feature Neurofunctional Acupuncture The success of an integrated model Dr. Elorriaga’s medical background includes more than 13 years of research and practice in the areas of exercise physiology and neu-rofunctional acupuncture, as well as 25 years of sports medicine consulting with professional ath-letes and private clients. He is the founding director of the McMaster University Contemporary Medical Acupuncture Program (1998) and the creator of a practical integrated neurofunctional diagnostic and treatment system for musculo- skeletal problems and sports in-juries using electroacupuncture and manual techniques. For more information, please contact Valerie Cannon at 905-521-2100 ext. 75175, contemporaryacupuncture @mcmaster.ca, or through www. contemporaryacupuncture.com Neurofunctional treatment on an Olympic champion, Athens 2004. D uring the last decade, acupuncture has become the most popular of the comple-mentary medicine modalities worldwide, despite the attacks of detractors who maintain that it is “scientifically unclear” whether acupuncture is better than a placebo for the treatment of pain. In Canada, several academic institutions have been of-fering training programs in acupuncture for licensed health professionals for many years. All but one of these programs combine, in different proportions, ideas from Traditional Chinese Medicine with various degrees of scientific information. McMaster University is one institution that offers instruction and practical training in medical acupuncture. The university’s original acupuncture program first began offering the training to health-care professions in 1998. Since then, the program has developed an innovative standardized curriculum that is entirely based on contemporary neuro-physiology. This unique neurofunctional acupuncture model has provided graduates of the program with techniques that stem from scientifically verifiable information and evi-dence, thus lending them enhanced credibility in the health-care market while providing patients with effective treatment options. By the end of 2010, more than 1,300 health professionals, including more than 600 chiropractors, completed the exclusive accelerated training in what has become known as Contemporary Medical Acupuncture (CMA) offered by the original McMaster pro-gram. Also, more than 500 health professionals have participated to date in the more than 35 advanced courses offered through the program. The unique competitive edge provided by the training, and its integrated approach, has translated into greater profes-sional success for all graduates while increasing the utility and benefits of acupuncture for thousands of patients. Specifically, an elite group of chiropractic graduates, who com-bine neurofunctional electroacupuncture with soft-tissue and manipulation techniques in their practices, have achieved unprecedented success in the area of treating sports in-juries. From consulting with professional teams to serving in Olympic games and differ-ent World Championships, these young chiropractors have established their integrated www.canadianchiropractor.ca Alejandro Elorriaga Claraco 28 • CANADIAN CHIROPRACTOR | APRIL 2011
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