Manual Therapy Forum

Manual therapy has a long learning curve, so that’s frustrating for some, but I think it’s well worth it because it’s very rewarding to see people that have great need make great changes with your help.  That can be a real wonderful thing.

– Kent Keyser

Work real hard to be humble and don’t let pride get in the way.  It’s all about the patient, it’s not about you.

– Kent Keyser

Today, we have a special treat for all of our listeners.  This isn’t any ordinary post (hopefully, you feel that about all of our posts) because we get to speak with three people all at once!  Our conversation today is with Tim Crunk PT, DPT, MS, OCS, CFMT, FAAOMPT… Kent Keyser PT, MS, OCS, COMT, ATC, LAT, FFCFMT, FAAOMPT… and Seth Blee PT, DPT, CFMT.  The main reason for having the luxury of speaking to three great gentlemen all at once was that we were all driving together from Denver airport to Steamboat Springs, CO for the CFMT examination week earlier this summer.  If you gain a lot from a conversation we’ve had with one manual therapist… then you’ll definitely want to listen today with three times the experience!

I learn every day.  There’s not a day I go to work where I’m not learning something from a patient that I’m seeing.  As we look at each individual, we know that people function individually and in unique ways.  So, one thing that keeps me constantly passionate and engaged is… I love learning and learn every day.

– Tim Crunk

I can’t think of too many professions [physical therapy], as I look around, where there is just so much to learn every day.

– Tim Crunk

It’s easy to be average, it’s easy to be mediocre.  If you really want to be the best therapist, whether it’s owning your clinic, or working with some elite population, or developing courses, or whatever you want to do.  That takes an awful lot of time, and energy, and passion.  I hope people will be able to see that [we], hopefully have, and some of that can rub off on to some others that we’ll hopefully influence.

– Seth Blee

The best therapists are those that have the most humility, that can learn from their patients, and from… students that come in with them.  Be willing to learn and be patient.

– Seth Blee

Listen in here:

https://manualtherapyforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/tim-crunk-kent-keyser-seth-blee.mp3

Or tune in down here:

Links of interest mentioned during our conversation:

Crunk Physical Therapy

Comprehensive Physical Therapy

Innova Physical Therapy Center

CrunKeyser:  Comprehensive Manual Therapy Seminars

Institute of Physical Art

North American Institute of Orthopaedic Manual Therapy

It’s building a relationship like anything else.  You don’t really educate people intellectually, you have to really emotionally move them.

– Jim Rivard

I just want people to find their passion.

– Jim Rivard

Jim Rivard is a clinician, practice owner, and leader within the OMPT (Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy) community at both the post-graduate training level and professional organization level.  During this conversation, we get to catch up on happenings within the AAOMPT at the time (Jim is no longer the sitting president of AAOMPT as newly elected president Elaine Lonnemann has now taken over her role).  Also, Jim gives us his perspective on a number of topics ranging from how he sees our profession evolving over time, developing better relationships with physicians/surgeons, to where he thinks patients need the most help.  So, I hope you enjoy this conversation.  I sure did!

The APTA is trying to brand us as the movement experts.  So, with that, we should really understand movement.  How to influence it and how to train.  They’re not trying to brand us as the delegation experts.  We shouldn’t be handing this off to untrained staff to be doing one of our primary interventions.  If we can’t do better than the internet or a health club, we’re done anyway.  [However] Our profession has a really high skill level.

– Jim Rivard

What I take value in right now is just seeing the people I’ve taught turn around and teach someone else.  When they appreciate the value of their instructors the way I’ve appreaciated mine.  I’d love to be in that family tree.  I’ve gotten such an appreciation for the people that have gotten me here, and even a better appreciation for my instructors in PT school than I had when I left.  So, I’d just love to be a part of that family, rather than maybe standing out as an individual.

– Jim Rivard

Listen in here:

https://manualtherapyforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/jim-rivard-pt-dpt-dmt-momt-ocs-c-step-faaompt.mp3

Or tune in down here:

Links of interest mentioned during this conversation:

American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists

Ola Grimsby Institute

Scientific Therapeutic Exercise Progressions:  Volume One

Scientific Therapeutic Exercise Progressions:  Volume Two

Scientific Therapeutic Exercise Progressions:  Volume Three

MTI Physical Therapy

Find your passion… if you have passion and you work doing something that you enjoy, you’ll never work a day in your life.

