Course Description:

   This course will involve interaction, hands-on skills lab and case-study discussions/Q&A. The course will begin with a review and discussion of the anatomy of the thoracolumbar spine. The clinician can expect to gain understanding of common pediatric/adolescent thoracolumbar spine conditions such as scoliosis, kyphosis, spondylolysis/spondylolisthesis, disc injuries, pelvic floor dysfunction, sacroiliac dysfunctions and myofascial low back pain. Current research on these conditions in the pediatric/adolescent population will be reviewed. Physical Therapy management and manual techniques for these conditions will be presented, with hands-on skills lab for clinicians to become familiar with effective techniques for this population. Clinicians will be able to obtain an understanding of thoracolumbar spine conditions of the pediatric/adolescent population and relevance of physical therapy management of these conditions. Case studies will be provided as examples so the learner may synthesize and integrate course material into clinical decision-making when treating the pediatric/adolescent patient with thoracolumbar spine conditions presented.