Over 45 Years of PT Education

At the request of Richard Erhard, then president of the International Federation of Orthopedic Manual Therapists, known as IFOMT. Peter Edgelow sponsors a local course to bring manual therapy into the community and raise the level of  orthopedic physical therapy practice as he experienced in Australia.

Kaiser accepts the proposal. Using Peter Edgelow’s master thesis for guidance, Eileen Vollowitz submits a proposal for a post professional manual therapy program. The Community Benefits Division of Kaiser Foundation Health (KFH) funds the program in 1979 for one year. Barbara Stevens and Linda Van Hoesen, like Peter Edgelow, had completed manual therapy training in Adelaide, Australia. They, along with Norwegian-trained Eileen Vollowitz, develops the initial program curriculum.

The first program faculty are eclectic in their approach to teaching Manual Therapy. As described by Barbara Stevens:  “In the beginning, there were no teaching strategies to learn from in the USA. Thus, the faculty employed the teaching strategies they had been exposed to in the countries they were trained in. This faculty decided to work together, learn from each other despite differing clinical philosophies. The faculty was incredibly dedicated to patient care and had the passion to teach!” Peter Edgelow, Barbara Stevens and Linda Van Hoesen, along with Jim and Jennifer Lynn teach the Australian Approach based on Geoff Maitland’s principles. Bob Simpson teaches the approach from James Cyraix of Great Britain. Eileen Vollowitz and Dennis Morgan teaches the Norwegian Approach, from Freddy Kaltenborn and Olaf Evjenth. And to round things out, the McKenzie Approach and principles of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation PNF are also taught.

Feedback from alumni strongly suggests that clinical reasoning, the foundation of Australian Approach, makes the greatest impact on their ability to manage patients. As described by Barbara Stevens: “Even in the beginning of the program when McKenzie’s influence as well as Norwegian philosophies were taught; the faculty realized that teaching multiple approaches was not working due to the lack of a concrete manner of thinking and teaching.” Joe Farrell and Margaret Anderson joins the faculty. Joe Farrell earned his master’s degree in manipulative therapy in Australia and Margaret Anderson studied with Maitland in Australia. The Australian Approach is adopted as the primary teaching philosophy with integration of other OMPT approaches, therapeutic exercise and self-management concepts.

Carol Jo Tichenor (“CJ”) becomes the third Program Director. She directs the program from 1989-2014. During this time she steers the program through major funding issues and changes in the physical therapy job market. Factors such as the expanding amount of evidence-informed practice and information on the internet and social media influences clinical practice during these years, and continues to influence clinical practice.

The American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Therapists (AAOMPT) is established. The Founding Fellows of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists or AAOMPT comes together to pursue a common goal to foster the educational growth of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy in the United States. The 8 Founding Fellows are: Joe Farrell, Dick Erhard, Kornelia Kulig, Ola Grimsby, Michael Moore, Stanley Paris, Mike Rogers and Bjorn Svendsen.

Consultants from the Orthopaedic Section, Education Section, APTA, and AAOMPT creates the Manipulation Education Manual (MEM).  The group of consultants includes Joe Farrell, Bill Boissonnault and Steve McDavitt.  Educators, clinicians, and legislation experts formulate a national plan to combat chiropractic attacks and the MEM is used as guidelines for content in manipulation education in PT programs across the USA. Recent graduates of PT programs are often exposed to high velocity, low amplitude thrust techniques, alongside goniometry, manual muscle testing, exercise prescription and standard PT clinical practice.  But in 1996, HVLAT manipulation is not taught or accepted universally.  Consultants from the APTA Orthopedic section, APTA Education section and AAOMPT create the Manipulation Education Manual, which is a stepping stone to help integrate manipulation education into graduate and undergraduate programs.  A national plan was formulated to protect our organization or profession from outside entities.

Cindy Walton becomes the Assistant Program Director and Co-Coordinator of the Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship Program.