Episode 18: Introduction to Dry Needling

Host Polly Swingle is joined by Dr. Nick Mischel, MD, PhD, and Steve Watts, MOT, OTR/L, CSRS, CBIS, AIB-VR, to discuss Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). This procedure is FDA approved to improve symptoms of major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), migraines, and to help people stop smoking when standard treatments haven't worked well. The group also discusses ongoing research on this procedure for other neurological conditions.

Dr. Nick Mischel, MD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience in the Department of Psychiatry at Wayne State University’s School of Medicine, which is also where he completed his undergraduate medical training. He specialized in clinical electromagnetic brain stimulation during psychiatric residency training at Duke University Hospital from 2015-2019. He currently practices psychiatry under Wayne Health and Greenbrook TMS, treating adult patients with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and other interventions for medication-resistant neurobehavioral conditions. He is a leader in the Clinical TMS Society (CTMSS), Fellow in the American Psychiatric Association (FAPA), a proud father, and Michigander.

Steve Watts, MOT, OTR/L, CSRS, CBIS, AIB-VR, has worked evaluating and treating individuals with stroke for over 10 years.

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Host Polly Swingle is joined by Brent Rieli, E-RYT-500 and Sheri Rieli, RYT-500, Co-Founders of the Plymouth Yoga Room to talk everything yoga and their journey in creating their studio in downtown Plymouth, Michigan.  Topics discussed include studies and statistics on the current state of the practice of yoga, the health and wellness benefits of yoga, and the connection of breathe to movement.

Brent Rieli, RYT-500, has been practicing Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga and meditation since the mid 1990’s, and is the co-director, along with his wife Sheri, of the Plymouth Yoga Room aka My Yoga Room, which they co-founded in 2009. Brent and Sheri are well known for their ability to cultivate incredible teachers through My Yoga Room’s 200 hr Yoga Immersion Program and their connection of breath to movement.

Sheri Rieli, RYT-500 is the owner and co-founder of Plymouth Yoga Room (now MY Yoga Room). Sheri’s schooling comes in the form of being a female business owner and Entrepreneur building a successful yoga studio with multiple locations creating space for 35+ teachers and over 25 other supporting staff members. Sheri along with her husband Brent opened their studio in 2009, and a second studio in 2017.

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Host Polly Swingle is joined by Alysha DeMay MS, OTRL, to talk about the sensory system, assessing sensory disorders, and implementing processing strategies for treating these disorders. Listen in to learn about strategies used in the rehab setting as well as tips and tricks to use on your own to better manage a sensory disorder.

Alysha DeMay MS, OTRL is the Lead Occupational Therapist at The Recovery Project in Lansing, Michigan.  She has specialized in the treatment of neurological diseases and disorders since 2017 with special interest in functional movement disorders, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and concussion.  Alysha is passionate about neuro rehab and excited to bring the latest research to practice.

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Host Polly Swingle welcomes Joe Currie to the podcast to talk about sleep. Joe shares a study on sleep he performed with a large company as well as tips and tricks to help maximize the benefits of sleep into your everyday life.

Joe Currie is the Executive Fitness & Nutrition Advisor at ROCK. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, a Certified Personal Trainer, and a Level 2 Master Health Coach with an emphasis on behavior change, stress management, sleep, and recovery. With over 35 years of experience in the health and fitness industry, his focus is on helping people build key fitness, nutrition, and health behavior skills that enhance their overall well-being for a lifetime.

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Host Polly Swingle is joined by Camden Iwasko, PTA, to discuss the latest research and evidence for the modern management of the older adult. Topics include the rehab, exercise, and physical therapy management of this population.

Camden Iwasko, PTA, has been a staff therapist with The Recovery Project since 2017. He earned his Bachelors degree in Biology from Olivet College prior to attending Baker College to become a PTA. His specialties include neurologic and orthopedic conditions as well as a certification in Blood Flow Restriction training. Camden is currently completing a certification involving exercise programming for the geriatric/older adult population.

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Host Polly Swingle is joined by Dr. Madeline Wideman, PT, DPT, to discuss the latest research and evidence for the treatment of those with spinal cord injuries. The importance of a multidisciplinary approach and care team is also discussed.

Dr. Madeline Wideman, PT, DPT, has been a Physical Therapist at The Recovery Project since 2018. She earned her Bachelors degree in Allied Health Science from Bowling Green State University in 2014 prior to her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Oakland University in 2017. Madeline specializes in neurological and orthopedic diagnoses with a primary focus in spinal cord injury and CVA. She is also dry needling certified.

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Host Polly Swingle is joined by Alissa Remijan, OTD and founder of TheraShield, LLC and Co-Owner of The Recovery Project, Charlie Parkhill to discuss the idea, creation, and steps in completing a capstone project focusing on product design for this beneficial and innovative tool to be used in the rehab world.

Alissa Remijan, OTD is the founder of TheraShield, LLC and a graduate of Western Michigan University. Creating TheraShield was a part of her product design capstone coursework as an Occupational Therapist and holds great capabilities for use in physical and occupational therapy sessions.

Charlie Parkhill is the co-founder and co-CEO of The Recovery Project since 2003. Charlie was injured in an ocean wave accident while vacationing with his wife in 1998, suffering an incomplete SCI at C -4/5. Given the typical prognosis of “you will never walk” and “will probably be fed through a feeding tube” he decided to put everything aside and vowed to beat “this thing”. 

