NAMTPT 2024 Conference Agenda

6pm on Thursday 10/24/2024 through 12 noon on Sunday 10/27/2024

(Keep scrolling down this page to learn more!!)

Agenda for Thursday October 24th

4-6pm  Registration, Networking, Visit vendors 

5-6pm Full, Hot Dinner buffet and "Get to Know You" activities (click here for PDF of full Conference food menu)
                                                     6pm NCBTMB Approved Educational content begins 
6pm-7:00pm Mary Biancalana: Welcome, New Research on Myofascial Pain   In this presentation, we will learn about new research published on the treatment and understanding of myofascial pain, trigger points, fibromyalgia.

7:00pm-8:30pm  Nancy Shaw; History of the NAMTPT and of Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy

In this presentation, Nancy Shaw, one of the founding members of the NAMTPT, will present a historical perspective on the formation of our organization and the development of the profession of myofascial trigger point therapy based on the work of Janet Travell, MD and David Simons, MD. 

  8:30 - 9pm   Shannon Goossen: The Missing Perpetuating Factor. In this lecture Shannon Goossen will share her conversation with Dr Janet Travell on taking the field of myofascial trigger point therapy forward into the future.  One of Shannon's most memorable moments, was  having a personal conversation with Dr Travell  while at a train station. She had so many questions for Dr Travell,  While patting Shannon's knee, Dr Travell said, "Have patience, they  just found out there's muscles."  Shannon has patiently and passionately learned so much over the last 25 years and tonight will begin sharing the perpetuating factors that were yet to be discovered back then, but based on current research and insights, are clear as day today.

9pm-onward...  Socializing and treatment trade in our classroom.        

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Agenda for Friday October 25th

8:00 am – 10am  Hands-on Treatment Techniques (Our group will be divided in 1/2 and each will learn from both instructors in 2-hour segments. Instructors will repeat their session twice.)

Richard Finn

    Title: Supportive Trigger Point Therapy for Organ Dysfunction

Description:    A relationship exists between spinal segments that supply organs, nerves, and muscles via shared pathways.  A dysfunctional organ will refer a point of maximal tenderness to an area of the skin that it shares a spinal segment with.  This same segment will innervate muscles as well.  Treating the skin, muscles and spinal segments is supportive of the associated organ.  This will be discussed, demonstrated, and practiced in this class.

        Learning Objectives: Participants will

1. Be able to explain a proposed mechanism by which stimulation of the surface of the body may be supportive of the organs.
2. Identify the muscles to be treated via dermatome map.
3. Locate spinal segments for treatment via testing.
4. Will treat the spinal level of a particular organ.

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10:am - 12 Noon  Hands-on Treatment Techniques 

Julie Zuleger, PhD, and Mary Biancalana, MA

Title:   Improving Treatment Outcomes!  Adding Distraction Techniques to Myofascial Trigger Point and all types of Manual Therapy Sessions

Description: In this hands-on participation session, Dr Julie Zuleger and Mary Biancalana will have participants use many types of distraction techniques. The licensed massage therapist / myofascial trigger point therapist should be employing these techniques during treatment sessions. We all know that by distracting the golgi, pacini, and subdermal sensory receptors, the client is better able to  to allow for normalization of contracted muscle and fascial segments, thereby reducing pain/sensation.  We will learn about various distraction techniques including; heat, percussion, jostling, contract/relax or post-treatment assisted stretching. Students will receive a take-home QR code sheet with links to at-home practice videos prepared by Mary and Julie.

 Learning Objectives

1. The student will learn how to apply percussive techniques using the Myofascial trigger point clinical model.
2.  The student will be able to describe characteristics of golgi, Pacini and ruffini tendon organ receptors.
3. The student will demonstrate how to apply the distraction techniques to the key trigger points and taut fiber bundles causing the problem. 
4. The student will discuss and understand the concept of optimal length/ tension relationship in muscles and fascia in clients presenting with myofascial pain and dysfunction.

12- 1pm  Hot lunch buffet, networking and meet with vendors (click here for PDF of full Conference food menu)

1-2:30 David Lesondak 

  Lecture Title:   I want to Believe; Fascia Facts and Fictions

            In today’s culture of information overload and influencer malarkey it’s never been easier to find exactly the answers you want to believe in, even if it’s those answers are not true. In this lively, informative and fun-filled talk, there’s even a game show, you’ll be introduced to some fascia fallacies, get good advice on how to approach research and improve critical thinking skills and get the latest fascia research including a deep dive into the wonders of the superficial fascia which may be way more crucial to getting good results than previous realized.

 2:45-4:45   Shannon Goossen   

Lecture Title: Your Brain, your muscles, your fascia and communication: Conjunction… junction, what’s your function?  ( you have to sing it)  In this lecture, Shannon Goossen will  outline how the brain, the spinal cord and the peripheral nervous system each have a direct effect the myofascial system.