– Bob Rowe

You know, each of us tries as hard as we can, and we do the best we can.  In that sense, you’re not better or worse than anybody, you’re just as good as you can be.     

– Bob’s dad (and his advice to a young Bob)

For this interview, we catch up with Bob Rowe.  Bob is highly active in many realms of physical therapy and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the APTA and Executive Director for the Brooks Rehabilitation Institute of Higher Learning.  While Bob is fanatical (in a good way) about advocacy for his profession, he speaks as someone with a firm grounding in what is important in his life (see the link below for a poem with great meaning to him – The Dash).  If you have the incredible fortune of meeting Bob or speaking with him, he greets you like an old friend and dives into conversation with you as if it were a first date.  Indications of a man that genuinely cares about others.  Bob gives a lot of insight into teaching, work-life balance, following opportunities, and clinical pearls for all to benefit from.   So, I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

As a physical therapist, regardless of what role I’ve ever been in… I try, to say “How does this make things better for patients?”

– Bob Rowe

We’re here on this earth for a relatively short period of time.  We should make the best of it, to try and make things better for everybody else we can.

– Bob Rowe

Listen in here:

https://manualtherapyforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/robert-h-rowe-pt-dpt-dmt-mhs-faaompt.mp3

Or tune in down here:

Links of interest mentioned during our conversation:

American Physical Therapy Association

American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists

Brooks Rehabilitation – Institute of Higher Learning

Brooks Rehabilitation Q&A with Bob Rowe

Ola Grimsby Institute

The Dash – Linda Ellis

The latest in our interview series is with Bill Boissonnault.  You’ve probably heard of his name at some point in your careers if you are in the United States.  He’s edited or co-edited two fantastic textbooks (the links of which are down below).  Also, he has served in many, many roles within the professional organizations of physical therapy.  While this conversation is much shorter than our usual, it is not lacking in quality!  So, I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!

From the World Confederation for Physical Therapy:  William Boissonnault, PT, DPT, DHSc, is Executive Vice President of Professional Affairs, APTA and professor-emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Boissonnault holds multiple adjunct physical therapy faculty positions, and has presented nationally and internationally on topics related to differential diagnosis and medical screening. He is editor of the textbook- Primary Care for the Physical Therapist; Examination and Triage, and past co-editor of Pathology: Implications for the Physical Therapist. He has multiple journal publications related to differential diagnosis, physical therapist education and patient direct access. His clinical expertise lies in the area of patients with musculoskeletal spinal conditions, and he co-founded on orthopedic physical therapist clinical residency program, serving as curriculum director for 16 years.

Dr. Boissonnault has served as president of the Orthopaedic Section, APTA, and the Foundation for Physical Therapy, Inc. He has received the APTA’s Baethke-Carlin Award for Excellence in Academic Teaching and Lucy Blair Service Award, and the Distinguished Educator Award of the Education Section, APTA. He has also been named a Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the APTA, and Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists.

Listen in here:

https://manualtherapyforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/bill-boissonnault-pt-dpt-dhsc-faaompt-fapta1.mp3

Or tune in down here:

Links of interest mentioned during this conversation:

American Physical Therapy Association

Pathology:  Implications for the Physical Therapist

Primary Care for the Physical Therapist:  Examination and Triage

I really never lost my curiosity.

I always kept my curiosity.

– Gail Wetzler

The passion comes through you… comes through your hands

– Gail Wetzler

This conversation with Gail was quite a treat.  If you don’t know Gail or who she is… then why not?  She is an incredibly talented woman in more ways that could probably be mentioned.  If you are a ‘traditional’ orthopedic manual therapist that works mainly on bones, joints, and soft tissues, then you would benefit from listening to Gail.  If you are a ‘non-traditional’ manual therapist and practice on other systems of the human body, then you would benefit from listening to Gail.  I think you get my point (we could all benefit from listening to Gail).  Gail exudes a knowledge and understanding of the human body that few are able to articulate.  It’s probably no wonder that she was asked to be the Curriculum Director for the Barral Institute and has just recently published (along with her co-authors) a peer-reviewed article titled “CranioSacral Therapy and Visceral Manipulation:  A New Treatment Intervention for Concussion Recovery”.  I highly recommend you read it (hint:  see a link below).  Anyway, I think you get my point (yet again).  Listen up and enjoy this conversation with a truely gifted, talented, caring, and hard-working woman!

