Western Veterinary Acupuncture and Chronic Pain Management

Overall aims of the course

This course, run in conjunction with the Western Veterinary Acupuncture Group, is designed to enable veterinarians in practice to use acupuncture confidently, safely, and for a wide, but selected, range of clinical conditions.

Overall outcomes of the course

At the end of the course the participants should be able to:
  • Apply safe and competent needling
  • Define the principles of point selection
  • Palpate and understand the significance of myofascial trigger points
  • State why there is a relatively small amount of clinical acupuncture research in the veterinary species
  • Understanding chronic pain generally and in the context of veterinary acupuncture
  • Understanding the current research and basis for the treatment of a wide range of clinical conditions

Course information and Booking Form

Modules 1 - 4 (WVAG Foundation Course):
                          
To book the WVAG Foundation Course modules 1 - 4 please go to http://www.wvag.co.uk/datesbooking-form.html 12 modules spilt into one four day block (Foundation Course run through WVAG) and one eight day block of training (run through Longview CPD).  Modules 1 - 4 (the Foundation Course) has to be completed before going on to modules 5 - 12.

Course dates: 

​Modules 1 - 4 (WVAG Foundation Course) 2020:
               
                          6th - 9th March 2020 at the Knockderry Hotel, Cove, Scotland.
                          24th - 27th April 2020 at Overtown Manor, Wroughton, Wiltshire.
                          25th - 28th September 2020 at the Knockderry Hotel, Cove, Scotland
                          13th - 16th November 2020 at the Overtown Manor, Wroughton, Wiltshire
                      
For further information and booking forms for the WVAG Foundation Course modules 1 - 4 please go to www.wvag.co.uk 


Modules 5 - 12 (Longview CPD will be holding modules 5 - 12 in two four day blocks at Overtown Manor in 2020):
            
               11th - 14th Sept & 16th - 19th Oct 2020 at the Overtown Manor, Wroughton, Wiltshire 

Booking forms:
Please complete and return the following booking form to secure your place: block_course_booking_form_2020_overtown.pdf

The WVAG Foundation Course (modules 1-4) must be done as a unit.    If Module 5 (Electroacupuncture) is taken as a standalone day the cost is £390*, otherwise the remaining 8 modules (5 - 12) cost £345 per module.

The remaining 8 modules are offered as a block, but can be done over three years and some modules are available to do singly or in pairs. Please contact us for further details..

It is recommended that the chronic pain component (Modules 7-10 inc) are done together.

Any prospective delegate who has already done the WVAG Foundation course can start the modular course at Module 5. The BMAS Electroacupuncture day can be substituted for Module 5.

* Price does not include accommodation.

Modules can be done over three years and some modules are available to do singly or in pairs. Please contact us for further details.

Entia certification (ECAS)
Delegates also have the option of attending just the taught modular programme or they may additionally register with Entia to complete the certificate programme along the way. Further information about the ECAS award will be available shortly.

Training venues:
Knockderry Country House Hotel (visit website)
Shore Road, Cove, G84 0NX
Argyll and Bute, Scotland

Knockderry Hotel offer Dinner, bed & breakfast £135 per night. Accommodation price includes free airport transfer. 45 mins from Glasgow Airport. Please call the hotel ASAP to secure booking and airport transfer by arrangement (at designated times – please email Kay at longviewvet07@gmail.com before booking flights).
Please contact us directly if you would like information about alternative accommodation in the area.

Overtown Manor    www.overtownmanor.co.uk
Overtown Hill
Wroughton
Swindon
Wiltshire
SN4 0SH
Please contact Overtown Manor directly for B&B room rates.

Trainers
Samantha Lindley MRCVS 
Sam lectures widely to veterinary undergraduates, veterinary nurses and veterinary surgeons on animal behaviour, chronic pain, and veterinary acupuncture. 

Dr Mike Cummings
Medical Director of the British Medical Acupuncture Society, co founder of WVAG, will join Sam on the courses where numbers and availability allow. 

Course Syllabus

WVAG Foundation Course in Veterinary Acupuncture

Modules 1-4

Aims:
  • To provide a grounding in veterinary acupuncture and the ability to start using acupuncture in practice.

