLS, UFC, PGA, and Olympic sports.
Venue & Day-Of Details
Getting here
Venue & Parking
Elite Physical Therapy and Sports Performance
4177 Village Park Dr
Traverse City, MI 49685
Flying in? Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) is just minutes from the venue, or Gerald R. Ford International (GRR) in Grand Rapids is about a 2.5 hour drive. Nearby hotels include Courtyard by Marriott, Baymont by Wyndham, and Spark by Hilton.
Parking: Please park away from the main entrance to respect neighboring businesses.
What to Wear & Bring
This is a hands-on course — you will both treat and be treated. Wear athletic or loose-fitting clothing that allows easy access to treatment areas: shorts for hips and legs, and a tank top or sports bra for shoulders and upper back.
- Tablet or laptop for the lab manual and online content
- Notebook and pen
- Water bottle
Lunch, light refreshments, and coffee are provided on-site, along with all needles and equipment. Let us know about any dietary restrictions before the course.
Questions? Dylan Hoogeboom, Director of Operations — (616) 294-0808 (call or text) or [email protected]
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose the right course for me?
If your state practice act sets a minimum number of dry needling contact hours, check that first — it can determine which format you need. TP1 (Foundations, 27 contact hours) is our entry point for clinicians new to dry needling. TP1.5 (Bridge, 17 contact hours) is for clinicians who already have dry needling training and want to integrate it into the RMO framework. Not sure where to start? Contact us and we'll point you in the right direction.
Is there anything I need to do before the course starts?
Yes — both courses include pre-course content that must be completed before day one. You'll receive access to that material through Pathwright, our online learning portal, immediately upon registration — please start early so you have plenty of time to work through it. Completing the online coursework is required to obtain your certificate, and it shows in your needling labs: you'll need this knowledge to pass competency testing.
What's provided, and what should I bring?
We supply lunch, snacks, coffee, and all the needles and equipment you'll need to learn and practice, plus a PDF of the course manual. Bring a laptop or iPad so you can open course materials and complete any online quizzes, and a notebook for note-taking. Wear comfortable clothing that allows easy access to the areas we'll be needling — shoulders, back, legs, and so on.
Can I take this course if I am pregnant?
For the TP1 course, you may not participate at any stage of pregnancy due to contraindications and strong precautions. For other courses, contact us immediately — you may be able to attend with an approved "body double" who receives the dry needling practice in your place. Please contact us for confirmation and approval before registering.
Are continuing education credits available?
Yes. TP1 is approved for 27 contact hours and TP1.5 Bridge is approved for 17 contact hours. If you have questions about how these hours apply in your state, contact us before registering.
Do you offer any discounts?
We offer discounts for current students (with proof of enrollment) and for military veterans (with proof of service, such as a DD-214 or CAC card). Email us to verify and we'll send your code.
What's your class size?
We cap classes at 10:1 students per instructor or better, so you get plenty of hands-on time and individual feedback — and so we stay compliant with continuing-competency requirements and offer the safest, highest-quality course experience possible.
What's your cancellation and refund policy?
Plans change, and we try to honor life's commitments. Cancel more than 30 days before your course for a full refund or a free transfer to another course date — as long as you've completed less than 10% of the online pre-course content. If you've completed more than 10%, you're eligible for a transfer rather than a refund, since the online curriculum is a substantial part of the course itself. At 30 days before the course date, you're eligible for a transfer only. Within 14 days of the course, a cancellation results in a transfer plus a $100 fee. All refunds are subject to a 3.5% processing fee for credit card transactions.
Better outcomes start in Traverse City
Leave with a framework you can use Monday morning — and results you can reproduce. Classes are capped at a 10:1 student-to-instructor ratio.