Are there any physcial therapy programs or methods that incorporate Somatic therapies?

[Bodywright]

Hello all, this is my first post on these forums.

I have been a massage therapist for the past 13 years. Over that time I have carved out my own method involving a strong medical/anatomical component crossed with a somatic element focused on their learned relationship to their body. I am starting the process now of taking all of my prerequisites for a DPT program and am researching somatic possibilities within the field.

Are there established modalities that focus on assisting in traumatic (both emotional and physical) recovery? Are there programs that specialize in it? Or is physical therapy more unilaterally physical (yes, I get that its called Physical therapy).

Thanks for any help you can provide.

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[noyceguy]

Hello all, this is my first post on these forums.

I have been a massage therapist for the past 13 years. Over that time I have carved out my own method involving a strong medical/anatomical component crossed with a somatic element focused on their learned relationship to their body. I am starting the process now of taking all of my prerequisites for a DPT program and am researching somatic possibilities within the field.

Are there established modalities that focus on assisting in traumatic (both emotional and physical) recovery? Are there programs that specialize in it? Or is physical therapy more unilaterally physical (yes, I get that its called Physical therapy).

Thanks for any help you can provide.

What are you talking about? Are you asking if physical therapy is only physical? Yes.

 

[DesertPT]

If you're talking about studying psychology along with rehab I believe OT school has a bit more of that.

 

[aroszko]

Are there programs that specialize in it? Or is physical therapy more unilaterally physical (yes, I get that its called Physical therapy).

Heres the deal with DPT programs, they're all accredited by CAPTE and there is A LOT of curriculum to squeeze in to the 2 1/2-3 year program. No programs specialize in specifics as they have to cover all the things CAPTE tells them in order to stay accredited, some schools emphasize some areas more than others but the DPT is a generalized degree, you can specialize afterwards (or during) with certifications etc.. If you're looking for a certain learning style or classroom style then it will depend on the program and also will probably depend on the professor teaching. I'm currently a first year student and all or our professors teach different (some more interactive than others) but you'll get that anywhere. I'm not really sure if I answered your question but it looks like you need to do some research in to different programs to get the answers you're looking for.

 

[The_Trainer]

Hey Bodywrite, welcome to the forums. I have worked with LMT before, and I believe I understand what your asking.

There are many psychosomatic principles and therapies, many of them i've seen with effective results. In particular I've seen clinicians who specialize in the Alexander technique and Tom Myer's Anatomy trains (myofacial meridians).

I'd consider these more advanced techniques that PT schools do not go into. All PT schools curriculum are pretty much standard to meet the requirements of CAPTE. This means that all information taught in schools follows the evidence-based model, and are interventions that are generally well-researched and shown to have an effect. These psycho-somatic techniques are a little more subjective so research would be different.

If that was at all what you meant, I hoped it helped. My recommendation would be to look into schools that are more manual-based as these techniques usually are used in conjunction with manual medicine.

 

[okramango]

I was also a licensed MT before going to PT school, and used somatic methods like Feldenkrais and Hanna Somatics, in addition to Rolfing, muscle energy techniques, myofascial triggerpoint release, etc. For the most part, PT school does not teach these (with a few exceptions like some muscle energy techniques), and you'll only hear about them in the context that there is a lack of evidence supporting them.

That said, I have found the neuroscience component of PT school to be really fascinating in helping me come to a deeper understanding of what these techniques do, and how they produced the results that I witnessed in my clients. Instead of promoting techniques or modalities that people "believe in," PT school trains you to critically assess research and make informed decisions about the treatments that you will do with your patients and know exactly why you are doing what you are doing. Before PT school, I shadowed a PT certified in Feldenkrais Method who worked with neuro patients, and it was fascinating to see her incorporate the techniques to help patients gain more proprioceptive awareness of their bodies in order to move better, when this was appropriate for the patient, but she also used a lot of other types of interventions, depending on what the patient needed.

You might be interested in Lorimer Moseley and David Butler's recent research on the science of pain, which is showing how pain is not necessarily associated with degree of physical injury, but rather is regulated by the brain and is related with past experiences and associations. They are Australian PTs (and really entertaining guys, too). Check out their book "Explain Pain" and their youtube videos.

Hope this helps answer your question!