Because clever advertising drives us to problem solve in terms of "what product should I buy?" Modality Salesmen attempt to create buzz by wrapping old approaches and techniques in shiny new packages with a sciency name. After years of throwing money at CEU classes, I mostly lost faith in the "sage on the stage" model of education and decided instead to pursue university classes. Fundamental sciences (biology, physiology, anatomy, chemistry, physics, etc.) make excellent continuing education credits and at least I learn something real. This led me to get my Bachelor in Exercise Science and eventually my Doctorate in Physical Therapy.

Of the many CEU classes I attended, and certifications I earned, PNMT was the only outlier. Precision Neuromuscular Therapy differs enough that I make time to attend classes whenever possible. It emphasizes a best-practices approach rather than a handful of techniques or a guru-led miracle cure for whatever-ails-you. I will only offer a brief summary of what I find useful, and why I still endorse their classes.

The core of the approach is motivational interviewing (listening to your patient and aligning with their goals), science literacy (reading and interpreting what the research has to say), clinical competency (knowing what you are doing and how it might help), quantitative/qualitative outcome measurements (measure something to see if it gets better), regular follow-ups for a short time (3-or-more visits in a short time period), and client education (giving the client the knowledge to help themselves!) which aligns with how I deal with any patient with pain. As far as I can tell, these practices are universally accepted best practices and often overlooked. They are certainly well within the scope of massage and physical therapy

This approach works equally with any technique you choose to employ, and I've been able to take it with me through my personal evolution as a massage therapist, physical therapist, and clinician. The general takeaway message is that it matters more what we do with our brains than what we do with our hands. All hands-on techniques are an interaction between therapist and client; therapeutic alliance focuses on outcomes and goals not appeasing dusty traditions. "Practice" is used in medicine or law to denote adaptation and the need "to do" rather than to just learn from a book. Living, complex people deserve humility, experience and flexibility from their therapist, as well as patience, understanding, and kindness. No modality can teach those things, but PNMT comes closer than I have seen elsewhere.