Dora,

IT WORKS!!!  On Monday following the course in Phoenix I walked into my clinic and just started putting my hands on all my shoulder patients regardless of the diagnosis.  I primarily worked in prone and sidelying (not feeling comfortable or confident to work in the other positions).  I wanted desperately to get my hands on the patient so that I would not allow what I learned to be covered in dust only latter to find out that I had buried it in one of the stacks on my office floor!  I was both nervous and excited, but I just did it.

The results?  Outstanding, just those two positions with what I am sure was/is poor technique resulted in not only improved painfree ROM, but comments of improved sleep and the ability to perform more ADLs.  One patient had not been able to raise his arm above shoulder level in two years was able to forward flex to 150 degrees!!  Another woman who hadn't had a nights sleep in three weeks slept like a baby.  In two more treatments we had her flexion to 170 degrees from 80 degrees!

I can't wait to gain the confidence to work in the other positions and learn how to tape the scapula.  I just wanted to thank you and give you some feedback from the front lines....       Big Eric from Phoeniz

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Hi Dora,

My results treating all of my patients with shoulder problems this week have been absolutely phenomenal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thanks to your techniques.  With sincere thanks!                  Jeni   PT/OT from Colorado

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Hi Dora,

Just wanted to update you on the wonderful response patients are having to the work you taught me in Utah......what a joy when patients  returned in follow up this week with such awesome responses both in mobility and reduction in pain. I am very pleased with the fact that the improvements remained between treatment sessions.   I am having fun "exploring" the shoulder ...and helping the staff learn your system.  They too are excited about your work.  I am finding significant joy helping patients with neck and upper back pain by working the shoulder....they are amazed how great they feel after the treatment session and how they remain better even though I didn't directly treat or "touch" their neck! Thanks again,                                                                                   Tami PT from Indiana

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An Update from Tim 1 1/2 years after taking the course and working with the techniques.....

Hi , wanted to let you know that I use your methods daily.  I have been able to help so many people that I wouldn't have
if it hadn't been for you and your 25 years of groundbreaking work.  I still am amazed at how you figured that stuff out...it is interesting how over time I seem to be getting a better feel for the joint.  Tim

Hi Dora,

I am starting to get the feel when working with the g-h joint when prone and doing ratcheting. I have been able to feel some restrictions let go.  I am getting good feedback from patients.  Hey listen to this.  I called one of my shoulder patients whom I was unable to help prior to taking your course and she is making great progress since day one.  She told me yesterday that her shoulder had been so painful that she was getting depressed and crying over her constant pain.  She prayed to God for help and later that morning I called her to come back after taking your course.  Isn't that awesome?  Thank God and thank you Dora.

                                                                 Tim

Dora,

I just attended your course in Pittsburgh this past weekend. I must admit that I am humbled.  PTs like you are amazing. I can only imagine the amount of work you did,  not to mention the trial and error you went thru to develop your program.  I admire your tenacity and perseverance.  I thought I was doing a good job with shoulders , but my, oh my was I humbled by what you taught. I told my wife that what I learned over the weekend was a quantum leap compared to what I knew previously.  I am looking forward to using this stuff today.  I will be in touch.  Thank you for a job well done.   

                                                                                                                               Tim McHenry,  PT in PA

Hi Dora,

Thanks for the great CE class on shoulders, I use the techniques frequently and am getting good results. I am still trying to teach my fingers the “language of shoulders” but it is coming along. Yesterday I watched a frozen shoulder move from active motion of about 90 degrees of ABD to full after hearing the wonderful “POP” I have learned to love hearing.

                                                                                                              Patty W. PT in MN

Hi Dora!!

I have a bunch of shoulder pts right now and it's great because each one gives a point of reference to the next...I am definitely seeing a progression with releases ........................I've had a few pts now go raving back to their doctors "where has she been all my life?",  etc!! Isn't that the best??  And they've had PT in prominent clinics!!! I love it.    

I need to come to a class again.

Thanks for the support!!

                                                                                                             Erica   from Oregon                                                                                                                   

Dora,
A few years ago I attended MDS I, and was pleased with the results of the scap mobs that I learned.  However, this past February I attended MDS II (in Minneapolis, MN) and was thrilled with the additional mobs I learned.  The week after I attended MDS II, I got the chance to see a patient who had been seen in our clinic in the past, with "ok" results but not a complete resolution of her shoulder pain.  Initially she could not adduct her painful shoulder to reach the opposite, and had limited IR and flex due to pain.  After just a few sessions of mobs I learned at MDS II, she had FULL PAINFREE AROM and was finally able to resume her normal work duties, WITHOUT PAIN!!  Thank you!!!  I am looking forward to an MDS III  !!!

                                                                                                                        Julee Scarfpin, P.T.  (Minnesota)

Hi Dora,
It was a pleasure to meet you as well as learn from you. I have found your techniques to be a great asset to my clinical efforts. My biggest successes have been a post RTC patient with significant atrophy of supraspinatus. I was so concerned about this person as he was returning to his doc the Monday after your course. He had declined in the previous week and of course I took some ownership. I called him and met him Sunday. In performing the standing technique, stabilizing the scap and elevating in the empty can position we produced multiple audible and palpable releases. He immediately went from approximately 60°+  labored elevation to 160°  freedom of movement. Wow! paid for the course:)   Since this time he has consistently gained strength, stamina, and coordinations. With a little help from his friend, the UE Ranger :)   Thank you for your willingness to share your skills and knowledge.

