Cynthia Card Heads New TIRR Spine Program

Cynthia Dew Card, a board certified specialist in orthopedic physical therapy with a master's in Orthopedic Manual Therapy (OMT), has been appointed Spine Education Coordinator of the new spine therapy service for the TIRR Systems company by TIRR Rehabilitation Centers (TRC) president Robert E. Dalecki.

Card, the only physical therapist in Texas with both OMT and OCS (Orthopedic Clinical Specialist) designations, has been with TIRR Rehabilitation Centers since April 1997.

The spine program joins TIRR Rehabilitation Centers' hand program and industrial rehabilitation program in offering specialized services for these areas of increased demand.

"She is considered to be one of the highest ranked physical therapists in the nation for the treatment of orthopedic spine injuries," said Dalecki. "A recent independent review of outcomes data consistently shows that her clinical results are among the nation's best for quality outcomes and patient satisfaction."

In her new position, Card will coordinate other TIRR therapists as they organize evaluations, protocols and treatments of orthopedic spine injuries. She will continue to treat patients at TIRR Rehabilitation Centers, and will travel to other TRC outpatient clinics to teach and provide on-site training of therapists.

"Physical therapists have different backgrounds and approaches to patient treatments," Card said. "I want our TRC therapists to have the tools needed to provide consistent evaluation and treatments that lead to the best outcomes for patients. I want physicians and health insurance companies to know that any patient referred to a TIRR Rehabilitation Centers facility will receive quality care, as well as thorough and consistent documentation."

Orthopedic spine injuries continue to present significant problems to employees and employers. Card is constantly studying different research results and methods to most effectively treat these problems. Presenters will say the method they use is the most effective, but Card does not always agree.

"If one method were 100 percent effective, we would all use that method," Card said. "There are so many factors that affect spine injuries, such as work habits, sports and recreational activities, general lifestyle habits, genetics, arthokinematics, and postural changes. Many extremity injuries are straightforward, such as reconstruction on a torn anterior cruciate ligament. There is a usual protocol for rehabilitation following this surgery, and a physical therapist knows exactly how to get a patient up and running. But nothing is ever simple in neck and back injuries. I enjoy reading detective novels, especially the process of looking for clues and eliminating certain factors. Physical therapists are great detectives. We must look at all the clues and not jump to any conclusions."

Card became interested in healthcare during middle school, where she was fascinated by her science and biology courses. After her freshman year of college, she talked at length with a family friend who is a physical therapist.

"My friend said that after 18 years, she still loved to go to work every day."

Following in her friend's footsteps, Card enrolled for her second year of college at Texas Woman's University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in physical therapy.

After graduating, Card worked with neurological and orthopeic patients, and became fascinated with neck and back injuries. There was a lot of research on extremity injuries and protocols, and very little on treatments of spinal injuries. In working with therapists who were trained in manual therapy she was impressed with the palpatory skills and evaluation procedures they used.

"Of all the courses I have taken, I think the Norwegian approach makes the most sense," said Card. "This is a two-year master's program through the Ola Grimsby Institute. It is a methodical and systematic evaluation of the tissues, similar to the approach taken for sports and extremity injuries. I flew to Dallas every other weekend for two years to complete this advanced program in OMT."

In addition, Card has postgraduate certification through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists. To sit for that exam, and to become an OCS, there is a long application process which includes many years of practice, teaching, and recommendations from physicians before one can take the six-hour test, which she mastered in 1995.

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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