2009 Speakers
RON ALEXANDER RMT FFT
Principal Remedial Massage Therapist (Musculoskeletal), Australian Ballet, Melbourne, Australia
Session: Panel – Tool Assisted Manual Therapies
Title of Presentation: Functional Fascia Taping
FFT was founded and refined by Ron Alexander during eight years continuous service as the Principal Remedial Musculoskeletal Therapist for the Australian Ballet Company. Currently co-investigator of a randomized clinical trial of FFT for low back pain (PhD), conducted at Deakin University Melbourne. Ron has presented FFT to the Football Association (UK), the World Congress on Lower Back and Pelvic Pain, Barcelona and the Inaugural Fascia Research Congress, Harvard.
AL BANES PhD
Al Banes Ph.D., Professor, Departments of Orthopedics and Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
Session: Molecular Biology and Cytology of Fascia
Title of Presentation: Fascia and Biologic Adhesions
Al Banes PhD is Professor in the Departments of Orthopedics and Biomedical Engineering, UNC School of Medicine. His research interests are in cytomechanics, gap junction biochemistry, cell-cell signaling and growth factors. He has many patents on methods for cell cultures and is president of Flexcell International Corporation.
GEOFFREY BOVE DC, PhD
Senior Research Scientist, Department of Research Administration, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME
Session: Panel – Clinical Demonstration Session
Title of Presentation: High Velocity Manipulation
Session: Parallel / Special Topics
Title of Presentation: Important Concerns About the Peripheral Nervous System for the Manual Therapist
Scientific Committee Member / Scientific Review Committee Chair
Geoffrey Bove, DC, PhD, is a graduate of Hampshire College, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He is currently a Senior Research Scientist at the University of Southern Maine, in Portland. His research interests have focused on peripheral mechanisms of pain and autonomic balance, specifically due to inflammation and deep tissue innervation and physiology. He has published numerous manuscripts in such venues as Journal of Physiology, JAMA, Journal of Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, and JMPT. He has been awarded grants through the National Institutes of Health and other agencies, serves on various grant and manuscript review panels, and presents his research world wide.
LEON CHAITOW ND, DO
Honorary Fellow University of Westminster, London. Editor, Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies
Session: Panel – Clinical Demonstration Session (Session Chair)
Title of Presentation: Overview of Proposed Manual Therapy Mechanisms and Positional Release Techniques
Scientific Committee Member
Leon Chaitow ND, DO, graduated from the British College of Naturopathy & Osteopathy (now British College of Osteopathic medicine) in 1960. His postgraduate studies included acupuncture, cranial osteopathy and orthomolecular nutrition during the 1960s and 70s. He was the first naturopath/osteopath appointed as a consultant at a UK medical practice (Marylebone HC, London) 1993 – where he is still on staff. He was appointed senior lecturer and module leader, and part of course design team at what is now School of Integrated Health, University of Westminster in 1993. Since 1983 he has been (and remains) a visiting lecturer at numerous chiropractic, physiotherapy, osteopathic and naturopathic colleges, schools and organizations in Europe, USA, Canada and Australia. Most recently he has been involved with faculty at Bastyr University, National College of Naturopathic Medicine (Portland Oregon), University of Westminster and Southern Cross University, Australia, in developing a Textbook of Naturopathic Physical Medicine which he edited and part wrote – published May 2008 (Elsevier). He is author/editor of over 70 books, including textbooks covering manual methods of treatment, breathing rehabilitation and chronic pain conditions. He was founder and Editor-in-Chief of the peer-reviewed Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies (Elsevier). He retired from the University of Westminster in 2004, after 11 years as Senior Lecturer/module leader in Therapeutic Bodywork and Naturopathy and was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the University in November 2005, in recognition of services to Complementary and Osteopathic medicine. He remains active in private and NHS practice when in the UK (approximately half the year) and continues to teach internationally.
