Ola Grimsby has received international recognition for his expertise as both a clinician and instructor in orthopedic manual therapy. With an extensive background and education in athletics he focused on physical therapy and graduated from the Norwegian State Physiotherapy School and the Physical Therapy Department of Health in Oslo, Norway. In addition, he completed four years of postgraduate studies in orthopedic manual therapy with the Nordic Special Group for Manual Therapy and the Norwegian Physical Therapy Association.
Dr. Grimsby is a certified manual therapy instructor in the Norwegian National Program. He has served as chairperson for the Nordic Group of Specialists in Manual Therapy and for the Instructors Council in the Norwegian Physical Therapy Association’s Section in Manual Therapy. He serves as chairperson for the Specialist Group in Manual Therapy at the Norwegian Physical Therapy Association.
He was Norway’s first executive member of IFOMPT and a founding member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy. Mr. Grimsby is the founder of the OGI International Consortium of Orthopedic Manual Therapy with educational programs and independent study programs worldwide. He founded the first manual therapy journal in Norway and was a member of the Editorial Board at the Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy in the US. He has authored numerous books and articles in several languages. Under his leadership the Ola Grimsby Institute is granted the right to issue clinical doctoral degrees and PhD degrees in orthopedic manual therapy, and APTA accredited residency and fellowship programs throughout the US. In 1991 he received a Certificate of Authorization for Service as the Director of a California Postsecondary Educational Institution under CEC Section 94311. Ola Grimsby has received numerous honorary degrees and awards for his contributions to his profession.
EDUCATION IN PHYSICAL THERAPY:
Athletic School, Sønderborg, Denmark 1964 – 65
Norwegian State Physiotherapy School, Oslo, Norway 1967 – 70
Department of Health, P.T. Dept, Oslo, Norway 1970
EDUCATION IN MANUAL THERAPY:
Studies in Mobilization, Nordic Special Group for Manual Therapy, Oslo, Norway 1970 – 72
Manual Therapy, Norwegian Physical Therapy Association, Oslo, Norway. Includes studies at Norwegian Hospitals with three years of practice under supervision by Specialists in Manual Therapy 1972 – 74
TEACHING POSITIONS HELD:
Teacher in Manual Therapy – The Norwegian Professional Group of Manual Therapy, Norwegian Physical Therapy Association 1974 – 75
Instructor in Manual Therapy for the International Seminar School, Europe & Africa 1973 – 76
Principal Instructor for the Institute of Orthopedic Physical Therapy, teaching throughout the U.S.A. 1975 – 76
Instructional courses in Athletic Injuries in the Scandinavian Countries 1972 – 75
Courses in Manual Therapy throughout the world 1975 – 04
Teacher and Clinical Supervisor in the Norwegian three year national program in Manual Therapy 1975 – 91
Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Utah, US 1979 – 83
Program Director in Residency and Fellowship Programs in Orthopedic Manual Therapy located throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and Africa 1991 – present
Consultant, National Association for Manual Therapy, Belgium 1993 – 98
Consultant, Program in Manual Therapy, Switzerland 1992- 04
Professor of Record, Azusa Pacific University, Orthopedic Curriculum, Azusa, CA1997 – 2001
OTHER POSITIONS HELD:
Consultant in Ergonomics, Teacher in Industrial Safety, Falconbridge Nikkelverk, Kristiansand, Norway 1973 – 75
Director, Institute of Physical Therapy, Kristiansand, Norway 1973 – 75
Director, Sørlandets Fysikalske Institute, Vågsbygd, Norway 1977 – 89
Consultant and Instructor, Vest-Agder Podiatry School 1978 – 79
Member of the Editorial Board, The Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy, U.S. 1978 – 86
Chairman of the Council of Teachers in Manual Therapy, Norwegian Physical Therapy Association 1979 – 80
Executive Member of the Board, Nordic Group of Specialists in Manual Therapy 1979 – 83
Chairman of the Council of Teachers in Manual Therapy, Nordic Group of Specialists in Manual Therapy 1979 – 86
Adjunct Professor, University of Utah, U.S.A. 1980 – 83
Executive Member of the Board at the Norwegian Association for Private Practitioners in Physical Therapy 1983 – 84
Director, Sørlandets Fysikalske Institute, Kristiansand, Norway 1981- 1989
Chairman of the Nordic Group of Specialists in Manual Therapy 1983 – 85
Member of the Editorial Board, The Journal of Manual Therapy, Norway 1983 – 86
Director Sørlandets Fysikalske Institute, Sandy Utah 1983 – 93
Director, 1 1/2 year Clinical competency Programs in Manual Therapy, U.S.A. 1984 – 1989
Director, Sørlandets Fysikalske Institute, Everett, Washington 1986 – 1989
Director, two year Clinical Competency Programs in Manual Therapy, U.S.A. 1989 – 04
President, Ola Grimsby Institute, Inc.1990 – 94
Chairman of the Board, Ola Grimsby Institute 1994 – present
Member of the Editorial Board: Scientific Physical Therapy 1991 – present
