Katie Sohler, PT and clinic director for BenchMark Physical Therapy’s clinic located at 2707 Citico Avenue, is now CIMT certified. Click to enlarge.
Katie Sohler, PT and clinic director for BenchMark Physical Therapy’s clinic located at 2707 Citico Ave., is now one of only two CIMT certified physical therapists in Tennessee. Ms. Sohler earned a Masters of Physical Therapy from St. Catherine’s University, Minneapolis, Mn., a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Winona State University, Winona, MN and most recently her CIMT certification through Great Lakes Seminars.
The Certified Integrated Manual Therapy program trains therapists to assess dysfunction from a whole body perspective. Therapists learn to "connect the dots" from the driver of the pain to the symptoms, using an eclectic manual therapy approach.
“The courses you take throughout the CIMT program teaches you to look at the big picture instead of looking at just the site of pain,” said Ms. Sohler. “We try to figure out what is driving your pain to ensure a more permanent recovery. It is sort of like if someone is sick and has a fever. They could take an aspirin to reduce the fever, but until they find out what is causing the fever, they will not fully recover. CIMT teaches us to look for the cause.”
Following completion of the required seven manual therapy courses and approximately six months of studying, students travel to Ypsilanti, Mi. to a classroom of only seven other students with teacher and founder of Great Lakes Seminars, Patrick Hoban. They endure an intense 16 hours of review and advanced learning followed by 16 hours of testing in which students prove their knowledge and skills verbally, practically and through written essay. Students are also required to complete an anatomy exam, testing their recollection of muscles, bones, joints, tissue and more.
Ms. Sohler said she has had patients limp into her clinic, but by the time they walk out their limp is gone or significantly reduced. “Recently, I had a patient who sustained an arm injury and was experiencing difficulty extending his elbow without pain. By the end of treatment he had pain free elbow extension,” said Ms. Sohler, “The great thing about what I have learned is that you can make an immediate impact and with the hands on approach patients feel connected and more involved in their recovery.”
From the complex bone structure of the foot and ankle to the delicate functions of the spine and neck, students who earn a CIMT certification are thoroughly equipped to treat dysfunction throughout the entire body.
Officials at Great Lakes Seminars said they are pleased with Ms. Sohler’s completion of the CIMT certification and congratulates her on her new position with BenchMark Physical Therapy.