We listen with our hands, we listen with our hearts, we listen with our ears as to how can we help the totality of this person.

– Gail Wetzler

Listen here:

https://manualtherapyforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/gail-wetzler-pt-dpt-edo-bi-d.mp3

Or tune in down here:

Links of interest mentioned during our conversation:

“CranioSacral Therapy and Visceral Manipulation:  A New Treatment Intervention for Concussion Recovery”

Barral Institute

Upledger Institute

The Institute of Physical Art

Gregg Johnson PT, FFFMT, FAAOMPT

Michigan State University – College of Osteopathic Medicine

You’ve got to be humble.

– Joe Farrell

If there is one word that could describe Joe Farrell, it might just be that… humble.  I’ve met Joe in passing and heard him speak at a conference in the past.  You get this sense that he is a really genuine guy.  In my conversation with him here, you also get to hear how passionate he is about many different things within his profession.  That passion is demonstrated on multiple fronts of:  owning a private practice, educating/mentoring at a post-graduate fellowship level, and serving within a professional organization like the AAOMPT.  As a founding member of the AAOMPT, Joe has incredibly unique insight into the development and progress of manual therapy (as related to physical therapists) within the United States.  So, tune in and hear about more history, experience, opinion, and (yes I’ll say it again) wisdom from Joe Farrell.

I would challenge yourself to be a great clinician.  Strive for clinical excellence.  Never stop reading, never stop self-reflecting, never stop treating patients.

– Joe Farrell

Spine pain is like an allergy, I think… it’s never “cured”.  It’s very rare [to be cured].  You have to manage spine pain.

– Joe Farrell

Listen here:

https://manualtherapyforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/joe-farrell-pt-m-app-sc-dpt-ffaaompt-fapta.mp3

Links of interest mentioned in this episode:

Kaiser Permanente – Northern California Graduate Physical Therapy Education

American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists

Curtin University (Perth, Australia)

Joe’s Twitter handle:  @cprjoe

Joe’s email address:  [email protected]

I can do a PNF LE pattern and see if I’m getting translation up into the cervical area.  I can resist their lower extremities in a hooklying position and see if I get short cervical neck flexion kicking in.  If I don’t, I know that some place along the kinetic chain, there is a dysfunction.  I can do pelvic or scapular patterns, and see where I’m not getting efficiency of movement, or efficiency of a spreading motor response.  Which is very nice.  Then, I go back in and check my PIVMs, do my stress tests and see what’s going on.  Now, the beauty of PNF is, that there’s quite a few people who may not do well with manipulation.  These are the people who have already been to other therapists, chiropractors, osteopaths.  They’ve already been manipulated and they say ‘great, it feels good for two to three days and then it comes back again.  Is there anything you can do to help?’  And the answer is yes, there is, because if you can get even a little bit of a response then I know I can help you.

– Mike Baum

Sit down, listen up, and hold on for this interview.  Getting to hear Mike Baum is always a joy.  When you consider what makes someone a master… at anything… you usually want to pay attention to what they are doing.  Mike is one of those such people, as I would consider him a master at proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF).  In my conversation with Mike, he demonstrates consistently how well he is able to integrate this treatment approach in his practice… with any patient who walks in the door.  It doesn’t matter if they are a patient that has had a stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI); a patient with chronic lower back pain or recent shoulder surgery; or a high performance athlete trying to return to the field or enhance their performance somehow.  Mike is certainly a jack of all trades, but unlike the old saying… he is definitely NOT a master of none!  Listen in below in our various formats and let me know what you think

How hard do you have to push on a pillow to know it’s soft?  How hard do you have to push on a brick to know it’s hard?

– Mike Baum

Listen in here:

Or tune in down here:

Links of interest mentioned during this conversation:

Email address – [email protected]

Kaiser Vallejo PNF Program

https://manualtherapyforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/ray-klepper-2_edit.mp3

**Update – this is the second portion of the interview with Ray. Again, had to split up the posts to make sure it would load properly onto iTunes and Sticher. Thanks for your understanding!**

Today’s interview is a change of pace from our usual foremat that many of you have come to enjoy.  It is specific to one topic that isn’t really about manual therapy.  However, it is a topic that is being discussed more and more among the health field… and that is, nutrition and the role it plays in our health.

