Certifications and Training

It is important to remember that your appointments are about YOU. Sometimes it’s frustrating to see all these letters and certifications and wonder what they actually mean for you and YOUR treatment.  The bottom line is that we have a variety of tools to choose from to find out what works best for YOU.

ART (Active Release Technique)

ART is a patented, state of the art soft tissue system/movement based massage technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly and permanently with ART. These conditions all have one important thing in common: they are often a result of overused muscles.

Every ART session is actually a combination of examination and treatment. The ART provider uses his or her hands to evaluate the texture, tightness and movement of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Abnormal tissues are treated by combining precisely directed tension with very specific patient movements.

These treatment protocols - over 500 specific moves - are unique to ART. They allow providers to identify and correct the specific problems that are affecting each individual patient. ART is not a cookie-cutter approach.

Dr. Emily Blair, D.C. is one of only a handful of certified ART (Active Release Technique) Providers in New Mexico, and one of only two ART providers in the city of Albuquerque.  Dr. Blair is Full Body Certified, as well as Long Nerve Entrapment Certified.

For more information: http://www.activerelease.com/index.asp

NEUROKINETIC THERAPY (NKT)

NeuroKinetic Therapy™ corrective movement system is a sophisticated bodywork modality that can be used as both an assessment and rehabilitative technique for low back pain, neck pain, carpal tunnel, and other injuries.

The NeuroKinetic Therapy™ corrective movement system protocol employing a system of precise muscle tests has the ability to change the programming of the Motor Control Center (MCC) in the cerebellum. The MCC coordinates all movement patterns in the body. It learns through failure.

A good example is a baby learning to stand. Through many attempts and failures the baby finally achieves success. But how? The MCC chooses the most successful attempts until standing happens without “thinking” about it. Conversely, after an injury, the MCC adapts to a compensation pattern and holds that in its memory forever unless it is convinced to change. A good example is a whiplash accident in which the posterior neck muscles brace for the anterior neck muscles. This pattern can endure forever unless there is some intervention.

When an NeuroKinetic Therapy™ corrective movement system practitioner tests the weak anterior neck muscles, they fail thus opening the MCC to new learning. After the balance is restored, the MCC is “reprogrammed” and recognizes the anterior neck muscles. To complete the reprogramming, specific rehab exercises are assigned to “burn in” the new functional pattern.

For more information: http://neurokinetictherapy.com/for-clients/overview

Dr. Emily Blair, D.C. was one of the first certified NeuroKinetic Therapy providers in New Mexico, and helps lead the local study groups.  She has completed all three levels of NKT certification.  Dr. Blair is the only NKT certified chiropractor in Albuquerque, and in New Mexico.

DNS / DYNAMIC NEUROMUSCULAR STABILIZATION

"Dynamic neuromuscular (core) stability is necessary for optimal athletic performance and is not achieved purely by adequate strength of abdominals, spinal extensors, gluteals or any other musculature; rather, core stabilization is accomplished through precise coordination of these muscles and intra‐abdominal pressure regulation by the central nervous system. Understanding developmental kinesiology provides a framework to appreciate the regional interdependence and the inter‐linking of the skeleton, joints, musculature during movement and the importance of training both the dynamic and stabilizing function of muscles in the kinetic chain. The Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) approach provides functional tools to assess and activate the intrinsic spinal stabilizers in order to optimize the movement system for both pre‐habilitation and rehabilitation of athletic injuries and performance."

Or...in simpler terms...DNS is a way to access basic movement patterns that we are all born with - breathing, rolling, crawling, etc.  I really like the DNS technique because these are exercises that almost anyone can perform.  You start on the ground (on your back, learning to breathe properly) and work your way up from there.  

SFMA (Selective Functional Movement Assessment)

The Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) is a series of 7 full-body movement tests designed to assess fundamental patterns of movement such as bending and squatting in those with known musculoskeletal pain. When the clinical assessment is initiated from the perspective of the movement pattern, the clinician has the opportunity to identify meaningful impairments that may be seemingly unrelated to the main musculoskeletal complaint, but contribute to the associated disability. This concept, known as Regional Interdependence, is the hallmark of the SFMA.
The assessment guides the clinician to the most dysfunctional non-painful movement pattern, which is then assessed in detail. This approach is designed to complement the existing exam and serve as a model to efficiently integrate the concepts of posture, muscle balance and the fundamental patterns of movement into musculoskeletal practice. By addressing the most dysfunctional non-painful pattern, the application of targeted interventions (manual therapy and therapeutic exercise) is not adversely affected by pain.
SFMA offers healthcare professionals a new approach to the treatment of pain and dysfunction. Our standardized clinical model ensures isolating the cause of injury and efficient care.

