Louise Merkx-Quinn, PT, OCS, Cert MDT

Education/Credentialing:

Physical Therapy B.A. (Summa Cum Laude)

STAFTO, 1985

Enschede, Netherlands

Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS)

American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties

Credentialed in the Mechanical Diagnosis and Treatment (Cert MDT)

International McKenzie Institute

Current Licensure to practice in Michigan

Memberships:

American Physical Therapy Association (within the association additional membership in the 

Michigan Chapter and the Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy Section)

International McKenzie Institute

Currently Louise works as adjunct faculty at Grand Valley State University in the Physical Therapy Program. 

Louise served at Spine Center of West Michigan for the past five years as a clinical specialist, being a resource for peers, directing staff development, presenting in different formal settings to other healthcare providers, and developing a pre-and post low back program.  A research project affiliated with the McKenzie institute was directed by Louise at Spine Center.  Prior to her appointment at Spine Center Louise worked at Mary Free Bed Hospital outpatient clinic as an orthopedic clinical specialist for four years.  She treated multiple different orthopedic (multiple trauma) and neurological disorders, was involved with the “Chronic Pain and Headache Program” and with the brain injury team.  She was for one and a half year on a weekend rotation at Metropolitan Hospital, where she saw patients in the hospital and the inpatient rehab, with an emphasis on Total Joint Replacements.

While at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Louise worked in the Sports Medicine Department.  She developed a gait clinic, where patients underwent a biomechanical analysis of the lower extremities, with possible orthotic management.  She was the lead therapist for hand rehabilitation.

Continuing education includes:

§         Mechanical diagnosis and therapy of the spine by Robin Mckenzie Parts A, B, C, and  D, followed by passing a one day certification exam

§         Locomotor biomechanics and applied Orthotic therapy

§          “ When the foot hits the Ground”

§         “ Taking it a step further “

§         Sports Orthotics – the Biomechanical Approach

§         Surgery and rehabilitation of the hand-’88

§         Comprehensive management of disc and soft tissue disorders of the spine

§         Introduction to the Feldenkrais Method

§         The Feldenkrais Method : Motor learning strategies for the rehabilitation of back pain

§         The study of biomechanics with muscle energy technique for the pelvis, sacrum, cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine

§         An integrative approach to the examination and rehabilitation of the shoulder

§         Shoulder mechanics and rehabilitation

§         Mechanical Exercise Approach

§         Introduction to NDT

§         Functional Rehabilitation

§         APTA Conference 1990 and 1994

§         Combined sections meeting of the APTA 1998.

§         McKenzie conference  2000

§         The Laslett approach to the lumbopelvic area

§         Training of the pelvic floor and bladder muscles

§         Spine symposium  “Physical Therapy principles for treatment”

§         Self study through literature review and several home-study courses (APTA)