Programs:


Our programs are designed to integrate into existing activities in rehabilitation networks in these regions and provide economic, long term care alternatives which are more congruent to local/indigenous healing practices.  For a printable version of the programs below please click here.

Physical Therapy Enhancement Training

Immediate Disaster Relief Response

Lay Care Givers Touch That Heals Training




Physical Therapy Enhancement Training:


An Introduction of The Trager® Approach for Physical Therapists

This Four-Week program is designed to introduce and reinforce the fundamental principles of The Trager® Approach to enhance their tratement protocols for chronic muscle pain, spasms, Post Traumatic Stress related pain, Cerebral Palsy and other neuromuscular disorders, as well as educate therapists in self care.

Other effective modalities such as Upledger Cranio Sacral Therapy, Reiki, Therapeutic massage, Zero Balance and Rolfing to name a few, could be intergrated into this model as well.  Self care methods may also include yoga, chi gong, tai chi, and simple meditation techniques.   All programs are scheduled to integrate with existing staff schedules and clinic operations. 

For a PDF summary of our program at Navajeevana Rehabiltation Center, in Tangalle, Sri Lanka please click here.

To view our Physical Therapy Enhancement initiative with Real Medicine Foundation or to make a tax deductible donation to support the ongoing development of this program, please click here.

For information on the complete 500 hour Trager® Professional Training please click here.



Four Week Training Protocol

Week 1:

  • Provide technical papers to staff for review of concepts and theory
  • Offer Trager® Sessions to each staff member for experiencial knowledge of technique
  • Educate therapists in self care
  • Hold clinical and peer session* for observation and discussion of technique applications and adaptations
  • Two Day (16 hr) workshop on first weekend
      Note:  Permission to be observed is obtained from receiver of session


Week 2:

  • Continue with Staff Sessions as schedules permit
  • Work 1day clinic/week, more if requested.  (Therapists may schedule which of their patients/cases they wish to see addressed with Trager®
  • 1/2 day clinic review session for workshop participants, typically Friday (3-4hrs.)

Week 3

  • Continue with Staff Sessions and review of self care
  • Work 1day clinic/week, more if requested.  (Therapists may schedule which of their patients/cases they wish to see addressed with Trager®
  • 1/2 day clinic review session for workshop participants, typically Friday (3-4hrs.)
  • Two Day (16 hr) workshop on first weekend

Week 4:

  • Continue with Staff Sessions as schedules permit
  • Work 1day clinic/week, more if requested.  (Therapists may schedule which of their patients/cases they wish to see addressed with Trager®
  • 1/2 day clinic review session for workshop participants, typically Friday (3-4hrs.)


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Immediate Disaster Relief Response

This programs is designed to coincide with initial disaster relief response or can be utilized in areas where relief work is demanding and ongoing.  It is intended to provide necessary relief to the "front line" aid workers/volunteers to support the maintenance of their own well being as they assist others in need: as well as provide complementary care options and interventions for those affected by and suffering Post Traumatic Stress related pain, soft tissue injuries or general skeletal muscular discomfort.



Relief Worker Support and Clinical Participation:  4-6 weeks

  • Provide Therapeutic Bodywork sessions to relief workers and physicians working in disaster affected areas.
  • Provide Clinical Support to address the following conditions with therapeutic bodywork session, movement re-education, relaxation and awareness training.  (conditions referenced from RMF Pakistan Morbidity Report, Pakistan Earthquake Disaster Initiative)     
                Anxiety
                Back Pain
                Overall Body Aches
                Headaches
                Hypertension


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Lay Care Givers Learning Touch That Heals - An Introduction to The Trager® Approach


This is where I believe we can have our greatest impact; teaching everyone to be a healer.  Through the introduction of the fundamental principles of The Trager Approach, this program is designed to provide basic knowledge of healing touch to the care giver to empower them to parcipate in the ongoing care of their "patient" in between visists to rehabilitation centers.  Ideally, this training follows the first Physical Therapy training by a couple of months and can coincide with a review training for the therapists.

Note:  It is important that the physical therapists are somewhat proficient with the technique to support the learning of the lay caregivers and to be an ongoing resource for them.  Having therapists assist these workshops when possible is highly recommended.  The format for the following protocol can be modified depending on the availability of participants.



Four Week Training Protocol


Week 1
  • Provide sessions to participants for experiential knowledge of technique
  • Educate Lay Care Givers in Self Care
  • Review Care Needs of the patient with Caregiver (objective)
  • First Weekend - Two day (16hrs.) introductory workshop
Week 2

  • Review Care Needs of the patient with Patient (subjective)
  • Provide Sessions to their patient to:
                 -  Assess condition and to develop a treatment protocol or strategy, and
                 -  Give patient feeling of the work to help guide caregiver to provide similar feeling; Teach them to work together.  
   
  • Hold clinic time with each participant/caregiver to teach tailored protocol and how to work together.
  • Continue with session and review of individual patient protocols
  • 1/2 day clinic review session
Week 3
 
  • Work 1 day clinic
  • 1/2 day clinic review session
  • Second Two Day (16 hr.) Workshop
             -  First day review of technique
             -  Second Day practice with patient as model

Week 4

  • Work 1 day clinic
  • 1/2 day clinic review session