Dan Miller, PT  &  Inventor of the UE Ranger       Omaha, NE

Dora,  I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your seminar in Omaha last weekend.  It has been awhile since I attended a cont. ed. conference and then couldn't wait to get back to work on Monday to see my patients.  I have even called up some old discharged patients to have them come back in so I could help them with what I now see I was missing.  Your course outline and presentation was excellent and very applicable to my clinic.  I have been practicing the mobilization techniques daily and I'm already seeing some progress where I previously was lacking.  I look forward to cont. to improve my skills.  Again thank you so much, I hope to attend your other seminars in the future. 

Erica       PT from Lincoln, NE

"Thank you for your commitment to patient care and for your monumental effort at synthesizing years of clinical observation."  Part II

                                                                                                                            MI PT

Part II  " Loved this course! Class size was perfect, re-iterated key points to help feel comfortable with new ideas. Lots of time for lab.  Even better than Part I."  

                                                                                                                                    OH Therapist

...I believe your techniques can work. I have tried to integrate them into my practice, but I know that my skill at applying the techniques is limiting their effectiveness. I thought your first course was the best continuing education course that I have taken in recent years.  It has dramatically affected my practice. I want to become and expert in shoulders. I feel that they are the most complicated in the body, although you make it look easy. You offer a light at the end of the tunnel. I have been practicing for over 12 years. Thank you.

                                                                                          S. Perry, PT                  San Francisco, CA

Hi Dora,

I was so excited to get this email from you - I would LOVE to come to Part II!! Ever since getting back to the clinic, I've been practicing the taping and release techniques, as well as talking to many women about their hormone balance - it's been a truly fascinating past month. I've had some AMAZING experiences with some frozen shoulder patients, but then like you mentioned - there are some that progress a lot, but then I hit plateau with their range. Seems like there's more to be freed up in their superior scapular area, or the clavicular area and I've fiddled around, but can't seem to free up that last bit. So I'd love to be let in on more of the "secrets" :) of these release techniques. Nikki and I both told our schedulers "Give us any frozen shoulder Dx you receive!" For the first time ever, we can't wait to get our hands on more patients with this Dx - what a reversal of outlooks!!

Kim B. PT Dublin, CA

Dear Dora Partridge,  
 

 I'm a patient of Soraya R.'s of Houston Orthopedic Sports Medicine Associates.  I had shoulder surgery on September 2, 2005.  I was not progressing well with many adhesions.  I became further discouraged when I went to my doctor and he told me if I didn't get my range of motion soon, I would have to have my adhesions broken up.  I was scared and frustrated because I was doing everything I was asked to do to help my shoulder rehabilitate. 

 

As you know Soraya is a fantastic therapist and was doing  so much to help me already, then Soraya  approached me with the prospect of taping my shoulder.  I had seen her do it to other patients, and honestly thought how could tape help? 

 

 I told Soraya today that I would gladly be the "poster girl" for taping shoulders!  My recovery has been just short of amazing since the taping.  I'm continuing to progress and it has also helped me feel hopeful about a full recovery.  I'm so grateful that Soraya went to your seminars, or I would most likely be facing another difficult procedure  physically, as well as mentally. 

 

Thank you for your research, I appreciate what it has done for me.  I hope that you continue to get the word out to other physical therapists, and doctors.

Hi Dora! I attended your part one seminar in St. Louis earlier this year and wanted to share a success story.  Shortly after return to work with the WONDERFUL information I learned at your seminar, I obtained a new patient, 54 y/o female with adhesive capsulitis.  This was her second experience with the diagnosis, the first time having it in the non-dominant extremity and this time in the dominant.  She caught the symptoms within one week and went to the doctor, being as she had experienced it before and knew what she was most likely dealing with.  When I started asking questions re: hormone levels, menopause, etc, she had some of the classic symptoms. She was ecstatic when I started telling her about your theories and treatment techniques, we obtained full ROM within 4-5 visits, with total therapy regimen being 2 1/2 weeks.  The patient was so extremely grateful-she told her doctor and many friends with the same problem about our company and what we did for her thanks to the information I learned from your course.  Two days ago she stopped by with homemade jams to say thanks.  I wanted to pass that on to you and say thanks for al wonderful course, as well as to express my interest in part two if you come back to St. Louis.

 Melissa, PT (St. Louis)

Hi Dora! First of all I would like to thank you for sharing your techniques and experience with us.  After I took the part 1 course in Los Angeles, my patients and I were really amazed at the progress that they made.  Even the other therapists in the clinic are applying the manual therapy techniques, taping and exercises that I learned thru you.  I am really looking forward to part 2 and 3.  I hope that you will schedule a seminar here in LA. Again, thank you for sharing your work.  You truly make a difference in improving a patient's quality of life.

 O.F., PT,  Los Angeles, CA

"I would like to thank you for giving such an excellent class in LA on the frozen shoulder!!!  I realized it was a great class at the time, but after going over my notes I saw just how much information you gave us effectively and efficiently in a short amount of time!  I can't thank you enough for giving us great shoulder techniques and opening my eyes to hormone replacement."

Laurie O. PT, Tahoe City, CA