This two hour lecture will equip the orthopedic physical therapist with a deeper understanding of both pain physiology and psychology. The current evidence highlights the complexity of pain being much more than a biomechanical mechanism. After this lecture, the clinician will be equipped with the knowledge to navigate both acute and chronic pain conditions with a biopsychosocial approach. 

This two-hour experience will prepare the orthopedic physical therapist to prescribe and execute programming to improve patient endurance.  Physiologic mechamisms and pathways for endurance will be reviewed. Evidence and clinical insight for different endurance models will be discussed, and clinical testing options will be presented. Case examples will be presented covering methodology from injured patient to elite athlete. 

This two-hour experience will prepare the orthopedic physical therapist to assist in the return-to-sport decision-making process after ACL injury. A shared-decision making model that can be used in ACL return-to-sport decisions will be presented with examples of its implementation in clinical practice. Evidence for the use of ACL return-to-sport test batteries will be discussed, and clinical and laboratory return-to-sport testing options will be presented, including testing of muscle strength, functional performance, movement patterns and patient-reported outcomes. Case examples with return-to-sport testing data will be provide to allow opportunities for learners to interpret testing results and recommend the next steps for patients returning to sport after ACL injury. 

The shoulder is one of the most mobile joint in the body and understanding the biomechanics of how it works in a variety of positions, especially overhead, is key to working with many fitness athletes. We will review shoulder biomechanics and common movement faults and apply these concepts to basic movements from the world of circus aerialists and pole dancers who use their shoulders in extremes. 

Peripheral nerve injuries of the upper extremity and their associated symptoms are frequent interruptions to daily activities.  This course will focus on evaluation and treatment of common upper extremity peripheral nerve conditions, including traction and compression neuropathies.  The course will focus on anatomy-based comprehensive evaluation, differential diagnoses, manual interventions, and movement pattern re-education.

This two-hour course will prepare the orthopedic physical therapist to understand and address hip biomechanics as related to dance athletes. The largest weight-bearing joint in the human body, the hip requires complex tri-planar mobility and stability. A dancer’s hip involves both gross and fine motor repetitive movement which can result in common functional impairments. “Turnout” is the hallmark of a dancer’s hip and it is the execution of this that epitomizes a dancer’s artistic athletic function. This course will be divided between two sections: discussion of anatomy and pathology of the hip as related to a dancer’s movement pattern, and hands-on experience and demonstration of appropriate treatment that can be applied to any athlete.

The elbow is a common site for injuries in overhead throwing athletes. This two hour course will highlight common injuries seen as well as the anatomy and biomechanics of the elbow. Lecture and case studies will be utilized to prepare the orthopedic clinician with the knowledge and skills necessary to treat throwing athletes of various levels. 

This two hour course will provide the orthopedic clinician an overview of pelvic floor dysfunction as it relates to overall core and hip biomechanics, coordination, and performance. Through movement analysis principles and awareness of the pelvic floor’s intimate relationship to the hip and core canister, clinicians will be empowered to understand the results of common compensations in fitness athletes on long-term pelvic health, as well as, performance.  With over 50% of women suffering from stress urinary incontinence, 1/3 experiencing pelvic pain at some point in their life and 75% of women in their 40s having had children, integrating pelvic floor knowledge is imperative in overall care of your patients, clients and athletes.  

This two-hour course emphasizes diagnosis and management of movement-related problems of the foot and ankle, applying Movement System Impairment (MSI) theory to running for the modern-thinking therapist. The course will enable the clinician to use foot and ankle examination findings along with gait analysis, to build an intervention. Education will include analysis along with specific interventions to address pain and movement, including muscle recruitment, strength and extensibility, bony alignment and structure, and elements of daily living such as gait and sport-specific activities. . Decision-making for immediate symptom reduction as well as prevention of recurrence will be considered.

Physical Therapy and rehabilitation have principles that go hand-in-hand with strength and conditioning. For most, making the transition from an exercise professional to a Physical Therapist is a common road. However, it is not a requirement to have a background in strength and conditioning to become a Physical Therapist, so these common themes may not ever be explored. The goal of this presentation is to provide the listener a brief overview of strength and conditioning principles and provide a bridge on how to best utilize these concepts in a rehabilitation setting. The learner will also receive a short crash course on common forms of strength training that your patient may participate in so that you can best tailor your treatment to their specific needs. Finally, we will explore the differences between performance and rehabilitation settings in the treatment of pain, how to effectively provide treatment progressions to an athletic patient population, and disclose important tidbits that will assist the learner on how to best communicate with, program for, and set goals with their patient athletes.  This presentation will utilize a lecture format and also incorporate active learning via a case study example. At the end of the presentation, the learner will have to take and pass a quiz to determine proficiency with the material.

This course with introduce physical therapists to the complex management of sport-related concussion. Participants will learn about the epidemiology and etiology of concussion. In addition, the many different systems that can be affected after concussion will be reviewed with brief overview of treatment approaches provided. Common hot concussion topics in the world of sports will also be explored.

Low back pain is a large contributor to musculoskeletal health care spending. There are many different treatment approaches. This two hour lecture will highlight both the role of manual therapy and movement education in the treatment of low back pain and enable the orthopedic clinician to integrate both into patient care. 

Based on the Nov 2020 meeting we decided to pull these out of the monthly sections, and these are optional for those who enjoy them.