Q:  Hi Tom,  I watched your video clips and you are a master of evaluation. I have been practicing massage therapy for 18 years. In 1999 I became very intrested in Muscle Energy Techniques and tried to study from Onsen videos. I became very frustrated and packed it in never fully learning what I wanted to. I came across your videos by accident and ordered your workbooks. I was wondering if your workbooks have assessment charts for use in clinical practice? If not, how do you chart in your clinic?

I incorporate Active Isolated Stretching into all my sessions. I see you use PNF for the large muscle groups. From your knowledge would you say PNF is a favorable method to use?

Ken C.

A:  Hi Ken, Since everyone has their own way they like to document I leave it up to the therapists to do their documentation as they need or are required by their individual license. I do have a sample of how I document in the back index of each manual so check it out and see if it works for you. The comments I have gotten back from doctors are that the notes are so easy to read and find out what I think the issue is that many of them look forward to getting my evaluation summaries.

The techniques I use for large muscle groups are still referred to as Muscle Energy, but this is very close to PNF stretching or AIS. They both use the spindle and contractions and stretching.
In the end, they are all different names and slightly different methods to achieve the same effect with the big groups. Someday, you may combine all the techniques into a unique method of your own . . .

Tom Ockler, PT

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