Well, we don’t, but after a bit of research, we’ve found out that answer and have this handy Spokane Transit Authority map to help folks get to us at our South Hill office.  The #2 and #44 buses go right near us and the bus stop is about 300 ft east of us in front of Sacred Heart Hospital.

STA 2011System Map

At all times, we’re just a phone call away to help with any information that you need to find us.  Give us a call at 509.326.8878 and “Feel Better!”

Some clinics have their therapists see multiple clients in the same period; one on the exercise machines, one with hot packs and one getting manual therapy.  This is usually coordinated with the help of one or two physical therapy aides.  If a patient doesn’t show up, it’s less of a loss because they are others in the circuit.

While that style of care in other clinics may work quite well, we’re set up to provide personalized care with a personal approach.  When we miss one client, we have a more significant loss and we need to recoup that loss.  Unfortunately, it’s necessary.

The lovely snow that we’re having is an opportunity for me to soften that harsh blow.  Very plainly, we would rather have you cancel your visit, even with short notice, than to have you risk your safety on the slick or snowy roads.  We would be happy to waive any late cancellation fee if you think it imprudent to drive in these conditions.  We just ask that you give us a call with as much notice as possible.

Winters are rough, but together, with a bit of flexibility and patience, we’ll survive until the spring blossoms come.

In his newest book, The Roots and Philosophy of DMI, Frank highlights how DMI came about, the influences on him and his practice, and his vision for the application and evolution of DMI.  “A beautiful blending of art and science, DMI uses the body’s self-corrective mechanisms to restore balance, accelerate healing, decrease pain, and improve mental clarity.”

A few words of praise for Frank and his book:

“Frank Lowen performs miracles with his hands on even the most difficult patients and the illnesses they present with. Effortlessly bridging the gap between science, anatomy, and healing, Lowen has the gift of communicating what he perceives with his hands, his outer and inner vision, and his unique intelligence. Lowen is one of the most gifted healers of our time. I am excited that finally this sensitive, beautiful, and important work is now in writing and accessible to all of us.”
—Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, PhD, founder of the American Academy of Neural Therapy

“Frank Lowen has once again shown himself to be a master pearl diver. He dives into the ocean of information and consciousness, and subtly brings up the most exquisite pearls.”
—Judy Osborne, PT, LMT, LAc

You’ll find the book available for purchase on Amazon HERE.

How does your chronic pain affect your daily life?  Does it make you grumpy towards your family and friends?  Do your co-workers know full well when you’re having a flare-up?  Does the idea of going out and playing in the beautiful fall colors fill you with dread?

The most powerful tool in any person’s care plan is the desire within you to rid yourself of ailments and strive to live a fuller, pain-free life.  You hold the key to your own fitness.

Now, how do you get there?  It’s usually a combination of factors; diet, exercises, visiting your physician and, of course, physical therapy.  At ATP and Medical Lake PT, our therapists give you their full attention for the duration of your visit.  No undertrained PT Assistants, no under-paid/trained aides that just put hot packs on you.  You get nothing but the full attention of a highly trained therapist that has dedicated to removing or reducing your pain through alternative yet proven therapies.

Rolfing, Somatics, Dynamic Manual Interface, Visceral Manipulation, Pelvic Floor work, Craniosacral Techniques, Trigger-Point….more than I can mention.

Our great folks can only do so much until you great folks decide to take charge of your health.  If you think that physical therapy may fit in with your health and wellness goals, give a us a call or drop us an email to find out how we can help.

“Feel Better!”

Available Appointments

Osteoporosis, Falls and Broken Bones

Falls Prevention Awareness Day is a great time to learn about the link between fall-related injuries and osteoporosis.   The good news is it is never too late to identify and treat osteoporosis or to prevent falls to avoid broken bones.   Speak to your healthcare provider about how to reduce your risks for osteoporosis and falls, about getting a bone density test, and about medications, if necessary, to treat osteoporosis.

How are falls and osteoporosis linked?

• 1 in 10 falls in older adults end in serious injury such as a broken bone. If we can prevent falls, we can prevent broken bones of the hip, spine and wrist.
• Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for both falls and broken bones. Daily vitamin D intakes of 800-1000 IU (international units) and 1200 mg (milligrams) of calcium are associated with reduced falls and broken bones in older adults.
• Regular physical activity and exercises that combine weight, muscle strengthening and balance helps reduce the risk of falls and actually improves the health of your bones

Take action to prevent osteoporosis and falls

-Eat a balanced diet rich in calcium.

-Take vitamin D supplements.

-Get regular physical activity.

-Don’t smoke.

-Limit your alcohol.

-Check your home for safety.

-Talk with your doctor about a screening test.

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become thin, weak, and more likely to break. Although you can break a bone in any part of your body, the most common broken bones associated with osteoporosis are the spine, wrist, and hip.

