Evidence Based Veterinary Acupuncture Small Animal Certification Course

Level Three: Advanced Elective

Online Session One: Vocabulary: Deepening the Scientific Database Behind Acupuncture Science

1. Basic Sciences Deep Dive: Pain neurophysiology, fascial physiology, proprioception, long and short reflex loops, lymphatic physiology, mechanotransduction, pharmacology, photon and sound-wave non-pharma, motion in non-pharma, diet and supplements.
2. Literature Review: Acupuncture research and planning, the complexity of placebo effect in complex interactions, complexity theory. 
3. Review the neuro-immune function of the parasympathetic nervous system and the global effects of the vagus, as well as visceral pain embryology and common points that stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system.

Session One Objectives:

Strengthen the breadth and depth of your acupuncture acumen and knowledge. Understanding other pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions that can be added to patient care plans.

Session One Learning outcomes:

1. Grasp the scaffolding of basic science underpinning the effects of pharmaceuticals, acupuncture and other physical medicine modalities.
2. Explain the bumpy road to evidence-based medicine as it applies to acupuncture, and how it has started to resolve within the last 10 years.
3. Describe somato-autonomic reflex loops and identify which acupuncture points are reported to engage somato-autonomic long-loop reflexes to identify and modify organ disease.

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Online Session Two: Deep Dive into Pain Medicine, Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation focused Acupuncture

1. A scoping review of the pathophysiology and integrative approaches to specific conditions that affect mobility and comfort.
2. Fill in missing details around the myofascial kinetic chains described in dogs, horses and humans, and the overlap and differences between these lines and acupuncture meridians.
3. Specific acupuncture points and their neurophysiological underpinnings relative to the treatment of mobility and pain will be reviewed and expanded upon.
4. An evidence-based approach will be discussed for integrative care of specific joints (hip, stifle, hock, shoulder, elbow, carpus), tendons (iliopsoas, shoulder, achilles), sacro-pelvic disease and working dogs as a general group.

Session Two Objectives:

Compose an elegant integrative treatment plan for various conditions, which will be implemented with attention to the JAM exam, pharmacology, the principles of medical acupuncture, and the cooperation of your patient.

Session Two Learning Outcomes:

1. Consider your approach to dogs that are planning to return to athletic activity, including types of treatments, timing of treatments, and return to sporting strength and function.
2. Triage a comprehensive acupuncture treatment plan for a dog with both musculoskeletal conditions and other concurrent disease states, using 20 points or less.
3. Recognize the integration of multiple techniques for managing complex Musculo-skeletal and neurological cases and be fluent in how to triage interventions in specific cases.

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Online Session 3: Complex conditions, Aging, Pain and Immunity

1. Become familiar with the far-reaching effects of the neuro-immune-endocrine system and how this plays a role in bodywide functions, including the GI system, microbiome and central nervous system.
2. Delve into the realm of acquired conditions, including immune homeostasis, pain amplification associated with various disease states, and descending noxious inhibitory control mechanisms.
3. Explore the potential of acupuncture points for interacting with the neuro-immune-endocrine system, and learn the primary players.
4. An evidence-based approach will be discussed for integrative care of specific joints (hip, stifle, hock, shoulder, elbow, carpus), tendons (iliopsoas, shoulder, achilles), sacro-pelvic disease and working dogs as a general group.

Session Three Objectives:

Triage for competing and overlapping acupuncture points, along with other physical medicine additions, to treat complex medical, mobility and pain conditions.

Session Three Learning Outcomes:

1. Identify and utilize acupuncture points that support the neuro-immune-endocrine homeostatic system for treating complex diseases.
2. Learn sensible approaches to a variety of internal medicine conditions (while continuing to base all treatments on what is found in your JAM exam).
3. Devise an outcome based measure that could be used to assess patient response to treatment, and discuss how you might implement this in your clinical practice.

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Three canine (or feline) cases must be completed and presented at this elective course. Case reports are required for all three.

A Virtual real-time check in with Faculty and Students will be required the weekend before arriving to in-person course. All online material must be completed before starting the in-person course. 

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