Outcomes:
At the end of this module participants should be able to:
  • State the origins of acupuncture, as well as some of the controversies and define some common areas of agreement between the “Western” and the traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approach
  • Understand the neurophysiological mechanisms involved in the effects of acupuncture
  • Have palpated myofascial trigger points, understood their aetiology as currently understood and their relevance to acupuncture treatments.
  • Define the “Western” approach to acupuncture
  • Be able to apply the principles and safe practice of Western veterinary acupuncture
  • Be able to construct treatment plans, including needling sites and techniques for a variety of different conditions.

Module 1

Introduction to the course
  • Welcome and practical considerations
  • Overview of acupuncture, its history, some TCM nomenclature and the introduction of acupuncture to the West
  • Safety Brief for needling of fellow participants
Needling practice:

  • Experience needling at Li4
  • Points: neck, shoulder and arm
  • Point finding in the veterinary species
Introduction to trigger points
  • Trigger point theory in man and animals
  • Finding trigger points
Pain recognition in animals
Principles of point selection
Safety quiz
Point selection exercises – neck, shoulder and forelimb conditions

Module 2

Points in the lower back and leg
  • Point finding in the veterinary species
  • Needling practice
Neurphysiology of acupuncture
  • Revision of pain pathways and the nervous system
  • Explaining the principles of point selection
Point location dogs and horses
  • Practical handling and location
  • Further principles of point selection
  • Point selection exercises –  lumbar, lumbosacral region and hindlimb
  • Clinical discussion
Clinical aspects of treatment
  • Which patients to treat
  • Which conditions to treat
  • Contraindications/cautions
  • Needles and needling techniques
  • Frequency and timing of treatments
Safety and side effects
  • Safety of acupuncture
  • Serious adverse side effects
  • Minor adverse side effects
  • Relevance to the veterinary species
Planning patient treatments and presentations

Module 3

Face and abdomen points
  • Point location
  • Practice needling
  • Use of different needling techniques
  • Discussion of relevance of face points in animals
Segmental acupuncture
  • The use of acupuncture for functional non pathological disorders
  • Paraspinal needling – theory and practice
  • Other approaches to segmental needling
  • Treatment of visceral conditions: point selection exercises
Case demonstrations
  • Case demonstrations with discussion

Module 4

Introduction to electroacupuncture
  • Electroacupuncture theory
  • Electroacupuncture experience
Dermatology
  • Theory and research of acupuncture in dermatology
  • Consideration of dermatological conditions
  • Point selection exercises
Research and audit
  • Challenges of acupuncture research
  • Examples of acupuncture research
  • Questions to ask and pitfalls to avoid
Case studies
  • Devising treatment plans for more complex cases
Running a veterinary acupuncture clinic
  • Safety
  • Practical considerations
  • Timings and pricing
Quiz
  • Opportunity for revision and reflection
Case presentations
Final forum

Electroacupuncture (EA)

Module 5

Aims:
  • To expand on the introductory ideas of electroacupuncture and to allow participants to introduce EA into their practice
Outcomes:
By the end of this module the participants should be able to:
  • State how electricity has been used historically in medicine
  • Define the general principles of electroacupuncture
  • Understand the electroacupuncture device with which they are supplied
  • State when and why they will use electroacupuncture
  • Understand safety considerations and potential side effects of electroacupuncture
  • Be able to apply their theory of electroacupuncture to a number of conditions
Introduction to the use of electricity in medicine
Electroacupuncture - theory
  • Safety
  • Contraindications and cautions
  • Principles
  • Effects
  • Indications
Electroacupuncture- practical
  • Familiarization with the EA device
  • Use of the device
  • Use in specific conditions

Review, refresh and update

Module 6

Aims
This module aims to refresh and revise the major concepts covered in modules 1-5 before moving on to update participants in current research and practice.
Outcomes
By the end of this module participants should:
  • Feel comfortable and confident with all the major concepts of modules 1-5
  • Have covered issues arising from using acupuncture in practice
  • Be aware of some of the new pieces of research into musculoskeletal pain and their significance
Review and refresh
  • Issues arising from practice
  • Revision of points and anatomy
  • Revision of safety
Update on acupuncture for musculoskeletal conditions
  • Current research – human
  • Current research – animal
  • Specific conditions – hip, stifle, hock
  • Specific conditions- shoulder, elbow, carpus
Case presentations and case discussions