SHU-MEI CHEN PT, PhD
Lecturer, School of Physical Therapy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Session: Panel – Tool Assisted Manual Therapies
Title of Presentation: Functional Fascia Taping
Shu-Mei Chen PT, PhD is a senior lecturer at the School of Physical Therapy in Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan and has been lecturing on the evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. During the past 10 years, she has been both principal and associate investigator in a series of clinical studies, with a special interest in spinal research. She is also an experienced clinician. Currently she is a PhD candidate at the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. The main area of her PhD was Functional Fascial Taping (FFT), where she conducted a clinical trial of FFT for the treatment of non-specific low back pain, as well as investigating the potential mechanism of pain relief of FFT.
ZACHARY COMEAUX DO, FAAO
Professor, Division of Osteopathic Principles and Practice, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lewisburg, WV
Session: Panel – Tool Assisted Manual Therapies
Title of Presentation: Fulford Percussion/Vibration
Session: Panel – Clinical Demonstration Session
Title of Presentation: Manually induced oscillation/harmonic methods
Zachary Comeaux is an American trained osteopathic physician with a bias toward an inclusive scope in approaching both science and clinical practice. Influenced by the late Robert Fulford, Comeaux has chosen to try to bridge the gap between physiology and methods derived from the alternative and complementary medical approach to health. Facilitated Oscillatory Release (FOR) is a practical means of accommodating aspects of ’energy medicine‘ with scientifically plausible physiological models for explaining effects. He comes to the conference with the intent of finding scientific collaborators.
Presently, Dr. Comeaux teaches at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, integrating both family medicine and osteopathic manual techniques in the classroom and in half-time clinical practice. Writing is part of his professional and personal interest, recently publishing a conceptual and methods book on FOR, (Harmonic Healing) as well as Fire on the Prairie, the life and times of A.T. Still, founder of osteopathic medicine. Otherwise he enjoys, biking, hiking, gardening, fishing and working with wood.
PATRICK COUGHLIN PhD
Certified Rolfer®, Professor, Deptartment of Anatomy, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Session: Parallel / Special Topics
Title of Presentation: Important Concerns About the Peripheral Nervous System for the Manual Therapist
MICHEL COPPIETERS PhD, PT
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
Session: Panel – Clinical Demonstration Session
Title of Presentation: Neurodynamics: movement for a healthy nervous system
Michel Coppieters is a physiotherapist and clinical scientist with a special interest in minor nerve injuries and pain. His research consists of clinical studies as well as more basic science experiments. The aim of his research is to obtain a better understanding of the pathophysiology of nerve injuries, to develop novel treatment approaches for patients with neuropathic pain and to test the clinical efficacy of these programs. Michel has published widely on this topic and presents frequently at national and international conferences. He is a Senior lecturer and teaches in the undergraduate and postgraduate physiotherapy programs at The University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia.
JAN DOMMERHOLT PT, MPS, FAAPM
President/CEO, Bethesda Physiocare and Myopain Seminars, Bethesda, MD
Session: Panel – Tool Assisted Manual Therapies
Title of Presentation: Dry Needling
Jan Dommerholt is an accomplished and experienced physical therapist and recognized expert in the physical therapy diagnosis and treatment of persons with myofascial pain syndrome, chronic pain syndromes, and whiplash associated disorders. He has participated in several research projects at New York University and in his private practice.
