Total Body Balancing (TBB), is based upon the Body Adjustment which was developed by John Wernham D.O.. TBB is a total body evaluation and a 6-phase osteoarticular treatment approach based on classical osteopathic theory. TBB uses long levers to relax the muscles, fascia, joints, and ligaments to improve circulation, nerve and energy flow, thus normalizing sympathetic and parasympathetic neurological activity with a goal of creating a new homeodynamic state.

It has been the personal experience of course developer Dr. Kerry D'Ambrogio D.O.M., A.P., P.T., D.O.-M.T.P., that there is a tendency to treat the patient's symptoms at the site of pain instead of searching for the root cause of their complaint. The majority of feedback he receives from healthcare practitioners is that they understand how to perform the individual techniques taught in manual therapy courses but they have a difficult time knowing which techniques to use and how to integrate them during a treatment session. This seminar has been designed to answer these questions.

You will learn to take the information from the full body evaluation (ARTS) and perform a 6-phase full-body treatment routine called "Total Body Balancing". TBB will help improve the patient's biomechanical structure focusing on reducing muscle tension, fascial tension, increasing joint mobility, and helping to restore proper joint biomechanics, functional ROM, balancing lines of tension and postural alignment. TBB also improves the patient's physiological function focusing on balancing organ mobility/motility, blood, lymph, body fluids, nerve, and energy flow while reducing swelling and pain.

You will see immediate changes in your patient's pain and functional level. TBB can be used in the treatment of back pain, sciatica, neck pain, headaches, rib pain, upper and lower extremity orthopedic dysfunctions, swelling, and postural deformities.

Because of the gentleness and effectiveness of TBB, it is appropriate for the following patient populations: pediatrics, geriatrics, sports injuries, auto accidents, general orthopedic conditions, amputees, respiratory, and neurological patients.

TBB, like all other osteopathic manual techniques, begins with evaluation. You will learn to utilize the principles of ARTS to evaluate for Somatic Dysfunction.

The A stands for Postural Asymmetry: The practitioner evaluates the patient in the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes in both standing and sitting. Which body part displays the greatest asymmetry?

The R stands for Restriction in Range: The practitioner evaluates the range of motion (ROM) of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, the rib cage, upper and lower extremities.

The T stands for Tension Tests: The practitioner will perform tension tests for the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, the rib cage, upper and lower extremities. Normally, when performing tension tests, the feeling should be a soft, supple and springy end feel. If the sensation is hard and restrictive, somatic dysfunction is present.

The S stands for Special Tests: The practitioner will perform specific orthopedic tests to confirm your findings

Total Body Balancing is taught as two courses (Level 1 and 2).

TBB 1: This course will teach you how to perform a full body evaluation focusing on ARS of the ARTS evaluation. You will be taught a 6 phase treatment template that can be done in as little as 20 minutes balancing the patient's body in supine, prone, side lying (left/right) and sitting, finishing off in the supine position. TBB can be integrated with the other techniques taught by the DAI such as MET, MFR and PRT. You can also integrate craniosacral therapy, visceral manipulation and lymphatic drainage into the routine.

TBB1 Course Objectives: 

• Gain an understanding of the history, principles, and neuromuscular basis of classical osteopathy and TBB.
• Understand the causes of somatic dysfunction and the nature of a vital mechanism.
• Conduct a thorough full-body orthopedic evaluation for the spine (cervical, thoracic and lumbar), rib cage, pelvis, sacrum (lumbo-sacral, and sacro-iliac joints), upper and lower extremities
• Chart your results and formulate a treatment plan
• Decide on the proper sequence of treating Somatic Dysfunction
• Perform a 6 phase full-body TBB routine in supine, prone, side lying (left/right), sitting and ending in the supine position.
• Understand the clinical importance of TBB and the treatment of joint and muscular skeletal dysfunctions
• Integrate TBB with other treatment modalities such as MET, PRT, MFR, Craniosacral Therapy, Visceral Manipulation, and Lymphatic Drainage