What is Medical Acupuncture?
“Contemporary Medical Acupuncture is a precise peripheral nerve stimulation technique, in which fine solid needles (acupuncture needles) are inserted into anatomically defined neurofunctional sites, and stimulated manually or with electricity for the therapeutic purpose of modulating abnormal activity of the nervous system …… in pain syndromes. Neuromodulation occurs through neurological and neurohumoral mechanisms at multiple levels, namely: peripheral nerves, spinal cord, brain stem, brain and cerebellum. “(McMaster Contemporary Acupuncture)
What can I expect from my treatment?
“Contemporary Medical Acupuncture is mechanism-based, not disease-based. Therapeutic goals and treatment targets are selected based on the identified neurological dysfunctions contributing to the clinical presentation of the symptoms. Sometimes Contemporary Medical Acupuncture treatments result in transient amelioration or disappearance of the symptoms, and other times results in permanent resolution of the dysfunction, especially when dysregulation of the nervous system was the underlying pathophysiological mechanism.” (McMaster Contemporary Acupuncture)
How does it work?
“Neurofunctional Acupuncture is a physiological intervention similar to exercise that elicits existing available regulatory mechanisms through the up-regulation and down-regulation of specific cellular processes. These cellular processes cannot be forced upon the body as it would happen with administration of pharmacological substances.” (McMaster Contemporary Acupuncture)
My reason for adding Acupuncture to Progressive Massage Therapy
I’ve had fantastic results helping patients with their pain problems over the past 20 years but one frustration kept occurring. If I needed to go very deep or work with very old trigger points the high degree of scar tissue, the comfort level of the patient, or the depth needed in order to succeed would prevent successful elimination of the pain. A few of these patients received dry needling and told me that it succeeded. Dry needling is a form of Acupuncture and in December 2016 the Ontario College of Massage Therapy announced that Acupuncture would be part of the scope of practice for massage therapists who were educated at approved schools, had specific insurance for acupuncture and were given approval to be on a special Acupuncture list for Ontario RMT’s that would roll out in January 2017.
So I decided to enroll in what I believe to be the most reputable Acupuncture course on the list – McMaster University’s program. I don’t regret this choice!
How do I book this treatment?
To book this treatment in the Westboro neighborhood in Ottawa, just book it as a Massage Therapy Treatment for whichever time option you like and indicate you are interested in Acupuncture.
Acupuncture is a modality that can be used by Registered Massage Therapists in Ontario, who have received accredited training in Acupuncture and as a result are on the Acupuncture list with the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO).
Can a Client Receive Reimbursement from Extended Health Coverage for Acupuncture Provided by an RMT?
Yes!
If you would like more detail on this and other questions from the CMTO Acupuncture Fact Sheet click here.