Ray Klepper PT, DPT is a co-worker, colleague, and friend of mine who has delved pretty far down this rabbit hole as it relates to the typical recommended diet by those in authority over the past fifty years… and how (not so new) alternatives are proven to be much safer and healthier.  However, recent research is showing more and more that previously recommended diets are not solving our health problems as a country, but more likely contributing to them.

During this interview, Ray and I discuss some of the physiology behind blood metrics like cholesterols, triglycerides, blood glucose and insulin; as well as chronic diseases such as diabetes, metabolic disorders, etc. that can all be changed (for the better) through an appropriate diet/lifestyle.  Our conversation centers mainly around the low carbohydrate-high fat realm.  For those of you somewhat familiar with this topic, you may have heard of “keto” or “ketogenic diet”.  This is just a more strict form of low carb-high fat.

If you are at all interested in health/wellness and newer research that has been coming out recently (i.e. fat isn’t bad, cholesterol is not the devil we though it was, saturated fats are not harmful, etc.), then you won’t want to miss this interview.  Or, if you disagree with us, please voice your opinions on the comment section of this blog because I would thoroughly enjoy learning your opinions!

If you enjoy this interview, other interviews, or any of the content on this blog… please share with friends or colleagues on any of our social media or ask them to sign up for updates on new content by putting their email address in at the “sign up” area at the bottom of the website.  Oh, and this is split up into two files because of an editing snafu (my apologies).  Happy listening!

Cheers,

Matt

https://manualtherapyforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/interview-with-brett-windsor.mp3

We visit with Brett Windsor in this interview.  Brett currently serves as Director of Clinical Excellence for ATI Physical Therapy, as well as the CEO of the North American Institute of Orthopaedic Manual Therapy (NAIOMT).  He is originally from Australia, but eventually found his way to the US after doing some other travels abroad.

You will certainly want to listen in on this interview as Brett gives a lot of good insight into current state of affairs with manual physical therapy education, whether it be at the entry-level or beyond.

We also have a new feature for our posts and interviews… and that is, we are now on iTunes and Stitcher as a podcast!  Please check out each of these as another way to get access to great content of the past and what is coming up in the future!

Links mentioned from show:

http://www.atipt.com

http://www.naiomt.com

Hope you enjoy all that we have to offer.  As always, any comments/suggestions/questions are welcome and encouraged below!

https://manualtherapyforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/ray-klepper-1_edit.mp3

**Update – I had to split this post into two separate posts to make sure both parts of the interview were loaded onto iTunes and Stitcher properly, so forgive me because there is nothing new**

Today’s interview is a change of pace from our usual foremat that many of you have come to enjoy.  It is specific to one topic that isn’t really about manual therapy.  However, it is a topic that is being discussed more and more among the health field… and that is, nutrition and the role it plays in our health.

Ray Klepper PT, DPT is a co-worker, colleague, and friend of mine who has delved pretty far down this rabbit hole as it relates to the typical recommended diet by those in authority over the past fifty years… and how (not so new) alternatives are proven to be much safer and healthier.  However, recent research is showing more and more that previously recommended diets are not solving our health problems as a country, but more likely contributing to them.

During this interview, Ray and I discuss some of the physiology behind blood metrics like cholesterols, triglycerides, blood glucose and insulin; as well as chronic diseases such as diabetes, metabolic disorders, etc. that can all be changed (for the better) through an appropriate diet/lifestyle.  Our conversation centers mainly around the low carbohydrate-high fat realm.  For those of you somewhat familiar with this topic, you may have heard of “keto” or “ketogenic diet”.  This is just a more strict form of low carb-high fat.

If you are at all interested in health/wellness and newer research that has been coming out recently (i.e. fat isn’t bad, cholesterol is not the devil we though it was, saturated fats are not harmful, etc.), then you won’t want to miss this interview.  Or, if you disagree with us, please voice your opinions on the comment section of this blog because I would thoroughly enjoy learning your opinions!

If you enjoy this interview, other interviews, or any of the content on this blog… please share with friends or colleagues on any of our social media or ask them to sign up for updates on new content by putting their email address in at the “sign up” area at the bottom of the website.  Oh, and this is split up into two files because of an editing snafu (my apologies).  Happy listening!

Cheers,

Matt