Course Description:

This course covers two challenging areas that physical therapists face regularly, that is managing shoulder injuries and chronic pain. This course is designed as a hands-on course with much interaction between participants and instructors. An algorithm for assessing potential underlying complex conditions must be screened during the initial evaluation and will be shared. Participants will have the opportunity to practice evidence-based evaluation techniques of the upper quarter, focusing on specific biomechanical assessment of the shoulder and scapula. Intervention techniques for musculoskeletal injuries of the shoulder often restore mobility, neuromuscular control, and strength/power to the patient. EMG-based exercise interventions will be demonstrated and practiced in this course. One unique aspect of this course will be the introduction of a functional testing laboratory with the upper extremity to provide clinicians with tools to assess the function of patients from shoulder arthroplasty to return to sport
The second challenging area covered in this course will be how to recognize and treat the complex patient with comorbidities of chronic pain progressing to central sensitization, possible substance use disorder (SUD), and other trauma-induced mental illness. Participants will learn how to recognize, screen for, and treat these comorbidities with a holistic approach. This course will assist the PT to begin to integrate pain neuroscience education (PNE), addiction neuroscience education (ANE), and new research in this area with the use of survey tools, PT case studies, and the APTA KY Pain and Addiction Tool Kit.