THOMAS W FINDLEY MD, PhD
VA Medical Center and University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey (UMDNJ), Newark, NJ
Session: Measurement of Manual Therapy Effects
Title of Presentation: Clinical Measurement of Fascial Change
Session: Parallel / Special Topics
Title of Presentation: How to Write a Research Grant – Mock Peer Review
Executive Committee Member, Scientific Committee Member
Thomas Findley, MD, PhD completed his residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Minnesota in 1981 under the guidance of FJ Kottke, MD PhD, one of the founders of that field. While there he also completed his PhD in physical medicine, and received state of the art training in physical therapy, exercise physiology, psychology, and anthropology. At that time that the field of rehabilitation had only limited knowledge about the properties of fascia, and research was limited primarily to work on extensibility of tendon with application of heat. Dr. Findley has extensive training in complementary medicine, beginning with training in acupuncture and homeopathy while a medical student at Georgetown in 1975. He currently is a Certified Advanced Practitioner of Rolfing® and maintains an active clinical practice in Rolfing® Structural Integration in addition to his research activities at the East Orange VA Medical Center, which is a member of the Planetree Network of hospitals incorporating integrative medicine. He spent three years on the faculty of UMDNJ School of Osteopathic Medicine, was co-PI of the NIH sponsored center in Complementary and Alternative Medicine located at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, and was the executive director for the NIH sponsored First International Fascia Research Congress held in Boston in 2007. With Dr. Robert Schleip, he is the editor of Fascia Research, the product of that conference. His current research interests are in modeling of both tissue level changes and postural changes after deep fascial bodywork.
WILLEM J FOURIE Nat Dipl, PT
Private Practice, Roodepoort, RSA. Master of Science Student, (by dissertation), School of Anatomical Sciences, Medical School, University Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, RSA
Session: Fascia in Surgery and Recovery
Title of Presentation: Fasciae in Recovery from Cancer Surgery
Willem J Fourie Nat Dipl, PT has thirty years of clinical experience in the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions, including Sports Physiotherapy on Provincial and International level as well as Trauma Rehabilitation in the Mining Industry. At present he is in Private Practice and a Master of Science student in the School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
He started in 2002 as dissector in the School of Anatomical Sciences, paying special attention to the interrelationships of structures on the connective tissue level and how this relates to function. This understanding of interrelationships and function led to an improved movement model for evaluation and therapy, presented in courses internationally over the past 6 years. The emphasis of his academic work has shifted to finding solutions to, and understanding of Post Mastectomy Pain and Dysfunction Syndromes in partnership with the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Oncology and Palliative Care (ACPOPC) in the United Kingdom. Overlapping with this, he has recently started mapping the fascial relationships of the thigh, and how this influences knee function.
SUSAN GOULD-FOGERITE PhD
Director of Research for Institute for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey (UMDNJ)
Executive Committee Member
Susan Gould-Fogerite, PhD, is the Director of Research for ICAM. Dr. Gould-Fogerite has a long-standing interest in integrating Eastern and Western Philosophy and Medicine. She practices and teaches mind-body interventions including yoga, meditation and breathwork in the Himalayan tradition and does Reiki energy healing. Dr. Gould-Fogerite earned her BS in Medical Technology from Albany Medical College and SUNY at Albany, and her PhD in Microbiology and Immunonoloy from Albany Medical College. Her research in the fields of Vaccinology, Mucosal Immunology, Drug Delivery and Gene Therapy has resulted in numerous presentations, articles and book chapters. Dr. Gould-Fogerite is one of the Scientific Founders of BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc., the first spin-off company from UMDNJ to become publicly traded. She is looking forward to developing and supporting basic and clinical research, in addition to teaching aspects of complementary and alternative medicine.
WARREN I. HAMMER DC, MS
Private Practice in Norwalk, Connecticut since 1959
Session: Panel – Tool Assisted Manual Therapies
Title of Presentation: Graston Technique
Warren I. Hammer DC, MS has been in practice in Norwalk, Connecticut, USA since 1959. For the past 25 years he has lectured both nationally and internationally on soft tissue evaluation and treatment by a variety of soft tissue methods. He has written numerous articles including his recent 3rd edition of Functional Soft-Tissue Examination and Treatment by Manual Methods, published by Jones and Bartlett, 2007. He has developed a keen interest in the fascial system and emphasizes methods of its evaluation and treatment.
