About Us

Integrative Manual Therapy can help you to recover from surgery, acute injury or chronic conditions. By taking a whole body, systems approach that works with your body's own ability to heal itself, these techniques have proven to be effective in reducing pain, decreasing muscle tension and restoring joint mobility. As a result, organ function, circulation, drainage and other systems will improve, changing your potential for longer term healing, function and wellness.

What is Integrative Manual Therapy?

Combining aspects of traditional and advanced therapies, Integrative Manual Therapy is a unique approach to rehabilitation developed more than 35 years ago by Dr. Sharon Weiselfish-Giammatteo, Ph.D., P.T. Blending hands-on techniques of manual medicine with traditional physical therapy, Integrative Manual Therapy has continued to evolve by combining the sciences of anatomy, physiology, pathology and functional medicine with on-going clinical research. By specializing in the treatment techniques and philosophy developed by Dr. Weiselfish-Giammatteo and her practice, CenterIMT (www.centerimt.com), we are committed to making Integrative Manual Therapy a beacon of advanced health care practitioners.

How is Integrative Manual Therapy different from traditional Physical Therapy?

The difference lies in the fundamental philosophy of Integrative Manual Therapy and its unique approach to evaluation and treatment.

Instead of focusing only on a painful joint or muscle group, Integrative Manual Therapy takes into account the whole body. Recognizing that every structure in the human body is inter-connected by layers of tissue, commonly referred to as fascia, we can see that tensions from other structures can influence and inhibit your body's ability to heal the site of your injury. This "whole body" approach to evaluation and treatment looks beyond the painful area in order to find and treat the root causes of your pain and disability. Integrative Manual Therapy is just that - a true integrative approach that combines the different philosophies of manual medicine, functional medicine and nutritional support with skilled hands on treatment and functional exercises.

Unlike other exercise therapies that do not address structure, Integrative Manual Therapy treatments are based on an hour-long, one-on-one interaction, where our highly skilled practitioners take a hands-on approach to healing.

The Process

Our practitioners use traditional measurements of range of motion, strength and posture to establish a baseline to measure progress. We then use palpation as a diagnostic tool to "map" your entire body, identifying the anatomical issues that need to be addressed and uncovering any underlying problems with the other systems of your body that may be compromising your body's ability to heal.

Our "whole body" approach focuses on all the systems of your body:

The Nervous System is sometimes compressed by fascia, muscle, and joint problems, resulting in pain and numbness.

The Circulation & Lymphatic Systems are often compromised in the presence of muscle compression, resulting in swelling and drainage problems.

The Musculoskeletal System consists of muscles, tendons and ligaments as well as bones, joints and other connective tissue.

The Visceral System, with IBS or other digestive problems, often results in muscle spasms that can lead to joint pain and mobility problems.

We combine our findings with your medical history and symptoms to develop a written treatment plan. As you progress, the "myofascial mapping" process is repeated and a new treatment plan is developed to take you to the next level of recovery in the most efficient manner.

Once this process begins, your potential for improved function emerges as your pain subsides and your mobility and other functions improve. We can then develop a home exercise program that does not try to work through or compensate for your pain and disability, but instead, seeks to increase your potential for pain free function. We can modify your existing exercise program or we can refer you to a variety of outside fitness and wellness programs.

The Integrative Manual Therapy philosophy also includes the science of functional medicine. Some conditions, such as gluten hypersensitivity, need nutritional supplements to support healing if they are contributing to your condition or inhibiting your ability to heal. In some cases, diet changes, such as eliminating gluten or refined sugar will help reduce fatigue, joint pain and headaches and help the other systems of your body to improve their function.

Integrative Manual Therapy Associates Staff

We are the only practice in Maine dedicated to this combination of advanced and traditional Physical Therapy. The scope of our evaluation and treatment goes beyond conventional, exercise-based therapy to find the root causes of your pain and disability. We seek to alleviate your pain and disability by an on-going assessment at the site of your problem as well as looking at your entire body's contribution to your condition.

Our practitioners are all Licensed Physical Therapists with advanced training in anatomy and physiology and a commitment to furthering their education and skill development. Our written treatment plan and practitioner-team approach ensures that you will have consistent, professional treatment throughout your course of therapy. All our work is done in support of your referring physician and other health care practitioners.