Topics: manual therapy videos, Manual Therapy Videos, minubrial test, thoracic spine, Thoracic Spine

Topics: manual therapy, Manual Therapy, pain, Physical Therapy, shoulder pain, thoracic spine, Thoracic Spine, upper extremity

Topics: Manual Therapy Videos, thoracic spine, Thoracic Spine, thoracic spine mobilization

Each week, as we lead manual therapy courses across the United States, the passion for PT is palpable. And with all that passion comes important debate. Sometimes we even see  heated discussions being hashed out online between people across the globe, of all experience-levels and abilities. (Been on Twitter, lately?!) But whether you're a physical therapist here in the United States or a physio abroad, we actually all have a great deal in common. Sure, we may have different approaches to care, and depending on where you practice, you may or may not be limited in what you can do to help your patients. But at the end of the day, we're on the same side. We're experts in movement. We are dedicated to helping those around us live pain free, high functioning lives.

Topics: Courses, Lumbopelvic Spine, manual therapy, Manual Therapy, Manual Therapy Mentorship, thoracic spine, Thoracic Spine

Topics: manual therapy, Manual Therapy Videos, palpation, thoracic spine

How many of you start your shoulder examination with a look at the cervical and thoracic spine? In the absence of trauma it makes the most sense to do a cervical and thoracic scan during the initial evaluation. The scapula is part of the shoulder girdle. A lot of the muscles that attach to the scapula are innervated by the cervical spine. If the patient presents with a cervical dysfunction they can wind up with altered muscle length of muscles that attach to the scapula. This can lead to altered scapula positioning at rest and with motion. If the patient has altered scapula movement it can lead to shoulder impingement during shoulder girdle movements.

The article below demonstrates that patients presenting with shoulder pain who received a thoracic manipulation experienced significant reduction in their shoulder pain and improved function. So don't forget to widen your focus and include the thoracic spine!

Abstract: Thoracic manual therapy in the management of non-specific shoulder pain: a systematic review. Aimie L. Peek^*a, Caroline Miller^b & Nicola R. Heneghan^cJournal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy Volume 23, Issue 4, 2015 pages 176-187

Objectives: 

Non-specific shoulder pain (NSSP) is often persistent and disabling leading to high socioeconomic costs. Cervical manipulation has demonstrated improvements in patients with NSSP, although risks associated with thrust techniques are documented. Thoracic manual therapy (TMT) may utilise similar neurophysiological effects with less risk. The current evidence for TMT in treating NSSP is limited to systematic reviews of manual therapy (MT) applied to the upper quadrant. These reviews included trials that used shoulder girdle manual therapy (SG-MT) in the TMT group. This limits the scope of their conclusions with regard to the exclusive effectiveness of TMT for NSSP. Read Methods and Results here.

For a deeper look into effectively treating a host of conditions, browse these upcoming manual therapy courses offered across the country.

**Abstract of the week shared by NAIOMT Instructor Stacy Soappman, PT, DSc, COMT, FAAOMPT.

 

Topics: Abstract of the Week, cervical spine, Cervical Spine, shoulder pain, thoracic manual therapy, thoracic spine, Thoracic Spine, upper quadrant

We invite you to join NAIOMT faculty member Terry Pratt tomorrow, Wednesday February 24, as  he addresses the Thoracic Spine Influence on the Shoulder at the Shoulder SIG and Southern Metro Business Meeting from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm at Northeastern University, 30 Leon St. Behrakis Health Sciences Center, Boston, MA 02115 (Driving Directions.)

Topics: APTa, APTAMA, NAIOMT, shoulder, thoracic spine, Thoracic Spine

Abstract: Thoracic manual therapy in the management of non-specific shoulder pain

Topics: abstract, Abstract of the Week, manual therapy, shoulder pain, thoracic spine, upper extremity

Meet NAIOMT instructor Ann Porter Hoke PT, DPT, OCS, FCAMPT, FAAOMPT. She teaches a wide range of continuing education manual therapy courses including Cervical Spine, Thoracic Spine and Lumbopelvic Spine.

Topics: Clinical Reasoning, clinical skills, Courses, manual therapy, Sacroiliac joint, thoracic spine

In this NAIOMT video, faculty member Bill Temes, PT, MS, OCS, COMT, FAAOMPT takes us through an exam for TMJ articular dysfunction.  Bill and fellow faculty member Steve Allen will be addressing this and many more practical manual therapy approaches this year in San Diego as part of our Accelerated Cohort Program.

After the success of the program in 2018, we are excited to offer the opportunity once again in 2019 to take your clinical reasoning and manual therapy skills to the next level and earn your CMPT certification in just one year.  Learn more about the benefits of the Accelerated CMPT program here.  To see what courses are coming up in your region in 2019, browse our schedule.

Topics: clinical skills, Faculty, Manual Therapy, NAIOMT, Physical Therapy, thoracic spine, TMJ Articular Dysfunction