WALTER HERZOG PhD
Human Performance Lab, University Calgary
Session: Measurement of Manual Therapy Effects
Title of Presentation: Effects of Manipulation of the Spine
Dr. Walter Herzog PhD is Professor and Canada Research Chair in Molecular and Cellular Biomechanics in the Faculties of Kinesiology, Engineering and Medicine, University of Calgary. BSc Kinesiology from Federal Technical Institute in Zurich 1977, MSc in Biomechanics from Federal Technical Institute in Zurich 1978, PhD in Biomechanics from University of Iowa, USA, 1985, Postdoc in Clinical Neuroscience and Biomechanics at University of Calgary 1987. Presently he is the Professor and Canada Research Chair in Molecular and Cellular Biomechanics in the Faculties of Kinesiology, Engineering and Medicine, University of Calgary. His research interests are in musculoskeletal biomechanics with focus on mechanisms of muscle contraction, joint loading and musculoskeletal injuries and diseases.
PAUL HODGES MD, PhD
Associate Professor, University of Queensland, Brisbane Australia
Session: Role of Fascia in Pathological Conditions
Title of Presentation: Fascial Aspects of Motor Control of the Trunk and the Effect of Pain
Research interests: Physiology and pathophysiology of movement control mechanisms. Integration of neuroscience and biomechanics to investigate the nervous system control of joint stability and movement. Key areas include investigation of: effect of conflicting task demands control on spinal control, biomechanical effect of contraction of the intrinsic spinal muscles on stability of the spine, the effect of pain on motor control and possible mechanisms, mechanism of efficacy of therapeutic exercise. Teaching interests: application of motor control and motor learning to musculoskeletal physiotherapy, research methods and design, electromyography, respiratory muscle physiology, principles of therapeutic exercise for management of spinal pain.
DOMINIK IRNICH MD
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Munich, Germany
Session: Panel – Tool Assisted Manual Therapies
Title of Presentation: Acupuncture
Dominik Irnich, MD, is head of the Interdisciplinary Pain Centre at the University of Munich. He has passed his post doctoral lecture qualification (Habilitation) at the University of Munich on the issue acupuncture (appellation Privatdozent PD equal assistant professor).
Dr. Irnich is a renowned expert of acupuncture research and invited lecturer on acupuncture at different universities and Instutions in Germany, Europe and USA (e.g. Harvard Medical School Boston USA, Royal College of Physicians London BMAS, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, American Academy of Medical Acupuncture Chicago, Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe University Frankfurt, University of Heidelberg, University of Tokio, University of Cairo).
He was responsible conductor of a research grant from the German Ministery of Education and Research on acupuncture.
He is laureate of the Dr. Heinz and Helene Adam Award (1995, 10.000 DM), DKV-Cochrane-Award (2001, 25.000 DM), Award of Bayerischen Landesbank (2002, 8000 ) and AMS Award (2008, 20.000 $)
Dr Irnich has a Certificate of Acupuncture, a Certificate of Chinese Massage and a Certificate of Qigong (China Beijing International Acupuncture Training Centre, WHO Collaborating Centre of Traditional Chinese Medicine), a Certificate of Acupuncture (A, B) of the German Medical Acupuncture Association (DÄGfA) and a Certificate on Natural Medicine (Naturopathy) of KneippÄrztebund and is a practicing acupuncturist.
Dr. Irnich is member of the faculty at different institutions: German Medical Acupuncture Association (DÄGfA), Acupuncture Course at Julius-Maximilians-University of Regensburg, KneippÄrztebund, Structural Acupuncture Course for Physicians at Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
His fields of research include basic science research (physiology of peripheral nociception including acupuncture) and clinical research on Acupuncture and Pain (research methodology, clinical effectiveness). Dr Irnich has published 34 originalia, 19 chapter in different textbooks, proceedings, reviews and editorials, 43 abstracts of poster and oral presentations and has given more than 100 invited lectures.
