Pain and dysfunction of the lower quarter are common presentations in the outpatient setting.   Conventional management often attempts to identify the painful structure and treat it directly. A more in-depth understanding of the drivers and mechanisms involved often reveals problems in other areas.

The course is designed to equip the therapist with the ability to differentially evaluate and treat the numerous causes of pain and dysfunction stemming from the lumbar spine, pelvis, hip, knee, and ankle. This involves looking for the ‘drivers’ not just the painful structure.

Participants will learn to assess the lower kinetic chain including the influences each area has on function. They can incriminate and vindicate the lumbar spine, pelvis, and hip using practical screening techniques. Treatment utilizing manual therapy and exercise is used in the hip, knee, foot, and ankle. Heavy emphasis on lower extremity biomechanics allows for static and dynamic foot and ankle evaluation along with orthotic prescription. Current evidence-based treatment strategies are used in the hip, knee, and ankle joint when treating biomechanical dysfunctions and tendinopathies including for example Tibialis Posterior and plantar fascia.

The assessment and treatment system taught will allow the participant to apply evidence-supported, sound clinical skills to be more effective in the lower quarter.

This is a very practical course for a clinician in the outpatient setting.

Course Objectives:

By attending this course the participant will be able to:

• Classify the lumbar spine into 6 syndromes

• Determine what is appropriate for physical therapy intervention

• Identify contra-indications of treatment

• Assess the contributing factors of joint dysfunction

• Use quick and effective tests to determine which joint is involved

• Assess primary and secondary joint dysfunction

• Recognize tendinopathies and provide correct management

• Effectively treat hypo- and hyper-mobile extremity joints

• Recognize the hip-lumbo pelvic link to dysfunction

• Prescribe corrective exercise

• Advise the patient in home management

Schedule:

DAY ONE

07:15  Sign in

08:00   Introduction to Orthopedic Manual Therapy                                       

09:00   Implications of lower extremity imbalance.                                                 

09:30   The six syndromes of the lumbar spine and pelvis.     

10:00  Break

10:10  Examination and testing of the pelvis, hip and lumbar spine.  Lab      

11:00  Treatment of Lumbar Derangement Syndrome     Lab        

12:00  Lunch (on own)

01:00  Treatment of dysfunction, combination, and stenosis syndromes. Lab

02:00  Examination of the hip     Lab                                                                       

02:30  Pathology of tendinopathies       

03:00  Break

03:10  Hip/Pelvis tendinopathy exercise treatment. Lab  

04:30  End of Day One.       Total 430 min

DAY TWO

  7:30. Sign-In

  8:00   Hip Manual therapy   exercise for OA  Lab   .                 

  9:00   Knee pathologies     

 10:00  Break

 10:10  Treatment of the knee. Lab                                                           

 11:30  Lower extremity Bio Mechanics   Lab                                                   

 12:00  Lunch

12:30 Treatment of the Ankle Lab                                                           

 01:15  Treatment of the foot  Lab 

 02:00  Treatment of plantar fascia tendinopathy     Lab  

 02:30  Summery and HEP review

03:00 End of course. Total 350.   (780/50=15.6 hours Florida 13 hours other states)

Educational Level:  Beginner to intermediate

Instructional Methods: PowerPoint Presentation, Video examples, Live demonstration, Supervised practicum