AACP Accredited Acupuncture Foundation Course by Elizabeth Tough

This comprehensive 6 day course is designed to offer chartered physiotherapists the level of knowledge, skill and understanding that will allow them to practice acupuncture in a safe, appropriate and effective manner within the clinical setting.

Cost includes 1st years full AACP membership available on successful completion of the foundation course.

MCSP & HCPC Registration is required of all delegates.

To book your place onto this course, please contact Jackie Buckle on 01626 771124 or jacqueline.buckle@nhs.net

This course (divided between direct contact time and self-directed learning) is designed to offer participants with a level of knowledge, skill and understanding that will allow you to practice acupuncture in a safe and appropriate manner in a clinical setting.

The course provides a medical approach to acupuncture, grounded in current scientific principles and research evidence rather than in traditional Chinese philosophical thinking. The course does not cover the traditional Chinese medical approach to acupuncture except where scientific theory and evidence can be used to explain concepts of traditional Chinese medicine (e.g. fascial planes and meridians).

You will be encouraged to critically evaluate your own practice and where appropriate challenge the current evidence base. This course is designed to provide you with a rationale for using acupuncture as an adjunctive treatment for the management of common musculoskeletal pain conditions. Topics covered include the laboratory and radiological research which is used to explain the mechanism of acupuncture analgesia; current evidence from acupuncture clinical trials research, and the none-specific ‘placebo’ effects associated with acupuncture analgesia. You will be introduced to the concept of myofascial trigger points and the use of acupuncture needling for pain associated with myofascial trigger points.

Direct teaching will be split either into two three day sessions, separated by six weeks, or two consecutive two day sessions followed by six weeks then a final two day session.

Pre requisites to attending the course

You are required to:

• Show evidence of current HCPC registration (Physiotherapy)
• Be a member of the CSP or demonstrate valid and adequate professional practice insurance.
• Have over 12 months post qualification clinical experience
• Be able to practice acupuncture within a musculoskeletal clinical setting during the period of the course
• Provide a signed health screening form
• Give consent to receive repetitive needling (delivered by fellow participants and the tutor)

If you work outside a registered NHS premises or in private practice you must ensure that where you work has a license to practice acupuncture.

Assessed Learning Outcomes (LO)

By the end of the course you will be expected to be able to:

1. Demonstrate the safe application of acupuncture needling – in accordance with Health and Safety regulations and within the scope of professional practice, and underpinned with an understanding of the contra-indications and precautions for the application of acupuncture.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of how acupuncture can be applied as an integrated treatment in the physiotherapy management of certain musculoskeletal pain conditions.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the specific and non-specific analgesic effects of acupuncture needling, with reference to the current best available evidence.
4. Provide evidence of clinical reasoning and reflective learning based on your own clinical practice
5. Demonstrate an understanding of how to critically evaluate acupuncture research and to judge the applicability of the evidence to your own clinical practice.

Knowledge and Understanding (LO1,2,3,4,5); Cognitive/intellectual skills (LO2,4,5); Practical skills (LO1,2,4).

You will have to successfully complete the following assignments to be awarded a course certificate and be eligible for AACP or BMAS registration.

• Practical skills competency test
• Reflective diary on two clinical cases
• Written case study (max 2,500 words)