High Acceleration – Low Amplitude

This weekend, myself and two of our therapists spent the last few days learning manipulation techniques from Erl Pettman, PT, MCSP, MCPA, FCAMT, founder and faculty member of NAIOMT (North American Institute of Orthopedic Manual Therapy). Twice a year, Fukuji and Lum hosts this PT educational program on Oahu. Erl himself, has been coming to Hawaii for the past twenty years, traveling from his clinic in Abbotsford, Canada, to teach students to become certified manual therapists by the .

I first met Erl five years ago when I took the Level I class for the NAIOMT certification. NAIOMT is one of the toughest manual therapy certifications that a PT can acquire. The course this weekend and next will cover six days of advanced techniques to equip us with the skills to perform high acceleration, low amplitude thrust techniques to the spine, ribs, and pelvis. These techniques require a high level of knowledge and skill that are acquired through the three previous levels of classes and testing.

While the class is physically and mentally challenging, it is perhaps the most rewarding learning experience of my professional career. I definitely  will use the knowledge that Erl has given me on a daily basis and consider him my clinical mentor. I hope to hone these techniques in the next few months to master them before taking my certification exam.