You have the power and ability to minimize your risk of injury-by-falls and increase your health.  We can help!

“Feel Better!’

GH Termination Letter

We received this letter via courier just this afternoon.  We have made appropriate notifications to those directly affected and will be attempting to contact each and every ATP and ML client we have that is in the Group Health network.

Over the weekend, we will be mulling our options but in the meantime, we encourage you to notify your GH representative for clarification of your status and to voice your opinion.

More on Monday.

Enjoy your weekend, dear Friends.

More often than not, with a stronger knowledge of pain types and how our bodies send and receive pain, we can be empowered to manage or mitigate our pain more effectively.  The end goal is to live a rich and full life, no?  Imagine how much improvement there could be in your life with your persistent pain reduced by 50%.  How about 25%?  While the goal is a 100% reduction in pain, any lessening is an improvement.

The amusing video below explains, in clear and simple terms, how pain works and affects us.  Simply by understanding pain better, we can make positive choices in our own care.

Watch, learn and, go ahead, “Feel Better!”

Hello, dear Friends

Here is the latest word regarding Group Health’s decision to remove  A Turning Pointe PT and Medical Lake PT  from their provider network.  First, a recap:

Several weeks ago, we were notified that effective September 4th, Group Health (GH) will remove us and several other clinics from their network.  We appealed this decision based on the clear fact that A Turning Pointe is an alternative clinic that provides service not found elsewhere in the greater Spokane area and that Medical Lake PT is the only physical therapy clinic in all of Medical Lake.  The GH decision would strip their members of their only choice for alternative care in Spokane or any kind of care in Medical Lake.  At the August 17th meeting that we had with the director of GH Provider Relations, our arguments were heard and, we think, well received.  At that point, we were told that a final decision would be forthcoming in approximately two weeks.

On August 30, we were notified that the final decision has yet to be made and that it may be another twenty days until it is made.

So, what does all this mean?

It means that as of Sunday, September 4th, until further notice, if your current authorization ends on or before September 4th, your visits past that date will not be covered.  If your authorization ends after Sep 4th, those authorizations WILL be covered.  This information came directly from Maureen Brooks, the regional Provider Relations manager.  Their decision stands until they rescind it, IF they rescind it.

We cannot guarantee that GH will make their decision in a timely matter or if it will be in our favor.  Some GH members have out-of-network benefits with their plan but that also may come with a higher out-of-pocket-expense.  We recommend that each of you consult your plan administrator or GH Customer Service to determine this.  We are happy to offer a reduced, out-of-pocket rate of $100 to or GH patient.  While we would regret the possible loss of providing service to our GH clients, we would understand if the out-of-pocket expense were prohibitive. The budget vs. health battle is a very real one and hard decisions must be made with your finances.

As soon as we get the final word from Group Health, we will be contacting all of our active patients to let them know the news.  Whether it is in our favor or not, you’ll need the information so that you can plan accordingly.  You may feel free to contact us at any time to ask us for an update on this matter.

If you wish to contact Group Health at their Spokane office to make direct inquiries, their number is 509.838.9100 or 1.800.497.221.

Give us a call and “Feel Better!”

Nola

Visceral Manipulation for Low Back Pain

Published in Massage Message Journal, January/February 2009

By Dee Ahern, P.T. and Judy Russell, B.A., B.SC,

As we watch a graceful ballerina or enthusiastically cheer on our favorite tennis or football players, is it only the agility and ease of movement of the musculoskeletal system that we observe?

Or is it that which lies within the cylinder that forms the torso that often is responsible for creating the flow of movement patterns visible to the naked eye?

Have you worked with clients precisely applying manual therapy techniques that relate to the fascial system, the neuromuscular system, or the craniosacral system, yet your clients are not experiencing long lasting relief from low back pain and dysfunctional movement patterns?

A primary focus of orthopaedic and musculoskeletal education for massage therapists when addressing low back pain has been the study of how the structures that lie behind the spine influence the spine’s mobility and function. The curriculum presented in the Visceral Manipulation Program offers a method for assessing and treating the influence of those structures that lie in front of the spine. Those influential structures can include organs and their fascial attachments, peritoneum, the greater omentum or blood vessels. Visceral Manipulation is commonly called “organ specific fascial mobilization”. It addresses dysfunction within the contents of the cylindrical torso.

Visceral Manipulation was developed by Jean-Pierre Barral, a Registered Physical Therapist and Osteopath. He holds many positions including Director (and Faculty) of the Department of Osteopathic Manipulation at the University of Paris, School of Medicine, in Paris, France and Chairman of Department of Visceral Manipulation on the Faculty of Medicine Paris du Nord. He developed this form of manual therapy based on his theory that each internal organ rotates on a physiological axis. Each internal organ also has a relationship through fascial attachments to the spine. Today, his Visceral Manipulation courses are taught around the world by certified teachers who successfully complete a rigorous training program with the Barral Institute.

