In the manual therapy video below, NAIOMT's Angela Gordon demonstrates a posterior shear test, which can be used to check for ligamentous instability.

The patient is asked to gently push into the table while the PT blocks the inferior vertebrae and feels for the superior vertebrae to slide backward. Over pressure can be applied to further assess ligamentous integrity. In a normal spine there should be little mobility here. You can compare various segments to determine where there is excessive mobility.

We would like to congratulate NAIOMT alumna Christina Cuka (‘14) PT, DPT, COMPT, SSPT, alumna (‘09) Amy W. McDevitt PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT, Distinguished Faculty Instructor Ann Porter Hoke PT, DPT, OCS, FCAMPT, FAAOMPT, and Research Director Steve Karas PT, DSc, CMPT, MA, ATC on the publication of their article, “Spinal manipulation after multiple fusions in an adult with scoliosis: a case report” in the Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy.

JMMT published the article online on January 13, 2019. The article will also appear in JMMT’s next print edition. 

We are very proud of our alumni and faculty who continually carry forward NAIOMT’s high standards. 

NAIOMT'S Stacy Soappman knows what it is like to spend the day in the clinic treating patients who are larger than yourself. It can be hard, and often you feel like it will be difficult to make a difference in the patient's pain or function because of the size difference between patient and therapist. Watch the below video as she demonstrates one way she has adapted a thoracic manipulation for when the patient is broader than your arms are long.

The manual therapy video below, NAIOMT's Dallas-based faculty member, Michael Lucido, PT, DPT, OCS, COMT, FAAOMPT demonstrates spinal engine with the goal of correcting sacral dysfunction. 

In the video below, NAIOMT faculty member, Stacy Soappman provides a nice refresher demonstrating a seated thoracic manipulation. 

Do you see patients with SI joint pain? In the video below, NAIOMT faculty member, Stacy Soappman, discusses her approach to testing and treating a 27-year-old male who came into the clinic with SI Joint pain.

The lumbar scan was done to rule out neurological involvement and serious pathology. As part of her lumbar exam she did a biomechanical exam including joint and muscular assessment. What she found was the patient had a lot of muscular imbalance between sides. 

Since he experienced stability problems of the SI joint, she choose stability work that involved stance activities, as the SIJ is designed to be more stable in a loaded position. For example, she had him stand on the wobble board and balance, do squats on the flat side of the BOSU, and single leg activities while moving the non WBing leg. To wean him off the SI belt she had him start by doing short duration activity without it and gradually increased the time each day he was out of the belt. 

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:

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 Seattle, WA on October 20, 2019  for Manip Like a Girl.

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.

In the manual therapy video below, NAIOMT faculty member Stacy Soappman discusses a patient she saw in the clinic who had posterior ankle pain when running, and how she approached treatment.