Differential Diagnosis and Musculoskeletal Management of the Lumbar Spine and SI Joint – Laramie WY – Nov 2024

22.5 Continuing Education Hours: 8 hours of online self-study + 14.5 hours of hands-on experience

Are you as confident as you would like to be in treating low back and buttock pain? Eight out of ten people experience low back pain at some point in their lives; they – and you – will discover that what worked for them with their first experience is no longer effective for the same or worse pain years later. This course enhances your understanding of the problem, which in turn allows you to reassure your patient, provide precise treatment, and enjoy successful outcomes.

Online and live course content provide an in-depth description of lumbar spine pathoanatomy and biomechanics that is placed into a meaningful timeline of aging of the spinal segments over a 50+ year span. The clinician comes away with a greater understanding of what occurs in the three phases of aging and the pathology that is associated with each: injury, instability, and adaptation. Sacroiliac joint anatomy, biomechanics, and pathology are also presented as differential diagnoses. From here, specifics in the clinical examination lead to accurate working diagnoses for best practice planning in patient care. Treatment techniques address myofascial, disc, facet joint, and SI joint pain and dysfunction.

Special topics include disc dehydration-rehydration management and introduction to sensorimotor control for dynamic segmental stability. There is discussion and application of pathology-specific treatment of the following: acute versus chronic internal disc disruption, disc protrusion versus extrusion, facet joint synovitis versus chondropathy, 3 different types of spinal stenosis, and 3 different SI arthropathies. Knowing what you are treating brings the optimal outcomes.

Method of Instruction

The 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. Instructor-participant ratio is small to allow individualized mentorship.  Instructors ensure participant understanding via observation and skills self-assessments.

Target Audience: PT, PTA, ATC, DC

Instruction Level: Advanced

Prerequisites: Diagnosis and Management of the Lumbar Spine and Sacroiliac Joint, an 8-hour online lecture series – included with registration.

course outline-Hybrid-lumbar

1. Become an expert in the evaluation of lumbar spine and sacroiliac joint 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 lumbar spine and sacroiliac joint.
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 lumbar spine and sacroiliac joint.
7. Construct affliction-specific exercises for the lumbar spine and sacroiliac joint, 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.