What is Contemporary 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 and/or the endocrine, exocrine and immune systems, in pain syndromes, functional problems, and any diseases in which these modulatory mechanisms are available. Neuromodulation occurs through neurological and neurohumoral mechanisms at multiple levels, namely: peripheral nerves, spinal cord, brain stem, brain and cerebellum.
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.
What are the benefits of Contemporary Medical Acupuncture for patients?
Acupuncture can be effective as a solitary treatment, or as an adjunct to other therapeutic interventions. The World Health Organization recognizes the use of acupuncture in the treatment of:
- Sports-related injuries and other movement disorders
- Musculoskeletal pain problems: neck pain, shoulder pain, low back pain, joint pain
- Chronic pain: headaches, sciatica, osteoarthritis, neuritis, and facial pain
- Stress related problems; muscular tension
Will acupuncture be covered under my insurance benefits plan?
It is important to understand that Melissa is a Massage Therapist that uses acupuncture as a modality within her treatment plans. Melissa is not an acupuncturist and is not a registrant with the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncturists of Ontario.
In Ontario, most Extended Health Care Insurers will only reimburse professional services such as Chiropractic care, Physiotherapy, Massage Therapy, or Acupuncture provided by a Registered Acupuncturist. They will not reimburse a modality used within a treatment plan.
Please consult with your Extended Health Care Company for further information on what you will be reimbursed for as all plans have different coverage.