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.
29th - 31st January 2021. 3 days online (1 day practice session will be held early 2021) FULL
5th - 8th March 2021. 3 days online (1 day practice session will be held early 2021).
8th -11th May 2021. Venue TBC.
For further information and booking forms for the WVAG Foundation Course modules 1 - 4 please go to www.wvag.co.uk

Modules 5 - 12 Western Veterinary Acupuncture and Chronic Pain Management
Longview CPD will be holding modules 5 - 12 in two four day blocks at Online in 2021:

Modules 7 - 10 Chronic Pain Management 28th - 30th May 2021
Modules 5 - EA day, Module 6 - Refresher, Modules 11&12 Beyond Musculoskeletal Pain 16th - 19th July 2021

Booking form:
Please complete and return the following booking form to secure your place: wva_cpm_registeration_form_2021_.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