Program Director, Masters Degree Programs in Orthopedic Manual Therapy, San Diego, CA – Los Angeles, CA – Upland, CA – Salt Lake City, UT – Albuquerque, NM • Nashville, TN – Birmingham, AL – Dallas, TX – Seattle, WA • Chicago, IL – Minneapolis, MN – Phoenix, AZ – Las Vegas, NV • Denver, CO – Spokane, WA 1991 – 96
Program Director, Dissertation Program with four years post-graduate education. San Diego, CA. 1992- 03
Program Director, Doctoral Degree Programs in Orthopedic Manual Therapy (DPT), San Diego, CA – Chicago, IL – Seattle, WA, Ft. Lauderdale, FL – New Orleans, LA – Anchorage, AK – St. Louis, MS1996 – present
Program Director, Doctoral Degree programs in Orthopedic Manual Therapy (DMT), San Diego, CA – Anchorage, AK1996 – present
Program Director, World’s first Ph.D. in Manual Therapy 2007 – present
Program Director, APTA-Credentialed Residency programs throughout the US2007 – present
Program Director, APTA-Credentialed Fellowship programs throughout the US2006 – present
POSITIONS IN NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
Member of the Norwegian State Physiotherapy School Board, Student Representative1968 – 69
Physical Therapist, Norwegian National Speed Skating Team 1970
Physical Therapist, Norwegian National Handball Team 1975
Executive Member, Representing Norway at the International Federation of Orthopedic Manual Therapy (IFOMT)1975 – 78
Treasurer, American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists 1992 – 95
Consultant, Belgium Association for Manual Therapy 1993 – 96
Consultant, Orthopaedic Manual Therapy, Switzerland 1993 – 04
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ola Grimsby Institute, Increase. International Consortium 1994 – present
Who’s Who Among Outstanding Americans 1994
International Who’s Who Among Professionals 1995
Docent – University of Gent, Belgium 1996 – 98
Member, Advisory Board, MOTION DNA, Phoenix, AZ2004 – 2005
Consultant, JZZ Technologies, Inc., Phoenix, Arizona2008 –2010
Director, Physical Therapy Associates, Louisiana 2011 – present
Chairman of the Board. The International Accrediting Commission for Physical Therapy Residencies. 2012 – present
Board of Directors, International Multi-disciplinary Association of Manual Medicine 2012 – present
Director, Ola Grimsby Institute – Europe2013 – present
Director, International Accrediting Commission for Post-Professional Programs 2014
COURSES AND PRESENTATIONS (abbreviated)
Series of Basic and Advanced 1 to 9 days courses in Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Manual Therapy in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Africa, Australia, Taiwan, Singapore, the Philippines, South Korea, Italy, Mexico, and throughout the United States and Canada. 1974 – present
Presentations at local and state chapters, national, international organizations and world conferences in exercises, manual therapy, orthopedic medicine, radiology, biomechanics, sports medicine and spinal care. 1973 – present
IFOMPT Conference in Cape Town 2004
IFOMPT Conference in Rotterdam 2008
IFOMPT Conference in Quebec 2012
International Spine Conference in Rome 2008
International Spine Conference in Parma 2010
Manipulation course in Venice 2011
Knee course in Parma 2012
Knee course in Varese 2013
Manipulation course in San Diego 2014
Basic Sciences Course in Oslo 2014
Annual OGI Competency Forums 1991- 2014
APTA CSM programs 1991 – 2013
HONORARY POSITIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS:
Member of the Norske Fysioterapeuters Forbund 1971
Member of Det Norske Fysioterapiforbunds Faggruppe i Manuell Terapi 1972
Member of Nordisk Spesialgruppe for Manuall Terapi 1973
Honorary Member of the Finish Manual Therapy Association 1983
Member of the American Physical Therapy Association 1991
Honorary Lifelong Membership as Founding Member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Therapy 2001
Honorary Doctoral Degree in Orthopedic Manual Therapy, Competency Forum, San Diego2007
PUBLICATIONS:
Fundamentals of Manual Therapy 1978
Manual Therapy of the Extremities 1978
Manual Therapy of the Spine 1978
Advanced Lumbar and Thoracic Manual Therapy 1985
Advanced Cervical Manual Therapy 1985
Technique Manual: Lumbar and Thoracic Spine 1985
Technique Manual: Cervical Spine and T.M.J.1985
Manipulation of the Spine 1988
Basic Sciences in Manual Therapy 1993
Scientific – Therapeutic – Exercise – Progressions 1994
Clinical & Scientific Rationale for Modern Manual Therapy 1994
Clinical Problem Solving in Manual Therapy 2000
STEP-Scientific-Therapeutic Exercise Progressions: Ein wissenshaftlich fundierter Zugang zu therapeütischen Übungen. Manuelle Therapie, 4-2000, Georg Thieme, Germany2000
Methode zur Messung, Bestätigung und Lokalisierung von Gelenkdysfunctionen und ihren Auswirkungen auf den Knorpel, Grimsby. Manuelle Terapie, MT-70, Germany.2011
Science, Theory and Clinical Application in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy, Applied Science and Theory, Volume I, Grimsby, Rivard 2008
Science, Theory and Clinical Applications in Orthopaedic Manual Therapy, S.T.E.P. Neck and Upper Extremity, Volume II, Rivard, Grimsby 2008
Science, Theory and Clinical Applications in Orthopaedic Manual Therapy, S.T.E.P. Lumbar and Lower Extremity, Volume III, Rivard, Grimsby, 2009
Numerous chapters in books and articles in national and international publications in several languages.1978 – present