Instructors & Assistants

Meet Our Staff

Edo Zylstra, PT, MS, IMSp - Instructor and Director

Edo Zylstra was active in developing the current standards for trigger point dry needling training in Colorado.  He has taught over 25 dry needling courses internationally and is currently developing more advanced techniques for therapists experienced in TDN.

Edo Zylstra received his masters degree in physical therapy from Regis University in Denver, CO.  He currently practices as a PT and is co-owner of Sport and Spine Physical Therapy, Brighton in Colorado, since 2005. Before then he spent over four years working in a chronic pain clinic specializing in manual therapy utilizing intramuscular stimulation (IMS), and trigger point dry needling. He received his certification for dry needling from The Institute for the Study and Treatment Of Pain (iSTOP) in Vancouver, British Columbia. Edo then took a second training course through Pain and Rehabilitation in Bethesda, Maryland,  where he learned Travell & Simon's techniques for diagnosis and treatment of myofascial pain and trigger points. Edo was instrumental in the process of getting trigger point dry needling accepted as a treatment technique within the scope of practice for physical therapists in Colorado.  Edo has been instructing both Level I and Level II TDN courses since 2006. In 2007 he joined Robert De Nardis to develop and instruct the TDN courses in Australia.  In 2008 Edo and Robert founded GEMt - Global  Education of Manual Therapists located internationally in the United States and Australia.  Edo has a passion for TDN therapy and has continued to educate therapists around the world in the benefits of TDN as well as trained more therapists every year to perform the technique than the prior.

Lesley Poladsky, B.S Psyc, - Course Coordinator

Lesley has worked in the healthcare field for the past 6 years.  She earned her B.S. in psychology from the University of Colorado at Denver and soon began working at a pain managment clinic as a medical assistant and ultimately moving into managment.  Edo zylstra, (Director and instructor of GEMt) also worked at this clinic as a provider specializing in TDN/IMS.  In 2005 Edo opened a private practice physical therapy clinic (Sport & Spine Physical Therapy, Brighton) and Lesley was hired as the office manager.  Since then Lesley has worked with Edo to develope GEMt's TDN courses along with Robert De Nardis.  She has enjoyed watching the development of TDN treatment and training spread throughout the US and hopes to aide in GEMt's development and presentation of many more continuing education courses.

Dr. Anne-Marie Fox, PT, DPT, COMT - Course Assistant

Annie has been practicing for over 20 years, focusing on the areas of TMD (temporomandibular dysfunction), orofacial pain and spinal disorders. She progressed from a neurological rehabilitative setting to private practice settings where she began her training in the area of head, neck and TMD under the guidance of Professor Mariano Rocabado, PT from Santiago, Chile. She continued in this specialty with further progression in treatment of the entire musculoskeletal system. She is a Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist trained by the Maitland/Australian approach to manual therapy. Annie received IMS treatments after a bad car accident in 1998 and was inspired to learn this technique to better treat her own patients. She became a Certified Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS) practitioner in 2001.

Andy Free, MS,PT,IMSp - Course Assistant

Andy has been working in the field of Physical Therapy since 1993 and acquired his Master of Science in Physical Therapy from Regis University. Andy is currently with Physiotherapy Associates at their Greenwood Athletic Club location. Andy has taken extensive continuing education in manual therapy focusing on spinal manipulation, Maitland mobilization, Nags & Snags Mobilization, rib dysfunctions; nerve-dural mobilization, muscle energy techniques, soft tissue and myofascial trigger point treatment. Andy is also certified in Intramuscular Stimulation Technique (I.M.S.).

Mike Kohm, PT - Course Assistant

Mike presently works at Alta Physical Therapy and Pilates in Boulder, CO and has 15 years of physical therapy experience. Mike has taken over 25 continuing education courses and specializes in treatment of the spine, orthopedic injuries, and headaches. Mike is a co-owner of Whole Yoga in Denver and enjoys incorporating functional movement assessment into evaluation. Mike took the first level 1 & 2 classes offered in Colorado and is in his third year of treating patients with TDN. TDN has proven to be a great compliment to treatment and the appropriate patients respond very well.

Keri Maywhort, MPT - Course Assistant

Keri received her Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy in 1998 from Mount Saint Mary’s College in Los Angeles. Specializing in manual therapy for spine dysfunctions she has experience working with a myriad of soft tissue and joint dysfunctions responsible for neck and back pain and headaches as well as shoulder and knee injuries. She previously worked as an assistant instructor with Manual Therapy Seminars in the United States and England teaching physical therapists and other health care practitioners techniques for assessment and management of spine problems and other musculoskeletal dysfunctions. She has also utilized diagnostic ultrasound imaging for treatment of segmental lumbar spine and cervical spine stabilization. As a native of Colorado she enjoys all that the mountains have to offer including skiing, hiking and mountain biking.

Matthew Nelson PT, DPT - Course Assistant

Matt is currently the Director of Orthopedic Physical Therapy at Canyon Rim Physical Therapy in Salt Lake City, UT. Matt is also an affiliate instructor for Regis University's physical therapy program. Prior to this position, he had worked with Sport and Spine Physical Therapy in Brighton, CO. He has been performing trigger point dry needling for the past 18 months and has also been a lab assistant for the Trigger Point Dry Needling Techniques courses over the past year.

Scott Wacker PT, DPT - Course Assistant

Scott attended Regis University in Denver for both his undergraduate degree in Biology and his Doctorate of Physical Therapy.  Currently he practices in Vail, Colorado where he specializes in TDN, manual/manipulative therapy, and functional rehabilitation.  He is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and is currently working toward his Orthopedic Specialist Certification (OCS).  Scott is an affiliate faculty at Regis where his course responsibilities have included teaching human anatomy and musculoskeletal management to graduate level students.  During his free time is very active outdoors. He especially enjoys exploring the mountains with his wife Megan via ski, bike or on foot.

 Chris West MPT - Course Assistant

Chris has been a practicing therapist in Boulder, CO for 15 years specializing in sports therapy and spinal dysfunction treatment. He finished his training in trigger point dry needling in 2007 and has successfully integrated it into his manual therapy practice with great results. He currently sees regular referrals from local physicians for dry needling specifically and as an adjunct to other therapy interventions.











  





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