ACUPUNCTURE

Policy

Acupuncture constitutes a "manipulation" within the meaning of the Massage Therapy Act, 1991 and its scope of practice statement as delineated by S.3 of the Act (printed below). Acupuncture, as a modality, can reasonably be expected to have an effect on the soft tissues and joints of the body and constitutes the "treatment and prevention of physical dysfunction and pain of the soft tissues and joints by manipulation to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment physical function, or relieve pain", and therefore is within the scope of practice of massage therapy.

Scope Statement

"The practice of massage therapy is the assessment of the soft tissues and joints of the body and the treatment and prevention of physical dysfunction and pain of the soft tissues and joints by manipulation to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment physical function, or relieve pain."

Limitations

As the scope of practice of massage therapy authorizes treatment of soft tissues and joints of the body, the College perceives that limitations need to be imposed on the practice of acupuncture by massage therapists. This stems from the expectation that acupuncture, when practiced to treat the whole range of possible acupuncture treatment related effects, can be anticipated to treat tissues, structures and conditions outside the scope of massage therapists. Therefore, massage therapists will limit their use of this modality to the treatment of generally accepted physical disorders within the scope of practice of massage therapy.

Educational Requirements

The practice of acupuncture as a massage therapy modality requires specialized training of a significant nature and is subject to minimum educational requirements as set, from time to time, by the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario.

Approved: July7, 2000