YASUO KAWAKAMI PhD
Professor, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan
Session: Biomechanics & Modeling of Fascia
Title of Presentation: In vivo Ultrasound Imaging of Fasciae
Yasuo Kawakami completed Bachelor of Physical Education and Master of Science degrees at the University of Tokyo between 1983-90, and was given PhD from the University of Tokyo in 1995 (Biomechanics). Now he is a professor at Faculty of Sport Sciences of Waseda University, lecturing in biomechanics and biodynamics. His main research interest is in the area of muscle mechanics, particularly on muscle behavior in vivo and during human movements. Effects of training, growth, aging, and fatigue on human muscles are also in the scope of his research.
MICK KREULEN MD, PhD Hand Surgeon
AMC medical centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Session: Fascia in Surgery and Recovery
Title of Presentation: Myofascial Force Transmission and Reconstructive Surgery
RICHARD NICHOLS PhD
Professor and Chair, Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Applied Physiology. Professor, Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Rehabilitative Medicine and Physiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
Session: Fascia, Its Innervation and Motor Control
Title of Presentation: Fascia and Tendon Disruption and Motor Control
Richard Nichols received his PhD in Physiology from Harvard Medical School, and wrote his dissertation on the interaction between reflex action and muscle mechanics in the regulation of muscular stiffness. Following postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Alberta and Johns Hopkins University, he took a faculty position in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Washington. His next faculty position was in the Physiology Department in the Emory University School of Medicine, where he spent 24 years and achieved the rank of professor and finally Interim Chair. In 2007, he was appointed Professor and Chair of the School of Applied Physiology at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Nichols has received continuous funding from the NIH for his work on the contributions of sensory feedback, spinal pathways and musculoskeletal mechanics to motor coordination, and for his work on peripheral nerve injury.
ADAM PERLMAN MD, MPH
Chairperson Department of Primary Care UMDNJ School of Health Related Professions. Executive Director for the Institute for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (ICAM) and the UMDNJ Endowed Professor of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. He is also Vice Chair/Chair Elect of the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine (CAHCIM), and a member of the Steering committee.
Executive Committee Member
Adam Perlman, MD, MPH is the Chairperson for the Department of Primary Care within the UMDNJ School of Health Related Professions (SHRP), Executive Director for the Institute for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (ICAM) and the UMDNJ Endowed Professor of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. He is also Vice Chair/Chair Elect of the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine (CAHCIM), and a member of the Steering committee. Dr. Perlman has significant experience as a successful researcher. He has been the PI or Co-PI on eight funded projects related to CAM and has been a Co-investigator on two others. Dr Perlman has also authored a book on CAM for Pain Management and two book chapters on CAM treatments for Osteoarthritis. His recent trials experience includes directing a randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy of massage therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee. Dr. Perlman also has also been a co-investigator on an NIH funded pilot study investigating the efficacy of Intravenous Micronutrient Therapy, and of an NIH RO1 on the efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation for patients with Fibromyalgia.
STEPHANIE A. PRENDERGAST MPT
Partner, Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center, San Francisco, CA
Session: Panel – Clinical Demonstration Session
Title of Presentation: Connective Tissue Manipulation
Stephanie A. Prendergast, MPT received her Master of Physical Therapy degree from the Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University in 2000. She is the co-owner of the Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center in San Francisco, California and has been committed to progressing the quality of care available to persons suffering from myofascial pelvic pain syndromes since 2001. She writes and teaches extensively in the field and has served on the Board of Directors of the International Pelvic Pain Society since 2002.
