Functional Manual Therapy^®: A
Comprehensive Patient Management System

Presented by Gregory S. Johnson and Vicky Saliba Johnson

12-Month Subscription

Unlimited access to:

Thousands of CE Courses
Patient Education
Home Exercise Program
And more

Subscribe Now

First Chapter Free Buy Course

How does an integrated systems approach facilitate resolution of pain, optimum recovery, and maximum functional potential? Gregory S. Johnson and Vicky Saliba Johnson, founders of the Institute of Physical Art and co-developers of Functional Manual Therapy^® (FMT), answer this question by defining and applying the mechanical capacity, neuromuscular function, and motor control pillars of FMT to real world therapy scenarios. This course begins with a short introduction to FMT by Vicky Johnson. Gregg and Vicky then discuss the underlying science and rationale behind each pillar and the integrated assessment and treatment progression. The course then instructs the participant in the purpose and utilization of two IPA Functional Tests, the Vertical Compression Test and the Elbow Flexion Test. The information in this course will prepare the participant to better extrapolate clinical reasoning and skills from the following patient demonstration courses and follow the seamless progression, integrating the three FMT pillars into an interdependent regional approach of patient care.

This course is part of a six-part series with Gregg and Vicky Johnson, which is designed to provide the participant with a working understanding of the FMT system of patient care through live patient demonstrations and lectures to support the clinical reasoning behind the progression of treatment and skills used:

Functional Manual Therapy^®: A Comprehensive Patient Management System.
Understanding the Interconnectivity of the Body's Connective Tissues and Articulations and Their Interdependency for Efficient Function - Live patient assessment and treatment and mechanical components of neck and low back pain by Gregory S. Johnson.
Neuromuscular Function: Mastering the Specificity of Manual Neuromuscular Facilitation - Live patient demonstrations for the assessment and facilitation of CoreFirst^® postural and movement strategies and the integrated use of specific manual neuromuscular facilitation to address ROM, Initiation, and strength by Vicky Saliba Johnson and Gregory Johnson.
Motor Control: Principles of CoreFirst^® Strategies for Posture and Movement - Live patient demonstration utilizing CoreFirst^® strategies for posture and movement to promote an Automatic Core Engagement (ACE) by Vicky Saliba Johnson.
The Functional Manual Therapy^® Approach to the Knee - Live patient assessment and treatment of a knee patient by Gregory S. Johnson.
The Functional Manual Therapy^® Approach to the Pelvic Girdle - Live patient assessment and treatment of a low back patient by Gregory S. Johnson.

Meet your instructors

Gregory S. Johnson

Gregory S. Johnson, PT, FFFMT, FAAOMPT graduated from the University of Southern California in 1971 and completed a one year residency program at Kaiser Vallejo under Maggie Knott. He remained as senior faculty for six years. Mr. Johnson is best known for his identification of the need for Physical Therapists to integrate…

Read full bio

Vicky Saliba Johnson

Vicky Saliba Johnson, PT, FFFMT, FAAOMPT graduated in 1977 from the Medical College of Georgia with a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Therapy. She then completed the six-month PNF training program at Kaiser Rehabilitation Center in Vallejo, CA, under the direction of Maggie Knott, PT. Saliba Johnson's primary interests and…

Read full bio

Chapters & learning objectives

Introduction to Functional Manual Therapy<sup>®</sup>

1. Introduction to Functional Manual Therapy^®

In this chapter, Vicky Saliba Johnson presents the principles and philosophy of the FMT patient management system, highlighting the FMT interregional and integrated system approach to patient care.

2. Mechanical Capacity

Understanding the body’s interdependency from a mechanical perspective: In this chapter, Gregory Johnson discusses the importance of mechanical capacity for all patients, regardless of pathology. This section highlights the various tissues which will be assessed and treated in the live patient demonstrations.

3. Neuromuscular Function

Initiation, Strength and Endurance: Vicky Saliba Johnson discusses the importance of differentiating neuromuscular function from motor control and how to utilize advanced skills of manual assessment and facilitation to identify the presence or absence of appropriate synergistic muscle contractions. This chapter also discusses the specifics of designing a NM home program.

4. Motor Control

Training the brain with specific manual CoreFirst^® strategy facilitation through guidance, resistance, and repetition: Once mechanical capacity is restored and the patient has the ability to initiate with the correct motor patterns, the reeducation of motor control must round out the care of all patients. This chapter discusses the principles that a therapist can utilize to maximize the impact of motor control training for ensuring the patient performs all ADL with Automatic Core Engagement^® (ACE) and CoreFirst^® Strategies.

5. IPA Functional Tests

Vertical Compression (VCT) and Elbow Flexion (EFT) Tests: In this chapter, Vicky Johnson discusses the reliability and validity of the VCT and the EFT and the skills necessary to ensure both intra-rater reliability and inter-rater reliability. The patient demonstration is utilized to train the participant to efficiently perform both test and properly analyze the findings to direct the clinical intervention.

More courses in this series