COURSE IS FULL. PLEASE CALL 406-543-1823 to be informed (at last minute notice) of a cancellation.
This is a secondary course, so prerequisites include reading material to be covered on your own, in advance, if you have not taken the introductory course.
Neurodynamics: Clinical Applications of the Lumbar Spine and Lower Quadrant
With a strong problem solving and “hands on” focus, this course updates the science of neurodynamics in relation to upper body disorders. Skilled handling of lower limb nerves and roots is taught via common clinical syndromes such as nerve root disorders, plantar fasciitis, patella femoral problems, lumbar nerve root problems and recalcitrant groin pain.
Participants are instructed in therapeutic education and therapy via active and passive movement strategies.
Course Aims:
The aim of the clinical applications course is to enhance the clinician’s ability to manage common peripheral neurogenic disorders through appropriate techniques incorporating patient education, manual therapy, therapeutic exercise and home programs. Course content will be based on best evidence from the basic sciences and clinic trials. Clinical reasoning strategies and case studies will be presented to enable participants to apply course content to the management of an individual patient.
Course Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the participant should be able to:
Describe the pattern of subjective and physical examination features thought to be indicative of a peripheral neurogenic disorder.
Discuss the neurophysiological pain mechanisms responsible for the clinical manifestations of a peripheral neurogenic disorder, and be able to express these mechanisms in language appropriate for patient education.
Describe the normal interrelationship between the physiology and biomechanics of the nervous system and its associated connective tissues, and discuss how alterations in this interrelationship contribute to the development and maintenance of peripheral neurogenic disorders.
Demonstrate the various examination techniques presented in this course for the detection of peripheral neurogenic disorders (e.g. neurodynamic tests, palpation, and examination of relevant neural container tissues).
Demonstrate the various techniques presented in this course for the management of peripheral neurogenic disorders (e.g. patient education, neural tissue gliding techniques, selected techniques to address relevant impairments in the neural container tissues).
Robert Johnson PT, MS, OCS is Co-Owner and Director of Residency Education for ACHIEVE Manual Physical Therapy in Chicago, IL. He is past –Chair of the Orthopedic Specialty Council of the ABPTS, serving on the committee for two consecutive terms from 1999-2007. He is a practicing clinician specializing in manual therapy, spinal dysfunction and pain management since graduating from Northwestern University in 1979. He is a former faculty member of Northwestern University Medical School and currently holds an adjunct clinical professor appointment from USC. He is one of five clinicians in the USA teaching with David Butler/NOI in the area of neurobiology / pain science /clinical neurodynamics an gd he also teaches a 10 month orthopedic manual therapy seminar each year in Chicago. Mr. Johnson continues to lead clinically relevant orthopedic seminars locally, nationally and internationally.
