Manipulative Therapy

4 courses | 60 hours

FSBPT, ProCert, BOC & APTA approved

Dry Needling

2 courses | 54 hours

FSBPT, ProCert, BOC & APTA approved

Osteopractic

10 courses | 12-18 months

FSBPT, BOC & ProCert approved

Specialist

2 courses | 30 hours

FSBPT, BOC & APTA approved

Blood Flow Restriction

1 course | 15 hours

FSBPT, BOC & APTA approved

MSK Ultrasonography

4 courses | 60 hours

Includes RMSK Registry Exam Preparation & Review

MSK Ultrasonography

6 courses | 114 hours

Spine, Extremities & Regenerative Medicine Applications

Certification in
Spinal Manipulative Therapy

The Certification in Spinal Manipulative Therapy (Cert. SMT) credential consists of 60 hours of hands-on training in exclusively high-velocity low-amplitude thrust manipulation techniques of all spinal and pelvic articulations. Four courses comprise this certification: SMT-1, SMT-2, SMT-3 and SMT-4. All courses are approved by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT), BOC and ProCert.

Certification in
Dry Needling

The Certification in Dry Needling (Cert. DN) credential consists of 54 hours of hands-on and didactic training in dry needling techniques, safety and evidence for craniofacial, cervicothoracic, upper extremity, lumbopelvic and lower extremity conditions. Two courses comprise this certification: DN-1 and DN-2. All courses are approved by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT), BOC and ProCert.

Diploma in
Osteopractic

The Diploma in Osteopractic consists of 178 hours of post-graduate training in spinal and extremity high-velocity low-amplitude thrust manipulation, dry needling, instrument-assisted manual therapies and differential diagnostics for the management of neuromusculoskeletal conditions. All courses are approved by FSBPT, BOC and ProCert. Successful completion permits use of the Osteopractor title.

Vestibular Concussion Specialist Certification

The Vestibular Concussion Specialist Certification (Cert. VCS) consists of 30 hours of hands-on and didactic training in the differential diagnosis and management of sports-related concussions and high/low level patients with all types of dizziness disorders. All courses are approved by FSBPT, APTA, and BOC.

Certification in Blood Flow Restriction

Certification in Blood Flow Restriction (Cert. BFR) will be awarded after successful completion of this two-day (15-hour) course in blood flow restriction (BFR) rehabilitation and performance training. Participants will learn to utilize a variety of BFR devices and techniques to maximally enhance patient recovery and client performance. All courses are approved by FSBPT, APTA, and BOC.

AAMT Fellowship in
Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy

The AAMT Fellowship is accredited by the APTA as a post-professional fellowship program for physical therapists in orthopaedic manual physical therapy. Graduates of the 12-month distance-based AAMT Fellowship are awarded the FAAOMPT credential.

Certified Musculoskeletal Ultrasonographer

The Certified Musculoskeletal Ultrasonographer credential consists of 30 hours of didactic, technical and hands-on training in the essential components of diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound of the upper and lower extremities. Two courses comprise the Cert. MSK Sonographer credential: MSKU-1 (Diagnostic MSK Ultrasonography of the Upper Extremities) and MSKU-2 (Diagnostic MSK Ultrasonography of the Lower Extremities).

Diploma in MSK Ultrasonography

The Diploma in Musculoskeletal (MSK) Ultrasonography consists of 60 hours of didactic, technical & hands-on training. Four courses comprise the Diploma in MSK Ultrasonography: MSKU-1 (Diagnostic MSK Ultrasonography of the Upper Extremities), MSKU-2 (Diagnostic MSK Ultrasonography of the Lower Extremities), MSKU-3 (Rheumatology, Oncology, and Physics in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound), and MSKU-4 (Advanced Musculoskeletal Sonography & RMSK Registry Exam Review).

Fellowship in MSK Ultrasonography

The Fellowship in MSK Ultrasonography consists of 114 hours of didactic, technical and hands-on training. Six courses comprise the Fellowship: MSKU-1 (Diagnostic MSK Ultrasonography of the Upper Extremities), MSKU-2 (Diagnostic MSK Ultrasonography of the Lower Extremities), MSKU-3 (Rheumatology, Oncology, and Physics in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound), MSKU-4 (Advanced Musculoskeletal Sonography & RMSK Registry Exam Review), MSKU-5 (Diagnostic MSK Ultrasonography of the Spine), and MSKU-6 (Regenerative Medicine Applications).

The Worldwide Leader in Spinal Manipulation & Dry Needling Education.