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Host Polly Swingle is joined by Dr. Meghan Malley, PT, DPT, Julianna Filice-Hanna, M.S., CCC-SLP, Alysha DeMay MS, OTRL, and Dr. Olivia Risko, PT, DPT, to talk about the L.I.F.E Program (Learning Independent Function Everyday) for functional movement disorders, the latest research on this condition, and the effective multidisciplinary approach to helping those with FMD regain independence.


Dr. Meghan Malley, PT, DPT is the Program Director and Physical Therapist at The Recovery Project. She has specialized in the treatment of neurological diseases and disorders since 2008. She is also a Certified Oncology Rehabilitation Therapist with advanced training in physical therapy management for individuals diagnosed with cancer. Meghan also specializes in the management of Parkinson’s disease, including receiving certifications in LSVT BIG, PWR! and Rock Steady Boxing. She has been integral in the development of various medical and wellness programs at The Recovery Project. Meghan is a guest lecturer in the physical therapy program at Wayne State University and frequent presenter on topics involving physical therapy management of neurological diseases and disorders.

Julianna Filice-Hanna, M.S., CCC-SLP is a licensed Speech Language Pathologist with over 20 years of experience working in both the acute care/ICU and outpatient setting. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Michigan State University in Communication Sciences and Disorders and minor in Teacher Education and her Master of Science from Rush University in Chicago, Il. in Speech Language Pathology.  Julianna joined The Recovery Project in 2019 and specializes in the treatment of neurological conditions and has a specific passion for working with individuals with stroke, traumatic brain injuries, Parkinson’s disease and executive functioning disorder. She focuses her work on assisting individuals in developing and implementing communication and executive functioning strategies to feel successful, connected and engaged at school, home and/or work. Julianna enjoys educating the community and speaking to support groups as well as leading the LOUD Crowd wellness class.

Alysha DeMay MS, OTRL is the Lead Occupational Therapist at The Recovery Project in Lansing, Michigan.  She has specialized in the treatment of neurological diseases and disorders since 2017 with special interest in functional movement disorders, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and concussion.  Alysha is passionate about neuro rehab and excited to bring the latest research to practice.

Olivia Risko, PT, DPT is a staff Physical Therapist at The Recovery Project in Lansing. Olivia graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Exercise Science and graduated from the University of Michigan Flint in 2021 as a Doctor of Physical Therapy. Olivia has developed a passion for neurologic diseases and disorders, including Parkinsons disease, FMD, CVA, and SCI. She is a certified Rock Steady Boxing affiliate coach and has been a leader in implementing high intensity gait training in her clinical practice.

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Host Polly Swingle is joined by Dr. Meghan Malley, PT, DPT and Dr. Kayla Diebold, PT, DPT to talk about the APTA's Clinical Practice Guidelines for High Intensity Gait Training.

This episode is an overview of the evidence supporting HIGT and real-world clinical applications for this treatment.

Dr. Meghan Malley, PT, DPT is the Program Director and Physical Therapist at The Recovery Project. She has specialized in the treatment of neurological diseases and disorders since 2008. She is also a Certified Oncology Rehabilitation Therapist with advanced training in physical therapy management for individuals diagnosed with cancer. Meghan also specializes in the management of Parkinson’s Disease, including receiving certifications in LSVT BIG, PWR! and Rock Steady Boxing. She has been integral in the development of various medical and wellness programs at The Recovery Project. Meghan is a guest lecturer in the physical therapy program at Wayne State University and frequent presenter on topics involving physical therapy management of neurological diseases and disorders.

Dr. Kayla Diebold, PT, DPT, CSRS is a Lead Physical Therapist and the Site Coordinator of Clinical Education at The Recovery Project.  She has specialized in the treatment of neurological diseases and disorders since 2017 with special interest in Parkinson’s Disease, Stroke, and Vestibular disorders.  She is a Certified Stroke Rehab Specialist and heads the medical programming group for stroke at The Recovery Project. Kayla also has certifications in PWR! and Rock Steady Boxing for the management of Parkinson’s Disease. She is a guest lecturer in the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Macomb Community College and frequently presents on topics involving physical therapy management of neurological diseases and disorders across the continuum of care.

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• View our website at www.therecoveryproject.net
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Are you curious to learn more about all things dry needling? Then this episode is for you! 

Join host Polly Swingle and her special guest, Dr. TJ Hosa as they discuss the practice of dry needling...what is it, what conditions can it help, benefits and potential complications, insurance coverage, and of course, what is the research and evidence to support this treatment. You will come away from this episode with plenty of information and insight into a treatment technique that is gaining more and more popularity!


Dr. TJ Hosa PT, DPT earned his Bachelors Degree in Exercise Science from Ohio State University (2011) and Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Ohio University (2015).  TJ has been a Physical Therapist at The Recovery Project for 8 years.  He is the lead of the spinal cord injury and vestibular programs and has additional training in functional electrical stimulation (FES).  TJ also specializes in the implementation of high intensity therapy for patients with neuro diagnoses.  He is also certified in dry needling and has used it to treat spasticity and a multitude of pain syndromes. 

Learn more about The Recovery Project!

• View our website at www.therecoveryproject.net
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Thanks for listening!