Advanced Musculoskeletal Management: Spine I

Catalog description

This course will present the principles of orthopedic manual therapy as applied to the spine, pelvis, and cranial structures. Students will learn specific diagnostic tests involving these structures. Emphasis will be on motion analysis to identify normal and aberrant motion patterns of the cranium, spine, and pelvis. Students will learn to differentiate mechanical from nonmechanical sources of pain and dysfunction and to design and implement a comprehensive rehabilitation program to promote normal mobility and function. A review of differential diagnosis of spinal disorders will provide the basis on which students will build a sequential neuromusculoskeletal examination and specific intervention plan to correct dysfunction. Students will learn to apply principles of joint mobilization, muscle energy, myofascial release, positional release, functional mobilization and therapeutic exercises to improve function in patients/clients with movement dysfunction involving the craniosacral/spinal and pelvic structures.