Welcome to the National Myotherapy Conference 2024 from your Co CEOs. Join us as we start our conference day. 

Hands are a powerful tool for communication, especially in the context of pain management. Recent advancements in pain science suggest that healthcare professionals can significantly impact their patients' experiences by fostering a shift in their thoughts and beliefs about pain. This conceptual change can lead to remarkably positive outcomes. In this brief introduction, we will explore how manual therapists can leverage their existing skills to facilitate this transformation. We will discuss the integration of hands-on techniques with effective verbal communication, empowering practitioners to enhance their approach to pain education and support their patients on the path to healing.

Breath has patterns. Schemes create behaviour. Breath is a behaviour. Behaviour represents the person. Breath reveals the person. Join Katie as she explores the biomechanics of breath and a range of exercises to improve breathing technique. 

Join us for an enlightening presentation on 'Implementing the Digital World in Our Assessments: Improving Patient Outcomes Utilising Data and Technology'. 

In this session, we will explore how the integration of digital tools and data-driven approaches can revolutionize patient assessments and lead to improved health outcomes. We will delve into the benefits and challenges of this digital transition, sharing practical strategies for successful implementation. 

Expect insightful discussions on harnessing technology to provide personalized care, enhance diagnostic accuracy, and foster patient engagement. We hope to equip you with the knowledge to navigate and thrive in this digital healthcare revolution that is upon us.

Dry needling is a very popular treatment approach worldwide, especially among physiotherapists and in Australia, of course, among myotherapists. Although Travell did not use dry needling technique routinely, her influence dictated that initially, dry needling was used primarily to address trigger points. 

 

Today, dry needling is used not only in the treatment of individuals with myofascial pain, but also for the treatment of patients with spasticity in a variety of neurological conditions, patients with cancer, and for patients with painful and restricting scars and fascial adhesions. Combing dry needling with other treatment options, such as external-focus exercise, even though this requires more research. 

 

Jan Dommerholt will review the evolution of dry needling and offer suggestions for the future.

The association of step count to subsequent health outcomes has yet to be established in populations with lower back and extremity musculoskeletal disease. The purpose of this paper was to synthesise data related to the associations of step count with clinically relevant patient reported and functional outcomes through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Searches of MEDLINE Complete; CINAHL (EBSCO Host); and EMBASE were undertaken from their inception to January 2023. Any study design that reported on objectively measured step count and measures of pain, quality of life, disability, or functional outcomes in low back and lower extremity persistent musculoskeletal pain populations met the eligibility criteria.

 

Meta-analyses demonstrated that greater step count was associated with improved pain, improved quality of life, improved disability, improved walking speed and stair climb speed, and increased strength.

 

These results represent the first direct demonstration that individuals with musculoskeletal disease who take a greater number of daily steps may have an improved quality of life, decreased pain, less disability and improved function. The findings support the notion that daily step count may be considered a useful marker of multiple health domains in lower back and lower extremity musculoskeletal pain populations. Further prospective studies examining clinically relevant outcomes, such as daily variations in physical activity and pain are needed.

Intersection syndrome, often confused with other forearm and wrist conditions, presents a diagnostic challenge due to overlapping symptoms. This presentation focuses on the differential diagnosis of intersection syndrome through an analysis of a specific patient case study.

Intersection syndrome is an under-recognised condition characterised by inflammation at the intersection of the wrist and thumb tendons.The syndrome is particularly relevant in sports medicine and occupational health, where repetitive strain injuries are common.

This presentation will provide an in-depth exploration of intersection syndrome, including its pathophysiology, diagnostic challenges, and effective management strategies. We will discuss the anatomical and biomechanical factors that contribute to the development of the syndrome, including the role of repetitive strain and poor ergonomics. A patient case study will highlight the differential diagnoses of intersection syndrome from other similar conditions, and include Myotherapy management strategies, ranging from conservative treatments such as rest and NSAIDs to physical therapy interventions and ergonomic adjustments. It will also review cases where more invasive treatments, including corticosteroid injections or surgical intervention, may be warranted. 

By integrating current research findings and clinical experiences, this presentation aims to enhance your understanding of intersection syndrome and provide practical insights for improving patient outcomes in both clinical and occupational settings.

Dorsal Scapular Neuropathy (DSN) is a frequently overlooked condition that can lead to chronic upper back pain, significantly impacting patients' quality of life. This presentation aims to shed light on this under-recognised neuropathy by exploring current literature and its implications for clinical practice.

We will examine the etiology of DSN and its intricate connections to other musculoskeletal conditions. By understanding these relationships, we can develop more accurate and effective assessment protocols. We will review evidence-based diagnostic techniques, emphasising their reliability and applicability in various clinical settings.

We will focus on treatment strategies for DSN for myotherapists, including well-established protocols and emerging therapeutic approaches. By evaluating their efficacy through the lens of recent research, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of current best practices. This analysis will include manual therapy techniques, exercise prescriptions, and innovative interventions that show promise in managing DSN.

This presentation is a comprehensive review of Dorsal Scapular Neuropathy, offering clinicians practical knowledge to improve their assessment and treatment of this often misdiagnosed condition.

We will touch briefly on the pathophysiology of endometriosis and then discuss how our jaw, core and pelvic floor can impact a person's experience with endometriosis and pelvic pain via our neuromyofascial system, breath and allostatic load. 

We are understanding more and more about fascia. Yet many classifications for musculoskeletal pain and injuries rarely discuss it as a source of pain. This presentation explores what we know about fascia’s role in nociception, and how it helps to explain many pain conditions that are often considered ‘non-specific’. 

In this presentation, we will delve into the complexities of managing Achilles tendon ruptures, a condition often characterized by prolonged recovery and significant rehabilitation challenges. Given the sparse and often contradictory evidence base, our focus will be on practical strategies that clinicians can use to optimise patient outcomes. Key topics will include the comparative effectiveness of surgical versus non-surgical approaches, accelerated versus slower rehabilitation protocols, and the critical stages of rehabilitation. We will explore biomechanical considerations in recovery and discuss how to tailor rehabilitation strategies to individual patient needs. The workshop will also address common issues such as tendon elongation, calf muscle atrophy, and persistent strength deficits. 

As a manual therapist it is reasonable to think your hands are your most powerful tool. In this presentation, Lachlan will use the discoveries of modern pain science to present his belief that our words wield more power than our hands. He will explain the creative potential of our words and challenge us to use our words to encourage recovery in our patients. 

For hundreds of years, anatomists have disregarded the fascial tissue.  This presentation will explore how our evolving knowledge of fascial anatomy and physiology is changing our perspective on how muscular tissue works, how movement is regulated, and how proprioception comes about. 

Join us for the announcement of Myotherapist of the Year and Emerging Myotherapist of the Year, and the close of conference from your Co CEOs.