INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED
Meet the Founder
Michael shacklock
DipPhysio, MAppSc, FACP
Michael received his graduate qualification at the Auckland School of Physiotherapy in 1980, and completed a Graduate Diploma in Advanced Manipulative Therapy in 1989, and completed a Masters degree at the University of South Australia in 1993. He was awarded a Fellow of the Australian College of Physiotherapists for his monograph and international best-seller text book, Clinical Neurodynamics in 2005, and published two other books, Moving in on Pain (Elsevier) and Biomechanics of the Nervous System: Breig Revisited. Michael has authored, co-authored and mentored numerous research studies, editorials, commentaries and clinical papers in peer reviewed journals which have garnered many international awards, including Visiting Professor of the Faculty of Medicine, Barcelo University, Buenos Aires. He was a member of the International Advisory Board of the journal Musculoskeletal Theory and Practice, and is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy, USA.
Michael presents keynote addresses and invited conference lectures, trains staff at elite sports medicine facilities and sports clubs, universities, hospitals and private seminars around the world. His special interests are neurodynamics, the mechanics and physiology of the nervous system as it relates to muscuskeletal function, pain and injury. His most valued interest is how to synthesise science and clinical practice using evidence and reasoning. Michael is a clinician of 35 years experience and is recognised as an international leader in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders with a neural aspect.
Beyond Michael's teaching activities, he offers one-on-one mentoring for practitioners and telehealth consultations. If either are of interest to you, please contact us.
EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS
“Our mission is to bring the latest and innovative science, hands-on clinical skills and reasoning to physical health practitioners, for the diagnosis and treatment of nerve pain and movement disorders.”
NDS Certified Instructors
Michael Maxwell
DC, BHK
Michael is a Certified International Instructor for Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization according to Pavel Kolar, as well as for Michael Shacklock's Clinical Neurodynamics Solutions.
In 2002, Michael began facilitating workshops and seminars that featured practical, hands-on content, taught by industry leaders, and founded Somatic Senses Education in 2003. Since then, Michael has organized well over 300 continuing education courses throughout Canada featuring industry leaders such as Lorimer Moseley, Donald Murphy, Stuart McGill, Pavel Kolar, and the outstanding Prague School Physio’s, Clayton Skaggs, Brett Winchester, Michael Shacklock, Dale Buchberger, Jack Miller, Clare Frank, Robert Lardner, Mark Finch, Charlie Weingroff, and many more!
Throughout his career he has sought out key mentors, courses, and conferences to accelerate the acquisition of knowledge and skills necessary to help his clients and patients. His mission is simple: provide evidence-informed, practical, and world-class continuing education featuring industry-leading clinicians, educators, and researchers, with the ultimate goal of improving the standards of patient care!
Joe Gravino
PT, DPT, CertMDT
Joseph P. Gravino received his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Daemen College in 2015. Since graduation, Joseph has engaged himself in a variety of continuing education courses and experiences. He received his certification in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy within less than 1 year of being a full time physical therapist. Additionally, he has received certifications in diagnosis and management of vestibular disorders and concussions.
Joseph has worked with multiple leaders in their respective fields. Some including the management of chronic pain syndromes and those with peripheral nerve injuries. Currently, Joseph is an adjunct professor at University at Buffalo in their orthopedics curriculum, as well as a full time outpatient orthopaedic practitioner. In the near future, Joseph is applying for his Fellowship of manual Physical Therapy.
Joseph’s main goal is to provide the most evidence-based diagnosis, prognosis, and management of musculoskeletal disorders to the people of WNY in the most cost effective way possible.
Prof. Elena Bueno
DipPhysio,BCA,MAppSc, PhD
Elena graduated as a physical therapist in 2004 from the Universidad de Zaragoza and culture and social anthropology in 2008 from the Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia. She completed a Master of Orthopaedic Manual Therapy and has studied Social Gerontology at the Universidad de Zaragoza. She recently completed a PhD with a study on neurodynamic tests and neurodynamic sequencing.
She has been a clinical physical therapist since 2004 in orthopaedics and sports physical therapy. She has held the position of Adjunct Professor at the Universidad de Zaragoza since 2007 and has a member of the Physical Therapy Research Unit at this university since 2006. She has been an instructor on the IFOMPT recognized Master of Orthopaedic Manual Therapy course at the Universidad de Zaragosa since 2006. Elena has been a translator and reviewer of several books, including Skeletal Muscle Structure, Function and Plasticity: Physiological Basis for Physical Therapy, Musculoskeletal System Basic Biomechanics, Translatory Spinal Manipulation, Kurt Ekman’s Diacutaneous Fibrolysis and Manual Physical Therapy: Manual mobilization of the Joints. Volume II, Spine. Elena has taught Clinical Neurodynamics with Neurodynamic Solutions since 2008 and has translated and taught NDS courses in many parts of the world. She was a lead translator of Biomechanics of the Nervous System: Breig revisited into Spanish in addition to other nationally published papers and teaching material related to Clinical Neurodynamics. She presents at national and international congresses and was a member of the organizing committee of the first OMT-Spain Congress and of the Teachers Meeting held in Zaragoza on 2011. presents at national and international congresses.
