Shoulder Certification Series

With the CDC reporting more than 13 million Americans seeking medical treatment annually, shoulder dysfunction is one of the most pervasive orthopedic conditions attended to by clinicians. However, due to the complex nature of the joint and surrounding soft tissue, treating the pain and disability of upper quadrant musculoskeletal disorders presents a challenge to even the most experienced therapists. With changes in health care and third-party reimbursement, therapists must be proactive and adequately trained in the provision of services related to the rotator cuff, impingement syndrome, idiopathic adhesive capsulitis, and other less common impairments. In the era of evidence-based treatment and client-centered care, treatment protocols and good clinical reasoning skills must be employed to treat these conditions effectively and efficiently.

What this certification series will address:

Participants of this certification will learn specific proven exercises and treatment strategies for functional dynamic motor control re-education to include in a home exercise program that can immediately be incorporated into practice for better clinical outcomes. Therapists will learn how to analyze scapular dysfunction focusing on anatomical considerations to optimize patient outcomes. These include, but are not limited to, the contributions of muscle-length relationships and motor control in shoulder impairments. This certification will outline how to analyze scapular impairments and provide corrective exercises. These techniques will be presented in a way that will allow you to immediately incorporate these concepts into your practice. A case-based clinical reasoning approach will provide participants with the ability to clearly communicate findings with patients and colleagues. Clinicians with all levels of experience and expertise will be able to effectively categorize patients with shoulder dysfunction into clear treatment-based categories to facilitate effective treatment.