How do you decide which tests to conduct and what kind of treatment plan to develop from patient to patient? This may sound obvious, but bears repeating: really knowing our anatomy plays a huge role in effective clinical reasoning.

In the video below, NAIOMT's Stacy Soappman discusses a violinist she saw last month who was experiencing numbness and tingling in his left fourth and fifth finger.  She addresses how taking a hard look at upper extremity anatomy helped her in assessing and treating the patient.  

Topics: treating wrist injury, upper extremity

Did you know you can earn your CMPT certification in just one year? Really. After a cohort of PTs thrived in and successfully completed NAIOMT’s accelerated program in San Diego in 2018, we have decided to offer this opportunity again this year.  

 

Here’s what one participant had to say about last year’s program:

“I joined as a PT in my first couple years of practice, and the clinical reasoning skills I learned as well as the finessed treatment and assessment techniques have significantly improved my success and confidence.” -Julie Dunn

 

Our accelerated program is designed to help you get through NAIOMT classes quickly, conveniently, and at a significant discount, plus offers support and continuity from classmates and instructors throughout the year. Here are a few key highlights:

Topics: clinical skills, Faculty, Manual Therapy, NAIOMT, Physical Therapy, CMPT

Low back pain continues to be one of the most difficult maladies of the musculoskeletal system in the modern world. The scientific literature tells us LBP is a heterogeneous entity best treated by recognizing the characteristics of this group as subsets. One of these subsets are people who have pain specifically located at or close to the posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS). This location is also known as “pelvic girdle pain” or “sacroiliac joint pain.”

Topics: treating lumbar spine

In the manual therapy video below, NAIOMT faculty member Stacy Soappman discusses and demonstrates a modified seated thoracic manipulation technique that can be really useful in the clinic when your arms can't comfortably reach around a larger patient. 

Not just for girls, our Manip Like A Girl: Work Smarter Not Harder course is for anyone who wants to learn how to effectively treat patients larger than themselves. If you want to learn how to handle patients larger than yourself and do it with more efficiency and effectiveness then this is the course for you. Reserve your spot in one of these upcoming sessions:

Topics: Clinical Reasoning, Manual Therapy Videos, NAIOMT, Thoracic Spine, thoracic spine manipulation, manip like a girl

In the manual therapy video below, NAIOMT faculty member Kathy Stupansky demonstrates a manipulation for an extension restriction on the right at C56. Please note, this is a technique covered in our Advanced Spinal Manipulation course. Our Cervical Spine I and II courses are great stops on the path to getting to this level.

Topics: Cervical Spine, Courses, Manual Therapy, Manual Therapy Videos

Does your patient experience pain when shaking hands? In the video below, I demonstrate a technique for the CMC joint that you may find helpful.

 

Topics: manual therapy, manual therapy certification, treating wrist injury, upper extremity

In the manual therapy video below, NAIOMT faculty member Stacy Soappman explains why it's useful to have three different muscle testing approaches for the lumbar spine. Essentially, each has a different intent:

Shortened Position

For neurological conductivity, fatiguing versus consistent weakness.

Mid-range Position

Looking at the power position, and giving it a manual muscle test grade to document in chart to use an objective measure to show how they've improved and gained strength over the course of physical therapy.

Lengthened Position

To pick up minor tissue damage, if looking for grade one strain.

Topics: lumbar spine, Lumbopelvic Spine, lumbopelvic spine, manual therapy videos, Manual Therapy Videos, Uncategorized

Do you tend to see a lot of ankle sprains in the clinic? In the manual therapy video below, NAIOMT faculty member Stacy Soappman discusses sprains and demonstrates one way to treat the subtalar joint.

Topics: NAIOMT, lower extremity, upper extremity, ankle pain

Do you see patients who experience pain when turning their head to the left?  In the manual therapy video below, NAIOMT’s Stacy Soappman demonstrates one way of assessing and treating that pain.

Topics: manual therapy, manual therapy certification, cervical spine techniques, cervical spine course

In the manual therapy video below, NAIOMT’s Stacy Soappman provides a brief review of Sacroiliac Joint assessment and treatment. 

In order to determine if gapping manip of the SI Joint is appropriate for a patient, she performs a standing weight bearing assessment. If the tests are symmetrical and patient presents with the same dysfunction both in standing and in non weight bearing tests, she moves forward with the manipulation. If there's a discrepancy between the two components of the test, she does not use manipulation, but instead employs another approach such as soft tissue, exercise or needling to help with the neuromuscular balance component.

Topics: manual therapy, manual therapy certification, treating lumbar spine, lumbopelvic spine, lumbopelvic spine courses