Consider the following orthopaedic dictum: any structure that crosses a joint has the ability to restrict that joint. It is certainly true for muscles. This also holds true for organs. Barral’s in-depth study of patterns of stress in tissues of cadavers at the Lung Disease Hospital in Grenoble, France complemented his interest in biomechanics in living subjects. He recognized the potential for the organ system to create lines of tension within the body. This observation was fundamental to his development of Visceral Manipulation. His interest was also piqued when a client confirmed he felt relief from back pain after going to an “old man who pushed something in his abdomen.” Since that time he has worked with researchers in France and North America to create evidence-based data, documenting changes in the viscera with the use of x-ray fluoroscopy, endoscopy, Doppler and ultrasound before and after manipulation of the organ.

How do organs become restricted? They can become restricted by a direct trauma (fall on a soccer ball), acute/chronic illness (pneumonia), absorbing the force of a motor vehicle accident (seat belt trauma), or scar tissue formed after surgery. We take approximately 24,000 breaths a day. Our heart beats 120,000 times per day. Any lack of mobility in these structures could promote chronic spinal restrictions – e.g. the attachment of the pericardium to the lower cervical and upper thoracic spine via the thoraco-pericardic ligament.

The mesenteric root of the small intestine can limit the mobility of the spine as it crosses the third and fourth lumbar vertebra. A mechanical restriction at the first lumbar vertebra may be influenced through constant irritation of an old appendectomy scar stimulating the autonomic nervous system. The cecum/appendix and L1 share this viscero-somatic interchange. Decreased flexibility of the fascial connection between the bladder and the head of the femur can limit the mobility of both structures. Chronic dysfunction of the right and left sacro-iliac joint can result from decreased mobility of the cecum and sigmoid respectively. A ptosed kidney on the anterior surface of the psoas muscle can compress one of five nerves (e.g. ilio-inguinal) in the vicinity. In fact, Jean-Pierre Barral has found through his clinical treatments and research that up to 90% of musculoskeletal problems have a visceral component.

The key in Visceral Manipulation is to find the most significant area of reduced mobility. A restriction will pull the surrounding tissue towards it. Another Orthopaedic dictum is that „the body hugs the lesion (restriction).? With training, your hands will feel the pull of tissue to the area that is causing the greatest mechanical tension in the body – this is an evaluation technique known as „Listening?. You will also learn to evaluate visceral mobility – the ability of an organ to move freely in three dimensions in its anatomical environment. In addition, you will be able to feel visceral motility – the organ’s inherent tissue motion. Like joints, organs must move to stay healthy. They have sliding surfaces that articulate with each other, with muscles, with ribs and with the spine. You will be able to ascertain what is normal or abnormal. This is not unlike what we learn about joints. The efficacy of treatment depends on the accuracy of your assessment and the specificity of the application of gentle manual forces in three dimensions to promote the health of the organ and relief of restriction in the body. There can be an immediate response to treatment or a response that becomes apparent over several weeks time as the body unravels a long standing restriction.

Gail Wetzler, P.T. of Orange County, California performed a clinical study that examined the neuroreflexive and structural relationship between the internal organs, their attachments and the musculoskeletal low back when in a state of dysfunction. The conclusion of the study showed that low back spinal dysfunction may be more effectively and efficiently resolved with the addition of Visceral Manipulation into the treatment program.

We cannot imagine our practices without these tools. It is exciting, rewarding and challenging. Visceral Manipulation tests your knowledge of anatomy and inspires you to learn more. We invite you to be curious and learn to look inside the body for possible organ specific fascial restrictions that may be causing low back pain, as well as other dysfunctions in the body. For more information about the Visceral Manipulation, the Barral Institute and the availability of courses in your area, we encourage you to visit www.barralinstitute.com.

I have scratched an item from my bucket list.  After finding reasons over the years to NOT try it, I have finally run out of excuses and have auditioned for a community theater production; Lake City Playhouse‘s upcoming presentation of Fiddler on the Roof.  For many years this has been my favorite production, with many reasons why.  It touches on a whole host of themes that relate to family, faith, friendship and the ability to live life regardless of the oppressive circumstances.  Plus, the music, songs and dances are simply fantastic!

With Steve Kane as Tevye and Renei Yarrow as Golda leading their family and fellow villagers through their struggles, you are certain feel the richness of this wonderful story.  Under the creative direction of Abbey Crawford, accompanied by the beautiful music created by Carolyn Jess and with the invigorating choreography of Ali Waud, this production is sure to please all comers.

I invite you and your family to support local businesses, community theater, and of course, me.  For tickets of any information, please call Lake City Playhouse at 208.667.1323.

L’chaim!

Dan