Treatment of pain / understanding of pain for the acupuncturist

Module 7

Aims
  • To revise and review understanding of acute pain
  • To revise and review chronic pain as a distinct phenomenon from acute pain
  • To classify chronic and acute pain and distinguish between the sensation of pain and the emotion of suffering
Outcomes:
By the end of this module participants should be able to:
  • State how acute pain and chronic pain are different from each other
  • Understand the physiology and experience of pain
  • Explain how pain can manifest in different ways, including as behavioural problems
  • Explain the various causes and classifications of pain and the clues that help to distinguish them from each other
Introduction to pain
  • Acute pain, definitions of pain, physiology of pain
  • How chronic pain compares with acute pain
  • Neurophysiology of acute and chronic pain
  • Classifications of pain
  • Distinction between pain and suffering
How pain manifests as a behavioural problem:
  • Aggression
  • Anxiety and fear
  • Compulsive disorders
  • Miscellaneous/bizarre
Causes of pain in the cat and dog
  • Musculoskeletal
  • Neurological
  • Visceral
  • Oral/aural/dermatological
Classifications of pain
  • Nociceptive
  • Neuropathic

Module 8

Aims:
  • To explain the current status of assessment techniques
  • To explain some approaches using osteoarthritis as an example
Outcomes: 
By the end of this module participants should be able to:
  • Explain why assessing pain is not straightforward
  • Apply the knowledge that behavioural changes are part of any assessment of pain
  • Explain and apply some of the techniques used to assess pain and suffering
  • Apply some approaches to osteoarthritis
Assessment of pain:
  • Current status of assessment techniques
  • Triangulation
  • Palpation techniques
  • Gait/ muscular development/movement/posture
Treatment of osteoarthritis as an example of chronic pain
  • Osteoarthritis – the disease
  • Sources of pain in OA
  • An ABCDE approach to OA and where acupuncture fits into this.

Module 9

Aims:
  • To explain the practical approach to examination and how to base a treatment on the examination and history of the patient
Outcomes:
By the end of this module participants should be able to:
  • Understand that treatment plans cannot be started without examination of the patient
  • Explain the confounding factors in assessment of pain problems
  • Understand how acupuncture can be applied to patients with central sensitization  
  • Explain the limitations of acupuncture with anxious/aroused animals
  • Appreciate the current research in terms of sedation effects on acupuncture
Examination of a patient
  • Superficial examination
  • Effects of arousal and anxiety
  • Forelimb lameness – hindlimb problem?
  • Clues from physical difficulties
  • Allodynia and hyperalgesia
  • Trigger points – relevance and interpretation
Approach to patients:
  • Reducing anxiety
  • Reducing central sensitization
  • Good responders vs sensitive patients
  • Sedation – when to use and what to use
Practical case examples

Module 10

When acupuncture is not enough – what comes next?
Aims:
  • To demonstrate that acupuncture is not always enough and that multimodal analgesia and other techniques may need to be employed
Outcomes:
By the end of this module participants should be able to:
  • Appreciate the limitations of acupuncture
  • Explain how different pharmacological treatments work  
  • Appreciate how to choose between treatments
  • Define the challenges of assessing physical therapies
  • Be clear about how to devise treatment plans
 When acupuncture is not enough
  • Outcome measures
  • When acupuncture is not enough- what to do next
Pharmacological interventions
  • Licensed medications – indications/safety/side effects
  • Unlicensed medications- indications/safety/side effects
Physical therapies
  • Challenges of assessing physical therapies
  • Physiotherapy/hydrotherapy
  • Other physical therapies
Other complementary and alternative therapies (CAM)
  • Challenges of assessing CAM
  • Examples and results of studies
Discussion and forum

Beyond musculoskeletal pain

Aims:
  • To demonstrate and revise the challenges of acupuncture research and to provide updates on the use of acupuncture in a range of clinical conditions
Outcomes
By the end of these modules participants should be able to:
  • Appreciate the challenges of acupuncture research and be able to assess published research papers
  • Understand the current research on a number of clinical conditions and how this applies practically to the clinical situation

Module 11

Challenges of acupuncture research
  • “Placebo” and “nocebo” effects
  • Examples of studies
  • Practice reading, reviewing and evaluating acupuncture research papers
Update on dermatology and practical applications
  • Case examples/studies
Update on psychology and practical applications
Update on visceral conditions and practical applications
  • Case examples/studies

Module 12

Update on acupuncture for ocular problems

Update on acupuncture for neurological conditions and practical applications

Miscellaneous syndromes

Revision of techniques and conditions treated

Case studies and presentations
​
Final forum
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