About Us

AAOMPT History

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT) was founded in Rochester, Michigan. During the summer of 1991, at the urging of Norwegian manual therapist, Freddy Kaltenborn, a group of manual therapists met at Oakland University to discuss common issues facing manual therapy in the United States. This was the first time that leaders of various manual therapy residency programs had come together under one roof. Recognizing their common interest in advanced manual therapy in the United States they proceeded to form the AAOMPT. The members, Richard Erhard, PT, DC; Joe Farrell, PT, DPT, MS; Kornelia Kulig, PH.D, PT; Michael D. Rogers, PT, OCS; Bjorn Svendsen, DHSc, PT; Stanley V. Paris PT, PhD; Ola Grimsby PT; and Michael Moore PT became the Founding Fellows of the AAOMPT. The first officers were: President, Joe Farrell; Vice President, Richard Erhard; Secretary, Michael Moore; Treasurer, Ola Grimsby; and Member-at-Large, Stanley Paris. Each has contributed hundreds of hours of their time to help the AAOMPT move forward.

The President, Bob Rowe PT, DPT, DMT, FAAOMPT, who took over as the President in January 2009, currently leads the organization. The current officers are: Vice President, John S. Magel, PT, DSc, FAAOMPT; Secretary, Elaine Lonnemann, PT, DPT, DCS, MTC, FAAOMPT; Treasurer, John D. Childs, PT, PhD, MBA, OCS, CSCS, FAAOMPT; Member-at -Large, Haideh Plock, PT, ATC, FAAOMPT; and Immediate Past President, Tim Flynn, PT, PhD, OCS, FAAOMPT.

The AAOMPT was instrumental in the preparation of the successful application of the United States to become a voting member of the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapists (IFOMPT). This was the first time in the 20 year history of the IFOMPT that the United States had been a voting member. Included in the IFOMPT application were Standards for Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Residency Training in the United States. These comprehensive standards now form the basis for Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy (OMPT) Fellowship programs which are credentialed by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and recognized by the AAOMPT. The OMPT Fellowships have been a model for the development of other residency/fellowship programs credentialed by the APTA. Carol Jo Tichenor, PT, MA, the 1996 recipient of the John McMennell Service Award, was a key player in the development of the original standards document and remains a significant contributor to the AAOMPT having served as the Co-chairperson for the task force which in 2008 published the revised Description of Advanced Specialist Practice in OMPT. Carol Jo named her colleagues on the task force as the "Dream Team" and they consisted of Stephania Bell, Bill Boissonault, Ann Porter Hoke, Trish King, Kornelia Kulig, and Bob Rowe (Co-chair).

The AAOMPT has been instrumental in raising the awareness of physical therapists to the contributions of manual therapy to the physical therapy profession and of the contributions of fellowship training in achieving advanced clinical competence. The AAOMPT has been active and visible within the APTA and the Orthopedic Section. The AAOMPT leadership has also gained the respect of the IFOMPT for its role in forming the Academy- in a country where there are more physical therapists using manual therapy than any other place in the world. Continued visibility of the AAOMPT requires the work of many individuals.

The AAOMPT has been fortunate to have many tremendous leaders with vision to see what the AAOMPT could become in the future. The Past Presidents of AAOMPT in order are Joe Farrell, Mike Rogers, Ken Olson, and Tim Flynn. These individuals in conjunction with our Founding Fellows have placed the AAOMPT on a path hat has an incredibly promising future. Just as important to the success of the AAOMPT is the leadership provided from among the various AAOMPT committee chairs/members as well as the support of the AAOMPT membership. Without these two groups AAOMPT would not have the rich history and culture that draws so many individuals to join AAOMPT.

A Message From Our President

The mission of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT) is to serve its members by promoting excellence in orthopaedic manual physical therapy practice, education and research, and to collaborate with national and international associations. The AAOMPT has also established four primary goals:

1. AAOMPT will promote research in orthopaedic manual physical therapy and foster the principles of evidence-based practice within the membership.
   
   
2. AAOMPT will develop and update professional and post-professional education guidelines and continuing education programming relevant to the practice of orthopaedic manual physical therapy.
   
   
3. AAOMPT members will serve in the regulatory, accreditation, governance, and legislative bodies within or related to the profession of physical therapy.
   
   
4. AAOMPT will be the resource for promoting orthopaedic manual physical therapy in the United States.

The AAOMPT website has been designed to be user friendly, to provide resources to physical therapists and the general public regarding the specialty area of orthopaedic manual physical therapy, and to provide further important resources and information for the members of our organization.

I would like to encourage all physical therapist licensed to practice in the United States who have an interest in supporting and practicing orthopaedic manual physical therapy to join the Academy. The membership benefits include access to the members only section of this website, subscription to the newsletter Articulations and the Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy, and reduced conference fees for the Academy annual conference and educational programs.

If you have any questions regarding the Academy, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,


Bob Rowe, PT, DPT, DMT, MHS, FAAOMPT
President
American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists

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