Orthopaedic Manual Therapy Courses
OMT-2 Advanced Soft Tissue Techniques
This course explores the marvelous myofascial system that extends from the base of the skull down to the soles of the feet and intimately connects, supports, and communicates with every structure and system in the human body.
Inflammation caused by acute trauma, repetitive overuse, or habitual poor posture results in the production of collagen fibers that are arranged haphazardly and bunched tightly together. There is a loss of ground substance and water, the tissue is no longer supple and flexible, which results in altered posture and movement.
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Participants learn a systematic structural evaluation that includes postural assessment, movement analysis, and palpation (rebounding, traction, muscle play, layer palpation, and skin rolling). Soft tissue treatment techniques covered include Massage, Trigger Point Therapy (TrPT), Myofascial Release (MFR), Pin & Stretch, Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM), Cupping, and Muscle Energy Technique (MET). Indications and contraindications for soft tissue mobilization are discussed as well as therapeutic exercise prescription. Emphasis is placed on restoring postural balance and fluidity of movement. Case studies of musculoskeletal conditions facilitate critical thinking and clinical reasoning. [Open to PT, OT, PTA, DO, ND, AT, LMT]
OMT-1 Manual Therapy Pearls from Head to Toe
It's typical to walk away from a good continuing education course with one or two "clinical pearls", things that you can apply immediately that will have a significant impact on your practice and patient outcomes. Imagine an entire course of "clinical pearls" that can be used to treat the most common musculoskeletal conditions. Participants learn manual therapy interventions routinely used by expert clinicians. Most are supported by research and others by years of clinical experience. Manual therapy interventions include myofascial release (MFR), pin & stretch, instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), cupping, muscle energy technique (MET), neuromobilization, joint mobilization, mobilization with active movement, and HVLA thrust manipulation. Participants will leave this course with manual therapy skills and treatment strategies they can apply immediately. The course is intended for novice and experienced clinicians and will facilitate critical thinking and clinical reasoning. [Open to PT, OT, DO, ND, AT ]
OMT-3 Joint Mobilization Upper Quarter
This course reviews joint morphology and arthrokinematics (roll, glide, and spin) for the cervical and thoracic spine, shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand. It identifies factors that limit accessory motion such as ligament or joint capsule shortening, meniscoid entrapment, fascial restrictions, muscle tightness, and minor positional faults. The convex-concave rule is applied in combination with direct manual assessment of accessory motion to determine the direction of motion loss. Participants are introduced to the barrier concept and learn to identify normal and pathological joint movement and different types of end-feel.
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Loss of accessory motion due to joint injury or overuse will result in dysfunctional physiologic movement and potentially affect other regions of the body.
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Participants learn mobilization treatment parameters that include identifying the joint that is restricted, direction of mobilization, type of mobilization (oscillation, sustained stretch, mobilization with active movement, and muscle energy technique), and lastly the correct mobilization dosage. Indications and contraindications for joint mobilization are discussed as well as therapeutic exercise prescription. Emphasis is placed on restoring postural balance and fluidity of movement. Case studies of common musculoskeletal conditions facilitate critical thinking and clinical reasoning. [Open to PT, OT, DO, ND, AT]
OMT-4 Joint Mobilization Lower Quarter
This course reviews joint morphology and arthrokinematics (roll, glide, and spin) for the lumbar spine and pelvis, hip, knee, ankle and foot. It identifies factors that limit accessory motion such as ligament or joint capsule shortening, mensicoid entrapment, fascial restrictions, muscle tightness, and minor positional faults. The convex-concave rule is applied in combination with direct manual assessment of accessory motion to determine the direction of motion loss. Participants are introduced to the barrier concept and learn to identify normal and pathological joint movement and different types of end-feel.
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Loss of accessory motion due to joint injury or overuse will result in dysfunctional physiologic movement and potentially effect other regions of the body.
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Participants learn mobilization treatment parameters that include identifying the joint that is restricted, direction of mobilization, type of mobilization (oscillation, sustained stretch, mobilization with active movement, and muscle energy technique), and lastly the correct mobilization dosage. Indications and contraindications for joint mobilization are discussed as well as therapeutic exercise prescription. Emphasis is placed on restoring postural balance and fluidity of movement. Case studies of common musculoskeletal conditions facilitate critical thinking and clinical reasoning. [Open to PT, OT, DO, ND, AT]
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OMT-5 Pain Neuroscience and Neuromobilization
This course explores current concepts in pain neuroscience. Failed pharmacologic approaches and invasive procedures and surgery have created an epidemic of dependency and disability. Participants learn how to integrate simple and effective educational strategies into treatment sessions to help their patients think differently about their pain. Changing a patient's mindset and altering their narrative about why they hurt "flipping the script" frees them from negative thoughts and allows them to finally heal. These strategies can be applied to conditions such as low back and neck pain to more complex regional pain syndromes.
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The course also covers neuromobilization, a manual therapy treatment used to improve nerve physiology and relieve pain. Neural structures (meninges, nerve roots, and peripheral nerves) must be able to slide, elongate, and compress in order to prevent damage. Excessive tension or compression on nerves can disrupt microcirculation and axonal transport which can lead to nerve injury. Participants first learn neurdymanic tests to determine their mobility and sensitivity to mechanical stress. The tests are followed by neuromobilization techniques such a sliders that improve the nerve’s ability to move within the body and tensioners used when pain is less reactive and the goal is to reduce sensitivity to tension. Neural container techniques position the body to open foramen or tunnels and mobilize joints and soft tissues (nerve mapping) related to the nerve pathway. Emphasis is placed on restoring postural balance and fluidity of movement. Case studies of common musculoskeletal conditions facilitate critical thinking and clinical reasoning. [Open to PT, OT, PTA, DO, ND, AT]
OMT-6 High-Velocity Low Amplitute Thrust Manipulation
This course builds on knowledge and skills learned in joint mobilization. Assessing joint mobility is reviewed and refined. The benefits of using a quick thrust (Grad V mobilization or mobilization with impulse) at the restrictive barrier are discussed and applied to clinical scenarios. The mechanical, physiological, and psychological effects of thrust manipulation are investigated. General and absolute safety considerations are discussed, particularly for the spine. A screening exam is adopted for the cervical spine based on current research criteria.
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Loss of accessory motion due to joint injury or overuse will result in dysfunctional physiologic movement and potentially effect other regions of the body.
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Participants learn long lever and short lever HVLA thrust techniques that gap or glide joints for the spine and extremities. Emphasis is placed on proper body mechanics and technique with ample guided practice. Current research regarding thrust manipulation is critically appraised and used to support appropriateness and efficacy. Emphasis is placed on restoring postural balance and fluidity of movement. Case studies of common musculoskeletal conditions are used to facilitate critical thinking and clinical reasoning. [Open to PT, DO, ND]
OMT-7 Medical Screening, Imaging, and Lab Tests
This course teaches therapists how to successfully integrate medical screening principles into an efficient and effective patient examination. A systematic approach to evaluating a patient’s history and performing a systems review enables therapists to identify risk factors, red flags, visceral pain patterns, and constitutional symptoms that warrant a medical referral.
Basic principles and interpretation of musculoskeletal imaging are covered. Emphasis is on plain film radiographs, MRI, ultrasound, CT, and nuclear imaging. Students will be able to provide sound reasoning for recommending that a patient have a diagnostic imaging test and be able to interpret radiologic reports and discuss patient cases with radiologists and colleagues. Patient cases are used to compare pathoanatomic diagnosis with actual symptoms and clinical presentation. [Open to PT, OT, DO, ND, AT]