About Us

After being paralyzed in 1946, Therese C. Pfrimmer developed a unique massage technique that allowed her to recover her mobility. Inspired by her own healing, she pursued formal training in massage therapy and physiotherapy while living in Chicago.  

She returned to her hometown of Goderich, Canada as a registered massage therapist and physiotherapist. For 34 years, she continued researching and proving the effectiveness of her technique, gaining the support of local doctors who allowed her to treat patients in three hospitals.

With the encouragement of a doctor friend, Pfrimmer wrote and published her book "Muscles: Your Invisible Bonds" in 1970. The following year, she opened the Pfrimmer Technique Deep Muscle Therapy School and taught her first class. 

Over the last nine years of her life, Pfrimmer trained 73 deep muscle therapists in her method. Before passing away on March 11, 1980, she developed guidelines for qualifying, training, and certifying professionals in the Pfrimmer Deep Muscle Technique, which are still followed today. She also helped establish the International Association and designated leaders to continue her work, including Ruthann Hobbs, who became the first Vice President of the Association’s Board of Directors and continues to serve as our honorary co-chairperson today. 

Through determination and a passion for helping others heal, Therese C. Pfrimmer overcame her own paralysis and built a legacy that continues to benefit people around the world. Her life’s work serves as an inspiration, demonstrating the power of perseverance and belief in one’s purpose. She dedicated herself to perfecting and spreading her technique for over three decades, changing lives and pioneering a new field of therapy.