Differential Diagnosis and Musculoskeletal Management of the Foot and Ankle – Eugene OR – Oct 2024

22.5 Education Hours: 8 hours of Online Self Study + 14.5 Hours of hands-on experience

All ankle pain is not just a sprain. Learn to differentially diagnose and effectively treat pain in and around the ankle and foot.

Whether or not you regularly see painful ankle/foot conditions in the clinic, this complex should be assessed and treated as an essential part of the kinetic chain of movement up to T6-7. In treating conditions in the spine or lower quarter, being able to identify contributing perpetuators via dysfunctions in the ankle/foot is key to optimal outcomes. Treatments for the spine, knee and hip result in quicker and more permanent improvement when ensuring the foot can optimally adapt to the terrain on landing and to lock fully in push-off.

This two-part hybrid course offers the best of both worlds of learning. Eight hours of online didactic information is provided on advancement in anatomy, pathology, and interpretation of the clinical examination, completed as a self-study program. The hands-on experience at the two-day live course emphasizes mentoring of skills and techniques associated with surface anatomy, clinical testing, soft tissue, and joint-specific techniques, as well as problem-solving via case studies.

Special topics include arthritis/arthrosis; instabilities of the syndesmosis, talocrural and subtalar joints; complications of ankle sprains such as anterior tibiotalar compression and sinus tarsi syndromes; peripheral neuropathies at the ankle and foot; and soft tissue pathologies such as tendinitis, tenosynovitis, fasciitis, and bursitis.

Method of Instruction

The 8 hours of online study is self-paced and available 24/7. It is segmented into lecture modules plus module assessments to gauge understanding (must meet a minimum score prior to moving to the next module). Viewing time can be started and stopped as desired. Course certificates can be printed upon completion of the course.

The LIVE portion of this course offers short lecture and extensive hands-on lab demonstrating and mentoring techniques. PowerPoint presentations are used, and participants receive a digital manual with all course materials. This experience focuses on techniques and problem-solving, as well as clinical analysis, synthesis and application via case studies. Instructors ensure participant understanding via observation and skills self-assessments.

Target Audience: PT, PTA, ATC

Instruction Level: Advanced

Prerequisites: Diagnosis and Management of the Foot and Ankle, an 8-hour online lecture series – included with registration.

Course Outline-Hybrid Foot and Ankle

1. Become an expert in evaluation of ankle/foot conditions with confidence in differentiating various musculoskeletal pathologies.
2. Effectively combine selective treatment methodologies from manual therapy to movement to psychosocial considerations that lead to optimal and efficient patient outcomes.

1. Select appropriate evaluation and treatment techniques through knowledge of patho-anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics for the most efficacious and expedient patient care outcomes.
2. Formulate a working clinical diagnosis based on the interpretation of the clinical examination.
3. Create effective treatment plans that incorporate accurate surface anatomy and tissue physiology of the ankle and foot.
4. Assess the kinetic chain to determine the causal or perpetuating factors contributing to the patients’ conditions.
5. Propose clinical reasoning strategies to solve case studies with complex patients’ pathologies with dysfunctions and comorbidities.
6. Generate the most effective techniques that combine soft tissue and specific articulation techniques to affect total treatment of the ankle and foot.
7. Construct problem-specific exercises for the ankle and foot, taking into consideration the psychosocial features of the patients, patients’ preferences, and the most current evidence.
8. Select the most appropriate evaluation and treatment strategies based on the chronicity and level of sensitization of the patients’ condition.

• Financial: The instructor(s) receive an honorarium for presenting this course.
• Non-financial: The instructor(s) have no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose.
• Partial credit is not available. For online courses, passing module assessments and completing the course evaluation is required to earn continuing education credit. For live courses, attendance is confirmed by signing the attendance sheet at the course; ensure name and professional license number are accurate, and initial both morning and afternoon attendance.