David G. Simons Academy DGSA

What David G. Simons Academy DGSA does

David G. Simons Academy (DGSA) is a Switzerland-based educational institution founded in 1995 that trains healthcare professionals in dry needling and manual trigger point therapy. Operated by Myopoint AG from Winterthur, the academy delivers instructor-led in-person courses — including the foundational Top 30 DN program, Manual Trigger Point Therapy, Combi, and Special Courses — alongside structured continuing education through Quality Circles. Its primary customers are licensed physiotherapists, medical doctors, chiropractors, and osteopaths seeking evidence-based, GDK-compliant certification that adheres to Swiss Guidelines for Safe Dry Needling.

DGSA's product platform spans physical course delivery across multiple countries (confirmed venues in Switzerland and Taiwan) and a digital layer comprising a proprietary video tutorial library (videos ranging from 2–33 minutes per muscle/procedure), a multilingual website (English, German, French, Italian), and native mobile apps on iOS and Android. Supporting products include DGSA Trigger Point Pain Pattern Posters and an International Therapist Search directory that connects patients with certified practitioners worldwide. Revenue is generated through one-time course fees (Top 30 DN priced at CHF 890 for 22.5 hours), an annual video tutorial subscription with automatic renewal, certification exam fees, and educational materials sales.

The business operates a multi-channel GTM combining direct in-person course delivery (with instructors traveling globally and a host organization program), self-serve online subscription via web and mobile, and content marketing through YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and email newsletters. Brand equity derives from its namesake Dr. David G. Simons, co-author of the world-recognized Trigger Point Manuals, and the company holds registered DGSA® and David G. Simons Academy™ trademarks. A minor partnership with acupuncture needle manufacturer SEIRIN supports course delivery, while MailChimp powers email marketing automation.

Name

David G. Simons Academy DGSA

Legal name

Myopoint AG

Website

https://dgs-academy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DGSA, operated by Switzerland-based Myopoint AG, trains physiotherapists, medical doctors, chiropractors, and osteopaths in dry needling and manual trigger point therapy through instructor-led international courses and a video tutorial subscription platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Professional Education and Certification

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Trigger Point Therapy & Neuromuscular Massage (HSADAHAF)

Keywords

• Dry needling training
• Trigger point therapy
• Manual therapy certification
• Healthcare professional education
• Continuing medical education

Headquarters

HQ city

Winterthur

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. In-Person Course Fees: Revenue from conducting dry needling and manual trigger point therapy training courses. Course fees vary by program; sample course (Top 30 DN) costs CHF 890 for 22.5 hours of training.
2. Annual Video Tutorial Subscription: Annual subscription model for accessing DGSA video tutorials via website and mobile app. Subscription period is one calendar year with automatic renewal unless cancelled.
3. Certification Exams: Fees for dry needling certification exams administered by DGSA.
4. Educational Materials and Posters: Sale of DGSA Trigger Point Pain Pattern Posters for clinical reference.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DGSA is an international training academy that delivers certified dry needling and manual trigger point therapy education to licensed healthcare professionals (physiotherapists, medical doctors, chiropractors, osteopaths) through in-person courses held globally, supplemented by an annual subscription video tutorial library. Its offerings include a structured curriculum pathway from introductory Top 30 DN courses through advanced specialty programs, certification examinations, an international therapist directory for patient referrals, and printed clinical reference materials (trigger point pain pattern posters).

Product overview

The David G. Simons Academy (DGSA) is an educational institution founded in 1995 in Switzerland, specializing in dry needling and manual trigger point therapy training for healthcare professionals. The company offers a unified educational platform comprising instructor-led courses (Dry Needling, Manual Trigger Point Therapy, and Combi courses), a digital video tutorial library hosted on YouTube, and professional development through Quality Circles. The curriculum is organized as a structured certification pathway, with the Top 30 DN course serving as the foundational introductory program. Additional offerings include specialized courses, trigger point pain pattern posters as visual reference materials, and an international therapist search directory to connect patients with certified practitioners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dry Needling Courses

Quantifiable outcome

• Courses recognized worldwide and meet highest professional, didactic and safety standards
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SEIRINminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerSEIRIN is a manufacturer of acupuncture needles. Their logo appears as a partner in the DGSA footer, indicating they may supply needles used in DGSA courses or have a marketing partnership.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Institute for the Study and Treatment of Pain (ISTOP): ISTOP provides trigger point and dry needling education to physicians and allied health professionals, with strong presence in Asia-Pacific. It is a direct competitor with comparable curriculum focus on myofascial pain and trigger point therapy.
• Kinetacore: Kinetacore delivers Functional Dry Needling® training to physical therapists and other clinicians worldwide. It is a direct competitor to DGSA in the dry needling certification market with overlapping practitioner audience and global course delivery model.
• Myopain Seminars: Founded by Dr. Jan Dommerholt, Myopain Seminars is one of the most established dry needling and trigger point therapy training organizations in the United States. Directly competes with DGSA in dry needling certification courses for healthcare professionals and is the closest head-to-head peer in the niche.
• APTEI (Advanced Physical Therapy Education Institute): APTEI delivers continuing education for physical therapists including dry needling and manual therapy courses. Overlaps with DGSA in clinician-targeted certification programs and competes for the same physiotherapy continuing-education wallet.
• DSE (Dry Needling Solutions Education): Provides dry needling certification courses to physical therapists and chiropractors in North America. Competes with DGSA in the same practitioner niche, with comparable foundational and advanced course curricula.

Emerging players

• Bodymaster Academy: Provides dry needling and manual therapy training for physiotherapists in select markets. Adjacent competitor with overlapping curriculum focus but more limited geographic reach compared with DGSA's worldwide course delivery.
• GunnIMS (Institute for the Study and Treatment of Pain / iSTOP Gunn method): Trains practitioners in intramuscular stimulation (IMS), a dry needling methodology distinct from DGSA's approach but serving the same clinical niche. Competes for healthcare professionals seeking dry needling certification.

Regional players

• Manual Therapy Educational Consulting: Smaller dry needling and manual therapy training provider focused on specific European markets. Indirect peer with comparable clinical curriculum but does not directly compete in DGSA's core Swiss and global course network.

Others

• Elsevier (publisher of Travell & Simons Trigger Point Manuals): Publishes the Travell & Simons Trigger Point Manuals, the foundational reference text that underpins DGSA's curriculum. Functions as an ecosystem enabler rather than a direct competitor but is thematically central to the trigger point therapy space.
• International Myopain Society: Professional society advancing research and education on myofascial pain syndrome. Operates adjacent to DGSA's domain as a community and conference organizer rather than a direct course competitor, but reaches the same clinician base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCF2-6szfkrI0CmrkhPENpgg
• Facebookfacebook.com/DavidGSimonsAcademy
• Instagraminstagram.com/dgsacademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/david-g.-simons-academy-dgsa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about David G. Simons Academy DGSA