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
In 2021, Denise bridged the gap between traditional massage therapy and personal training by working toward the PhysioKinetix Training (PKT) certification developed by Paul Kelly.
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 Problems, Functional Scoliosis, Low Back Pain, Sciatica, Knee and Foot Pain.
The first two levels of this program (Level 1 Mobility and Level 2 Stability) incorporate progressively fundamental movements to correct neurological dysfunctions that will improve movement, enhance balance, reduce injuries, and eliminate chronic pain so that you can achieve Pain Free Living.
Denise has successfully completed the certification requirements of Level 1 Mobility and is currently working toward certification of Level 2 Stability.
