Michele Masset

About

Michele Masset is a pioneer in integrating manual physical therapy, acupuncture, and functional rehabilitation. She has been in practice for more than 31 years and studied in the United States, Europe, and Asia. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Physical Therapy from University Libre de Bruxelles in Brussels, Belgium in 1986 and received her Master's Degree in Acupuncture from the Maryland Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1997. Michele also studied at the International Yokai School in Brussels, where she received a degree in shiatsu therapy (Japanese acupressure). 

Michele spent many years abroad honing her skills to complement her training. She worked with pediatric patients in Alyn Hospital in Jerusalem, Israel; volunteered with Mother Theresa as a physical therapist in an orphanage in Calcutta, India; and did a two-month internship in the Tuina (Chinese medical massage) department in Long Hua hospital, affiliated with the Shanghai College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China. After seven years in private practice in Brussels, Michele moved to Washington, D.C. in 1994, and worked with pediatric and adult patients in hospitals and outpatient orthopedic, sports medicine, and pain management clinics. In 2000, she opened the Masset Acupuncture & Physical Therapy Center to offer a more comprehensive quality of care than it is currently found in mainstream physical therapy. 

Michele's specialties include integrative neuro-orthopedic rehabilitative medicine and pain management. She trained with Dr. Robert Gerwin at his renowned Pain and Rehabilitation Medicine program in Bethesda, Maryland. Michele also completed the full training in trigger point manual therapy and dry needling developed by Dr. Janet Travell, the pioneer in applying these techniques to myofascial pain.

 Michele is extensively schooled in hands-on therapies. She received her integrative manual therapy certification from Great Lakes Seminars, one of the leading programs in this specialty, and completed additional courses on the role of brain plasticity and pain management at the Neuro Orthopedic Institute, led by Australian physical therapist and neuroscientist David Butler. She has completed the full curriculum in visceral, neural and articular manipulation at the Barral Institute, developed by French osteopath Jean-Pierre Barral and has become a teaching assistant in visceral manipulation. she has also studied CranioSacral Therapy at the Upledger Institute in Florida.

 Michele is continuously finding and applying innovative techniques to help ensure her patients' rehabilitation is comprehensive. In 2001, she completed training in Yamuna Body Rolling (YBR) and is the most senior YBR instructor in the Washington, D.C., area, teaching this technique privately and in group classes. Michele incorporated the Gyrotonic Expansion System into her functional rehabilitation practice in 2003. She also draws from the French osteopathic postural rehabilitation technique called les chaines musculaires de Busquet.

My Skills

AN INTEGRATIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO YOUR CARE 

Masset Acupuncture & Physical Therapy Center, founded by Michele Masset, employs a unique combination of manual physical therapy, acupuncture, and functional rehabilitation to help patients suffering from pain and a broad variety of orthopedic, neuromuscular, women's health, and visceral conditions.

 As one of the Washington DC area's most highly regarded, innovative, and insightful manual physical therapists and acupuncturists, Michele Masset's distinctive approach to integrative therapy draws upon both Eastern and Western medical systems in helping identify and treat the causes of dysfunction and pain.

 Michele has mastered the art and science of understanding the complex and subtle interactions between the musculoskeletal, neurological, visceral, craniosacral, and energetic systems of the body. In contrast to conventional rehabilitation, which only addresses symptoms of problems, Michele's approach focuses on understanding and successfully treating the root of the pain or dysfunction. 

Michele delivers powerful, comprehensive, and long-lasting health improvements that improve her patients' quality of life, empowering and educating them to continue their care from home.

 Michele's outstanding diagnostic skills lay the foundation of her integrative treatment approach. Each one-on-one hour session combines a broad variety of cutting-edge techniques that she carefully selects depending upon a patient's need. 

The results are unequivocal - treatments are more successful, longer lasting, and life-changing for her patients. Michele treats a wide variety of conditions and has great success with patients who have not benefited from more traditional therapeutic approaches. 

The Masset Acupuncture & Physical Therapy Center Commitment to You
� Offer you the highest quality care
� Bring you the best and the most progressive treatment techniques
� Develop a partnership with you to treat the root cause of your problem
� Offer an effective personalized and holistic approach to your care
� Provide one-on-one, hands-on treatment for 60 minutes of expert attention
� Dedicate myself to continual education to ensure my skills are state of the art
� Empower you to learn about and care for your body 
� Enhance your heath and improve your quality of life
� Create a space where you will be heard, cared for and educated

Professional Associations / Memberships

Acupuncture Society of Washington, D.C.
American Physical Therapy Association
Barral Institute
Gyrotonic Headquarters
Maryland Acupuncture Society
National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Neuro Orthopedic Institute
Upledger Institute
Yamuna Body Rolling Headquarters