PETER PURSLOW PhD
Acting Associate Dean (Research) for the Ontario Agricultural College and Professor of the Department of Food Science, University of Guelph, Canada
Session: Fascia as a Tissue
Title of Presentation: Fascia and Force Transmission
After graduating in Zoology from The University of Reading, UK, Peter Purslow obtained his PhD in the Biomechanics Group, University of Reading working on toughness of extensible connective tissues, and then continued as Leverhulme Postdoctoral Research Fellow in biomechanics. Moving to the Agricultural and Food Research Council Meat Research institute in 1981, Purslow developed research in the structure and properties of connective tissues associated with skeletal muscle. From 1991 – 1995 he was Research Fellow in the Muscle and Collagen Research Group, at the University of Bristol‘s Department of Clinical Veterinary Science. In 1995 he joined the Connective Tissue Biology Laboratory at Cardiff University‘s School of Molecular and Medical Biosciences. He subsequently left the UK for Denmark where, as Professor and Group Leader of Meat Science at The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University (KVL) in Copenhagen, he continued a wide range of research on muscle and connective tissue structure and properties. In 2001 he returned to the UK, University of Stirling, Scotland to the Dept of Biological Sciences where he was the Coordinator of EU 5th Frame Program Research: Mechanisms of Normal and Pathological Ageing in Extracellular matrices. Peter Purslow is currently at the University of Guelph, Canada, where he is Acting Associate Dean (Research) for the Ontario Agricultural College and Professor of the Department of Food Science. His current work focuses on cellular mechanisms controlling turnover of connective tissues in muscle.
ROBERT SCHLEIP PhD
Director, Fascia Research Project, Institute of Applied Physiology, Ulm University, Germany
Session: Panel – Clinical Demonstration Session
Title of Presentation: Structural Integration
Session: Panel – Tool Assisted Manual Therapies (Session Chair)
Executive Committee, Scientific Committee
Clinical: Certified Advanced Rolfer® and Feldenkrais Practitioner, Faculty member of the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration, MA in clinical psychology from Heidelberg University. Active private bodywork practice since 1978; teaching internationally since 1990. Research: Co-initiator of the First International Fascia Research Congress. Founder and Director of Fascia Research Project at the Institute of Applied Physiology, Ulm University, Germany. Research Director of the European Rolfing Association. PhD in human biology with honors from Ulm university. Awarded with the Vladimir Janda Award for Musculoskeletal Medicine 2006. Current research focus: active fascial contractility.
JAAP VAN DER WAL MD
Department of Anatomy/ Embryology, University of Maastricht, The Netherlands
Session: Anatomy of Fascia
Title of Presentation: The Architecture of Connective Tissue as a Functional Substrate for Proprioception in the Locomotor System
Jaap van der Wal, MD, is a Senior Lecturer, University Maastricht, Department of Anatomy & Embryology, Maastricht, The Netherlands (part time). He is also a trainer and Lecturer in Phenomenological Embryology, Dynamension Cie, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
CAN A. YÜCESOY PhD
Full time faculty member and leader of the Biomechanics Laboratory at the Biomedical Engineering Institute of Boğaziçi University, Istanbul, Turkey
Session: Biomechanics & Modeling of Fascia
Title of Presentation: Fascia, Manual Therapy and Finite Element Modeling
Scientific Committee Member
Can Yücesoy received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from the Mechanical Engineering Department of Middle East Technical University, Ankara. He received a Ph.D. degree from the Biomechanical Engineering Group of the Mechanical Engineering Department of University of Twente, the Netherlands in 2003, followed by a post-doc fellowship at Faculty of Human Movement Sciences at the Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Currently, he is working as a fulltime faculty member at the Biomedical Engineering Institute of Boğaziçi University, Istanbul and he is the leader of the Biomechanics Laboratory at this Institute.
His main research interest is in skeletal muscle mechanics with a particular focus on myofascial force transmission between muscles and other tissues. Experimental research approaches he uses include in situ animal physiological experiments, intra-operative human muscle force measurements, in vivo muscular mechanics using MRI and human motion analysis. Computational research approaches he uses include finite element modeling featuring a model of skeletal muscle he developed using a two-domain approach that represents the activatable muscle fibers and the extracellular matrix as two separate domains that are linked mechanically.