Join The Fellowship

What is an Osteopractor?

An Osteopractor is a physical therapist, medical doctor, or doctor of osteopathic medicine that has completed an evidence-based post-graduate training program in the use of spinal and extremity thrust manipulation, ultrasound-guided dry needling, instrument-assisted manual therapies, and differential diagnostics for the diagnosis and treatment of neuromusculoskeletal conditions.

Osteopractic Physical Therapy is an approach to care, a sub-specialty within physical therapy, and more accurately describes the kind of physical therapy services offered (rather than simply “physical therapy”) so the public, potential patients, and colleagues alike, can identify the appropriate practitioner of choice for the condition in question. When you break a bone, you look for an orthopedist, not just a general medical doctor….

Become an Osteopractic Physical Therapist by learning spinal manipulation, extremity manipulation, dry needling, instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilization, and differential diagnostics from the experts! The American Academy of Manipulative Therapy is dedicated to teaching physical therapists, osteopaths and medical doctors the science and art of thrust manipulation and dry needling.

More Osteopractor Information

What is an Osteopractor?

More Osteopractor Information

Get Certified in Spinal Manipulative Therapy & Dry Needling through the Worldwide Leaders

More About Certification

Get Certified in Spinal Manipulative Therapy & Dry Needling through the Worldwide Leaders

More About Certification

Osteopractic Physical Therapy

The title of Physical Therapist represents licensure awarded by a State Board of Physical Therapy; whereas, Osteopractor or Osteopractic Physical Therapist are titles and internationally registered trademarks in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Australia reserved only for those practitioners that have earned the Diploma in Osteopractic.

Osteopractic Physical Therapy

The title of Physical Therapist represents licensure awarded by a State Board of Physical Therapy; whereas, Osteopractor or Osteopractic Physical Therapist are titles and internationally registered trademarks in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia reserved only for those practitioners that have earned the Diploma in Osteopractic.

View All Testimonials

"Dr. Dunning is the real deal; he can manipulate extremely well. He knows the evidence and dispels many of the myths and misconceptions about traditional manual therapy approaches. I recommend these osteopractic manipulation courses to all physical therapists, especially Fellows who want to become experts in spinal manipulation technique."

Marcos Parga, PT, ATC, FAAOMPT El Paso, TX
"Dr. Dunning's dry needling course is far beyond just inserting needles into trigger points within muscles. Needling techniques are demonstrated for the direct treatment of tendons, ligaments, musculotendinous junctions, teno-osseus junctions and peri-neural stimulation. In addition, a comprehensive review of the literature underpinning the use of dry needling in musculoskeletal practice is given. I highly recommend this osteopractic dry needling course for all physical therapists interested in improving outcomes of patients with neuromusculoskeletal conditions."

Dr. Wade Baskin, DPT, Cert. SMT, Cert. DN Louisville, MS
"Dr. James Dunning is an excellent lecturer, superb demonstrator and marvelous manipulator. His knowledge of the relevant spinal manipulation literature is extraordinary. I intend to does this course and the spinal manipulation techniques justice in my medical practice."

Dr. Steven Landau, M.D. Smithfield, NC
"My patients need spinal manipulation in certain situations. As a medical physician, I need to have the humility to know when medication is making a difference and when it is not. On this course, I learned how to effectively treat a variety of musculoskeletal pain syndromes with specific spinal manipulation procedures."

Dr. Randy Naidoo, M.D. Dyess Air Force Base, Abilene, TX
"This was a fantastic course! It was the most evidence-based and practical spinal manipulation course I have ever attended. Dr. Dunning supported the HVLA Thrust manipulation techniques with robust and recent evidence in the literature, not anecdotal stories. There was no wasting of time, and fantastic "clinical tips" were demonstrated throughout the course."

Riccardo Rosa, PT, Cert. SMT, Cert. DN, Dip. Osteopractic Saronno, Italy
“This was a fantastic class, and it was evidence-based. It not only met, but exceeded my expectations. I am looking forward to taking the advanced Osteopractic Spinal Manipulation course.”

Dr. Kristi Salinas, M.D. San Antonio, TX
“Dr. James Dunning is a master clinician and educator. He is able to condense a considerable amount of material and make it clinically applicable. The idea of using thrust manipulation in practice can raise concern with some clinicians with limited experience; however, Dr. Dunning makes the participants at ease and comfortable with learning the techniques.”

