Integrated Manual Therapy & Orthopedic Massage

In 2013, Denise completed a 100-hour Certification Program of assessment, treatment, and client self-care taught by James Waslaski.

This multi-disciplinary manual therapy approach addresses musculoskeletal disorders, chronic pain conditions, repetitive stress patterns, and sports injuries by releasing tight muscle bands and myofascial tension, realigning scar tissue, and mobilizing joint capsule adhesions.  The goal is to restore balance to opposing muscle groups by lengthening short, tight muscles and strengthening weak, inhibited muscles throughout the body by incorporating pain-free movement, eccentric muscle contractions, stretching and strengthening.

Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques

In 2018, Denise was introduced to Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques “MAT” developed by Paul Kelly and Erik Dalton, PhD.

Within her orthopedic manual therapy practice, she found that when we become aware of and take responsibility for how we carry our bodies, we begin to heal naturally and our pain melts away.  The teachings of Paul and Erik resonate with Denise because of the focus on postural awareness and the brain-body connection.

Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques involve the active participation of the client during the session, which neurologically retrains the brain in communicating with the body to break dysfunctional patterns.  As Denise began to utilize MAT with her clients, both she and her clients began to notice not only the rebalancing of postural compensations but also the elimination of pain.

Denise completed the 200-credit hour certification in 2019 to earn the graduate degree of Master Myoskeletal Therapist “MMT”.  She is the only practitioner in the Pittsburgh area with this unique skillset.

PhysioKinetix Training

Regardless of whether you are stagnant at a desk job or active as an athlete or hobbyist, it is highly likely that you perform repetitive motions on a daily basis.  Over a period of time, these poor strain patterns create pain, reduce range of motion, and develop chronic degenerative conditions such as Forward Head Posture, Dowagers Hump, Neck Pain, Shoulder Pain, Rotator Cuff Dysfunction, Functional Scoliosis, Low Back Pain, Sciatica, Knee Pain and Foot Pain.

Denise bridged the gap in 2021 between traditional massage therapy and personal training by working toward the PhysioKinetix Training “PKT” certification developed by Paul Kelly.  This style of training utilizes Neuro Articular Regenerative Kinetics “NARK” which is a movement-based therapy that applies fundamental loaded principles to regenerate the nervous system (neuro) and the joint structures (articular) for the benefit of the entire locomotor system.  The locomotor system, also known as the musculoskeletal system, encompasses the bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage which are essential for mobility, posture, protection, and movement coordination. 

The manual therapy techniques of PKT Level 1 Mobility and PKT Level 2 Stability utilize hands-on and resistance bands to enhance concentric, eccentric, and isometric exercises that actively release and regenerate the soft tissues.  The benefits include expanded joint mobility, enhanced muscle strength, reinforced stability for better posture and balance, reduced pain, and improved quality of life.  

Denise has successfully completed the certification requirements of Level 1 Mobility and is currently working toward certification of Level 2 Stability.