Javier Navarra
BPT, DHE, MIASP
Javier has many academic and clinical interests which are a great asset to NDS. Javier graduated in Kinesiology and Physiatry from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) in 2000. In 2002 he moved to Spain were he obtained recognition as a physiotherapist from the Ministry of Education Culture and Sport.He has attended numerous courses in manual therapy and neurorehabilitation in Spain and South America. Now back in Buenos Aires, he is Professor of Research Methodology at the University of Business and Social Sciences (UCES) and Assistant Professor in Anatomy at the University of Buenos Aires. He obtained his diploma in higher education in health sciences in UCES and he is currently pursuing a master's degree in University Teaching at the University of Buenos Aires. He is Visiting Professor at the Universidad Autónoma del Sur, Arequipa Peru. Since 2008 he has given numerous courses and lectures in Manual Therapy, taping and biomechanics in many countries across Latin America.
He is an official intsructor for Vasyli Medical and the KTaping Academy for Latin America. Pain science has long been his special interest and Javier has given numerous presentations and lectures on the subject at national and international pain congresses. He is a member of the International Association for the Study of Pain and, since 2013, he has been a member of the executive board of the Argentine chapter of IASP (AAED), where he is currently the General Secretary.
MARCELO VIANA MARQUES FERREIRA, BPT, PDO
Marcelo has extensive experience in teaching manual therapy in Brazil and neighbouring South American countries. He graduated in physiotherapy 1997 from the Instituto Brasileiro de Medicina de Reabilitação. He then completed a post-graduate Diploma in Musculoskeletal Osteopathy at the Instituto Brasileiro de Osteopatia, Unigranrio in 2004.
After attending Michael Shacklock’s neurodynamics courses in Denver, USA in 2003, he has developed a keen interest in this subject and now teaches with NDS throughout Brazil.
Marcelo is also an accredited teacher of the Mulligan concept and he teaches this subject throughout Brazil and neighbouring countries. He has contributed to Leon Chaitow’s Positional Release Technique book, 3rd edition, 2007 and has also attended courses in movement concepts such as Bobath, PNF and courses on other manual therapy systems, such as Maitland and Mullligan.
Marcelo is currently a director of Physiotherapy at Samaritano Hospital (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and the director of Physioscience, a private practice in Rio. Marcelo translated Michael Shacklock’s book Clinical Neurodynamics into Portuguese for Elsevier, 2007.
KIRAN CHALLAGUNDLA
Phty, MAppSc, MIAP, FAGE
Kiran graduated as a physiotherapist from the Manipal College of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal, India.He then travelled to Adelaide, South Australia and completed a Master of Applied Science in Orthopaedics, Sports & Manual Physiotherapy at the University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia, graduating in 2005. He then worked in Michael Shacklock's clinic before returning to India to settle.He has been a physiotherapist for various sports teams and is currently the chief physiotherapist for the Indian National Badminton team with which he attended the 2012 Olympics games, 2010 Commonwealth games and the Asian games in 2010. He has been the physiotherapist for the Deccan Chargers cricket team in the Indian Professional League, Hyderabad Hotshots badminton team and the Christian Brothers College Old Collegians Australian Rules Football Club in Adelaide.Kiran is a certified yoga instructor and has a special interest in sports physiotherapy and manual therapy.
He is a certified NDS instructor, has been teaching with Neurodynamics Solutions in India and other parts of Asia since 2007 and continues to present at universities and seminar hosts in the region.He is the Director and course instructor for Maitland’s Foundation for Sports and Manual Therapy (MFSMT).
JULIAN WANG FERREIRA
MD, DC
Julian received his Doctorate of Medicine from Kaohsiung Medical University in Taiwan in 1990. He then worked in a public hospital as a surgeon for two years. In 1995, he completed a residency training of physical medicine and rehabilitation in Kaohsiung Medicine University Hospital and became a board-certified physiatrist in Taiwan. He also completed a Doctorate program of Chiropractic at the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic, Southern California University of Health Sciences in the U.S.A. in 2000. Since then, he has treated his patients with manual approaches for more than 20 years. In 2003, he established the Taiwan Association of Manual Medicine (TAMM) and was elected as its first President. He taught Rehabilitation Medicine as an Assistant Professor at the National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences in Taiwan from 2005 to 2006. He also has been appointed as a member of the Academic Board of the Taiwan Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation since 2017.
Julian has special expertise in musculoskeletal rehabilitation and manual medicine. He has completed many post-doctorate courses in osteopathy, chiropractic and physiotherapy. Since 2019, he has been appointed as the chair of the Taiwan chapter of Schroth Best Practice (SBP) and GBW braces for patients with scoliosis. He is also skilled at prolotherapy and neuro-musculo-skeletal ultrasound diagnosis and injection. In 2015, Julian founded the Somategrity Academy in Taiwan. It is an organization devoted to promoting the Somategrity Healing System and also a platform for top-tier systems of healing arts worldwide. In 2019, Julian became an NDS practitioner and started working with Michael Shacklock to develop NDS in Taiwan.
Mumento core values
Our guiding principles for exceptional healthcare solutions