Course Description:

This Spinal Manipulation course is designed to enhance and further develop the knowledge and skills of physical therapists by building upon their entry level training in orthopedic manual therapy of the spine and pelvis.  This course is based on the most recent and best available evidence regarding spinal assessment, screening, risk factors associated with manual therapy, safety, including precautions and contraindications, and the clinical implementation of spinal manipulation.  



The history of spinal manipulation, informed consent, and different theories of how to apply proper spinal manipulation will be discussed to improve the clinician’s understanding of current topics in manual therapy.  Discussion of other interventions such as therapeutic exercise, pain science, and education will be included in this course to ensure that clinicians are able to provide a multimodal treatment approach to spinal conditions that would benefit from spinal manipulative therapy. 



The primary emphasis of this course is the safe and skillful application of manipulative therapy of the spine.  Therefore, this course is a lab intensive seminar in order to achieve competence in performing high velocity low amplitude thrust procedures.  Instructor to student ratio is monitored in order ensure quality supervision and feedback on safe performance of all procedures.