For more information: https://www.functionalmovement.com/

FMS (Functional Movement Screen)

Put simply, the FMS is a ranking and grading system that documents movement patterns that are key to normal function. By screening these patterns, the FMS readily identifies functional limitations and asymmetries. These are issues that can reduce the effects of functional training and physical conditioning and distort body awareness.

The FMS generates the Functional Movement Screen Score, which is used to target problems and track progress. This scoring system is directly linked to the most beneficial corrective exercises to restore mechanically sound movement patterns.

Exercise professionals monitor the FMS score to track progress and to identify those exercises that will be most effective to restore proper movement and build strength in each individual.

For more information: https://www.functionalmovement.com/

CERTIFIED FUNCTIONAL STRENGTH COACH
CFSC

We strongly believe that patients get better faster with a combination of passive care (on the table) and active care (moving). The Certified Functional Strength Coach program was founded by Mike Boyle, and offers an excellent framework of finding just the right amount of challenge to build strength, while honoring each person’s ability at that moment in time. We love our patients, but don’t want them living in our office getting endless passive care. We want to teach them how to get stronger in their daily activities so that they can be out living their lives!

FAKTR / IASTM

(Functional and Kinetic Treatment with Rehab / Instrument Assisted Soft-Tissue Mobilization)

FAKTR (pronounced FACTOR) is a concept, not a technique. The acronym stands for Functional and Kinetic Treatment with Rehab. Approximately 9 years ago, Greg Doerr, DC and Tom Hyde, DC began to experiment with treating soft tissue/fascial disorders through the use of instruments.

Both Greg and Tom trained in a variety of soft tissue techniques including instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) and decided to incorporate their previous training into a concept that included function and treatment of the kinetic chain while utilizing various forms of rehabilitation at the same time. They also incorporated treatment in the position of provocation (pain, loss of range of motion, feeling of tightness within the fascia/soft tissues) and during motion.   FAKTR incorporates all of the above variations to evaluate and treat soft tissue/fascial conditions. These concepts are quick to apply, easy to grasp and produce rapid results.

For more information: http://www.faktr.com/

ROCK TAPE

What is Rocktape?

RockTape is a special kind of tape known as kinesiology tape. First used by acupuncturists and chiropractors in Japan, today kinesiology tape is used by practitioners throughout the world to treat injuries and improve sports performance.

While the use of kinesiology is often associated with athletes such as Serena Williams, Kerri Walsh and Lance Armstrong, the reality is that RockTape is effective for the treatment of a wide variety of problems, not just sports injuries.

What is Rocktape used for?

• Achilles tendonitis

• Plantar fasciitis

• Jumpers knee (PFS)

• ACL/MCL issues

• Rotator cuff

• Groin and hamstring pulls

• Lower back issues

• Shin splints

• Tennis and golf elbow

• Pain associated with pregnancy

• Postural correction

When we manufacture RockTape, we introduce a bias into the weave of the fabric so it stretches in one direction and not the other. This creates a bio-mechanical lifting mechanism that lifts the skin away from the soft tissue underneath, which allows more blood to move into an injured area to accelerate healing and recovery.

What is Rocktape made of?

Rocktape is a natural-hybrid product and consists of 97% cotton, 3% nylon and uses no drugs. The adhesive is a hypo-allergenic acrylic based adhesive and contains no latex.

For more information: http://rocktape.com/

RRT (Rapid Release Technology)

Scar Tissue forms in the body as a temporary patching mechanism for wounds caused by surgery, trauma or repetitive stress.  This scar tissue is made from collagen just like our skin but without blood supply it dies, dries out, constricts and becomes brittle.   Scar tissue fastened to tissues not normally connected, is called an adhesion.  Adhesions can spread, entrapping nerves, causing pain and numbness or limiting range of motion.  Un-diagnosed pain and restricted mobility are likely to be caused by these adhesions.    Scar Tissue Therapy ™ is focused on relief of soft tissue problems caused by scar tissue adhesions.  The shearing force of planar wave energy passes safely through flexible healthy tissue, but readily absorbed by the brittle, dense scar tissue.

RRT has determined the optimum frequency that resonates with the scar tissue for maximum effectiveness by using high speed video shot at 2000  frames/second.  With only a 2mm stroke, this therapy is feels good and is completely safe.  We believe that Scar Tissue Therapy™ is the most effective way to treat painful scar tissue.  Scar Tissue Therapy is fast, painless and lasting.

For more information: http://rapidreleasetech.com/