(We really did learn everything we needed to know in elementary school through the "School House Rock" songs...!)

4:45-5:30pm  Town Hall Discussion  (Non-CE event) This one hour discussion session is open to all interested practitioners. We will have open ideas exchange for topics influencing our profession, the study of and understanding of myofascial pain and dysfunction as well as topics relating to our association.

 5:30-7:30pm  Dinner on your own. (We will provide a list of near-by places to eat) 

7:30-10pm  Social event; The amazing abdominals and QL! : A study in traditional belly dancing and the integration of intrinsic abdominal muscles. Cash bar and dancing juice available for purchase. Bring a belly dancing skirt, a coin skirt, or anything fun that you want to flip and twirl 

10pm - ??? Informal socializing and treatment trade

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      Agenda for Saturday Oct 26th 

8:00 am – 10 am  Hands-on Treatment Techniques  (Our group will be divided in 1/2 and each will learn from both instructors in 2-hour segments. Instructors will repeat their session twice.)

Stew Wild

Topic: To Breathe, or Not To Breathe? That is the question

An Homage to Leon Chaitow, DO, ND

Description: It seems simple enough. Inhaling/exhaling about 10 times a minute moves about 13 pints (3-5 liters) of air. Repeat up to 15,000 times a day. But how well do you breathe? Can you breathe better? Attendees will measure how many breaths you take per minute; how long you can hold your breath (the record is 22 minutes), learn about ‘bucket handles’, measure rib expansion, and discuss abdominal organ massage.

The things that can go wrong include hyperventilation, paradoxical breathing, mouth breathing, hypocapnia, sighing and yawning, tension and stress, and along the way explore the case of the hyperventilating chickens. Attendees will learn techniques to assess, monitor and improve the way you breathe. Learn neuromuscular techniques that address the rectus abdominus and the diaphragm; the pectorals and the scaleni; the latissimus and SPI, and intercostals and the levator costari.

Reinforcement techniques include stress relieving techniques, stretches that open up the rib spaces (thread-needle, banana stretch) and self-help approaches like HiLo breathing, Shavasanna pranayama, nostril breathing, and ocean breathing. These can be taught to be used as homecare activities (HCAs).

 10am - 12 noon  (Awaiting Instructor confirmation)

12- 1pm  Hot lunch buffet, networking and meet with vendors (click here for PDF of full Conference food menu)

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Keynote Speaker   Jay P Shah, MD 

Lecture Topic: Topic: Myofascial Trigger Points and Central Sensitization in the Neuro-Matrix of Chronic Pain: Exploring their Enigmatic Pathophysiology, Dynamic Clinical Manifestations and Novel Strategies for optimizing Patient Outcome

Participants in this interactive, thought-provoking and clinically impactful lecture will explore the dynamic and pivotal roles that myofascial trigger points (MTrPs), sensitization, limbic system dysfunction and associated objective/quantitative physical findings play in the evaluation and management of chronic myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). 

An important dichotomy in the current literature is whether the MTrP is a cause or effect (chicken or the egg?) of chronic MPS. The emerging research in basic and clinical neurosciences informs novel directions in the clinical diagnosis and management of MPS.

3:00 - 3:30 Break 

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm:    Instructor:   Renee S Hartz, MD

Lecture Title: Topic: Trigger Point Treatment Alone is Inadequate Therapy for Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction   

Dr. Hartz will describe the Myofascial Unit (MFU) as a sophisticated and highly innervated organ system each of whose components must be treated in order to restore myofascial health. She will use the most recent terminology available in order to dispel many of the myths that persist in this specialty and she will encourage use of the terms “enthesitis” and “enthesopathy” rather than myositis, myopathy, and tendonitis which are often misleading (eg. plantar fasciitis is  really an enthesopathy disorder NOT a fascia disorder).

4:30-5:30 pm NAMTPT Annual Business Meeting (Non CE Event) Only current NAMTPT Members may attend this meeting. 

5:30-6:30 Relax and get ready for dinner

6:30 pm Cocktails  (Cash Bar)

7 pm -12 am NAMTPT Awards Gala Dinner and Dancing  (click here for PDF of full Conference food menu)

At this dinner, we will be honoring our founding members, all those who have served in any capacity for the NAMTPT, all past and current members. We will also be honoring our new members.
         

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                        Agenda for Sunday October 27th 

9am- 10:30 am  Self-applied Trigger Point Pressure Release then stretching for normalization of shortened sarcomeres and to restore full resting length of muscles 
10:30 - 10:45 Break 
10:45 - 12 noon  Vicky Magown:  Fascia Manipulation

12 noon  Thank you for participating,  our 40th anniversary conference is over.

1-4pm Post-conference CE: Ethics for Massage Therapists (separate registration and fee applies)

Questions? Send an email to Mary Biancalana, Chairperson   NAMTPTConference@gmail.com