Dr. William J. Hanney, PhD, DPT, ATC, MTC, CSCS University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
“Easily one of the best spinal manipulation courses I have ever taken. Thrust manipulation techniques are demonstrated and instructed for the entire spine and pelvis with a strong evidence-based explanation.”

Michael Turner, PT, MSc, OCS, MTC, FAAOMPT Honolulu, HI
“The DN-2 Dry Needling course by Dry Needling Institute was exemplary. Unlike other dry needling courses that I have attended, Dr. Dunning’s depth of knowledge of the relevant literature and clinical background in both acupuncture and dry needling makes this course both first rate and truly evidence-based.”

Dr. Justin Dunaway, DPT, Cert. SMT, Cert. DN Phoenix, AZ
“I have been a Physical Therapist for over 28 years and I’ve taken countless continuing education courses. Dr. Dunning’s dry needling course was by far the best, most evidence-based and useful course I have ever taken!”

Antoinette Munoz, PT, Cert. SMT, Cert. DN, Dip. Osteopractic Saronno, Italy | Sedona, AZ

“I have been a Physical Therapist for over 28 years and I’ve taken countless continuing education courses. Dr. Dunning’s dry needling course was by far the best, most evidence-based and useful course I have ever taken!”

Antoinette Munoz, PT, Cert. SMT, Cert. DN, Dip. Osteopractic Saronno, Italy | Sedona, AZ
“The DN-2 Dry Needling course by Dry Needling Institute was exemplary. Unlike other dry needling courses that I have attended, Dr. Dunning’s depth of knowledge of the relevant literature and clinical background in both acupuncture and dry needling makes this course both first rate and truly evidence-based.”

Dr. Justin Dunaway, DPT, Cert. SMT, Cert. DN Phoenix, AZ
“Easily one of the best spinal manipulation courses I have ever taken. Thrust manipulation techniques are demonstrated and instructed for the entire spine and pelvis with a strong evidence-based explanation.”

Michael Turner, PT, MSc, OCS, MTC, FAAOMPT Honolulu, HI
“Dr. James Dunning is a master clinician and educator. He is able to condense a considerable amount of material and make it clinically applicable. The idea of using thrust manipulation in practice can raise concern with some clinicians with limited experience; however, Dr. Dunning makes the participants at ease and comfortable with learning the techniques.”

Dr. William J. Hanney, PhD, DPT, ATC, MTC, CSCS University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
“This was a fantastic class, and it was evidence-based. It not only met, but exceeded my expectations. I am looking forward to taking the advanced Osteopractic Spinal Manipulation course.”

Dr. Kristi Salinas, M.D. San Antonio, TX
"This was a fantastic course! It was the most evidence-based and practical spinal manipulation course I have ever attended. Dr. Dunning supported the HVLA Thrust manipulation techniques with robust and recent evidence in the literature, not anecdotal stories. There was no wasting of time, and fantastic "clinical tips" were demonstrated throughout the course."

Riccardo Rosa, PT, Cert. SMT, Cert. DN, Dip. Osteopractic Saronno, Italy
"My patients need spinal manipulation in certain situations. As a medical physician, I need to have the humility to know when medication is making a difference and when it is not. On this course, I learned how to effectively treat a variety of musculoskeletal pain syndromes with specific spinal manipulation procedures."

Dr. Randy Naidoo, M.D. Dyess Air Force Base, Abilene, TX
"Dr. James Dunning is an excellent lecturer, superb demonstrator and marvelous manipulator. His knowledge of the relevant spinal manipulation literature is extraordinary. I intend to does this course and the spinal manipulation techniques justice in my medical practice."

Dr. Steven Landau, M.D. Smithfield, NC
"Dr. Dunning's dry needling course is far beyond just inserting needles into trigger points within muscles. Needling techniques are demonstrated for the direct treatment of tendons, ligaments, musculotendinous junctions, teno-osseus junctions and peri-neural stimulation. In addition, a comprehensive review of the literature underpinning the use of dry needling in musculoskeletal practice is given. I highly recommend this osteopractic dry needling course for all physical therapists interested in improving outcomes of patients with neuromusculoskeletal conditions."

Dr. Wade Baskin, DPT, Cert. SMT, Cert. DN Louisville, MS
"Dr. Dunning is the real deal; he can manipulate extremely well. He knows the evidence and dispels many of the myths and misconceptions about traditional manual therapy approaches. I recommend these osteopractic manipulation courses to all physical therapists, especially Fellows who want to become experts in spinal manipulation technique."

Marcos Parga, PT, ATC, FAAOMPT El Paso, TX

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