Amanda Blackmon, PT, DPT, OCS, CMTPT/DN

Amanda (Mandy) Blackmon, PT, DPT, OCS, CMTPT/DN is a senior instructor for Myopain Seminars' dry needling eductation program. She received her BSEd in Exercise and Sports Science and a Masters Certificate in Gerontology from the University of Georgia in 2002, and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Emory University in 2005. She is a board-certified specialist in orthopedic physical therapy with 20 years of clinical experience treating patients with complex musculoskeletal and upper extremity conditions. Dr. Blackmon specializes in the care of performing artists and dancers, with extensive experience managing shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand injuries related to overhead work, weight-bearing through the upper extremity, acrobatics, and partnering. She was the head physical therapist for Atlanta Ballet for 11 years and owns a private practice in Atlanta focused on chronic and persistent pain, including upper extremity pain syndromes, hypermobility-related shoulder instability, and complex regional and neuropathic pain presentations. Mandy is a managing and founding partner of Atlanta Dance Medicine, a multi-site practice where PTs provide on-site care and injury prevention services for performing artists. Her current research interests include hypermobility and its impact on upper extremity load tolerance, Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) and injury risk, trigger points and dry needling for upper quarter pain, and injury surveillance and prevention in dancers and performing artists. She frequently integrates upper extremity assessment and rehabilitation into these research and clinical initiatives. Dr. Blackmon lectures locally, nationally, and internationally on topics including upper extremity injury prevention and rehabilitation in performing artists, hypermobility, RED-S, and dry needling. As an instructor for Myopain Seminars in the Janet Travell Dry Needling Training Program, Dr. Blackmon is leading the training program targeted at Certified Hand Therapists and upper extremity therapists, with particular emphasis on clinical reasoning for the cervical, scapular, and upper extremity regions.