Renée St. Jean PT, DPT, CEAS has been in physical therapy practice since 1986. Under her direction, NEUROMUSCULAR REHABILITATION, P.A. has been in successful private practice since 2000, from its offices at 179 Lisbon Street in Lewiston, Main
Over the course of three decades, St. Jean has focused on the meaningful treatment of chronic pain through neuromuscular re-education. More recently, NEUROMUSCULAR REHABILITATION has utilized surface electromyography to assist in providing her clients with detailed movement pattern correction. This technique has proved very useful in the treatment of persistent pain and myofascial syndromes due to overuse, injury or poor ergonomics.
Her occupational background includes providing onsite physical therapy to employees of Bath Iron Works, L.L. Bean, Pioneer Plastics, Globe Industries, Village Candle, UNUM, multiple shoe manufacturers and dozens of office where she has conducted ergonomic evaluation, set up and training for proper computer use. St. Jean has additional post-Doctoral training in Ergonomic Evaluation and Assessments, Dry Needling, manipulation and manual therapy, McKenzie Institute training, Functional Capacity Testing, Chronic Pain Management and extensive Biofeedback training. She continues to provide corporate in-servicing for proper ergonomics, body mechanics and repetitive myofascial strain injury prevention, Back Schools and on-site job evaluations.
NEUROMUSCULAR REHABILITATION utilizes surface electromyography (EMG) to assist in the evaluation and correction of abnormal movement and guarding patterns. These patterns typically lead to exacerbation of chronic pain and limited work capacity. By transmitting electrical muscle readings to a computer screen, St. Jean is able to:
- Correct dysfunctional movement patterns.
- Teach reduction of forces during sustained contractions needed for job tasks.
- Teach relaxation through reciprocal inhibitory techniques.
- Teach postural correction and symmetry.
- Evaluate carryover of corrective patterns into job simulation tasks and activities of daily living.
- Uptrain weak muscles and down train hyperactive ones.
- Evaluate proper technique during exercise programs.
- Objectively evaluate endurance to repetitive tasks or exercises.
- Evaluate and correct stretching techniques.
- Document objective changes in muscular condition pre and post treatment.
Appropriate referrals to St. Jean may include, but are not limited to, the following diagnoses:
- MYOFASCIAL PAIN SYNDROME
- CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDER
- SHOULDER IMPINGEMENT SYNDROME
- THORACIC OUTLET SYNDROME
- HEADACHES / MIGRAINES
- NEURAL COMPRESSION SYNDROMES OF THE UPPER EXTREMITY
- ROTATOR CUFF TENDONITIS
- BACK PAIN
- PATELLAR TRACKING PROBLEMS
- CERVICAL IMPINGEMENT
- CHRONIC SEGMENTAL ROTATIONAL DYSFUNCTIONS / RIB SOMATIC DYSFUNCTIONS
It’s important to note that early referral for suspected muscular dysfunction considerably reduces the number of treatments needed to achieve goals. However, most referrals to NEUROMUSCULAR REHABILITATION are those patients who have not seen the benefits of traditional, more conservative treatments as well as surgical interventions.
“We frequently find in these cases that exercises which have been prescribed most appropriately are being done quite incorrectly, thereby exacerbating the patient’s pain rather than helping it,” St. Jean explains. “That may sound dispiriting but it’s actually good news: By correcting these abnormal movement patterns and guarding postures, a patient is usually able to significantly reduce their pain and improve their functional capacity. Surface EMG can also play a vital role in assisting those patients who may be intolerant to medications.”
NEUROMUSCULAR REHABILITATION also provides Biofeedback services offering specialized treatment for those clients suffering from conditions such as Tension and Migraine Headaches, Stress Induced Hypertension, Anxiety and Panic Disorders.