This course is included in the “Physical treatment of spinal disorders” certification program
Course Overview
This manual therapy programme is aimed at merging the examination of the joint, muscle and neural systems into an integrated examination procedure of the cervical spine in headache. We place strong emphasis on teaching clinicians the ability to perform an accurate and specific manual therapy examination of the upper cervical spine, which is based on current best evidence knowledge of anatomy, pathoanatomy, pathophysiology, and pain mechanisms. The examination process developed by Manual Concepts draws on the work of many different concepts in manual therapy. We believe that an eclectic approach, drawing on different concepts of examination and treatment, provides an effective approach to the management of a wide range of upper cervical pain disorders including headache.
Joint System
As part of the assessment of the joint system we aim to teach a range of articular testing procedures to include pain provocative tests for specific structures as well as tests to determine specific motion segment dysfunction. A significant aspect of the assessment procedure is the use of combined movements. Equally important is the use of specific passive segmental motion testing and provocative tests for pain reproduction. An example includes the Flexion-rotation test, C-C2 and C2/3 axial rotation tests. Evidence supports the use of manual examination in the upper cervical spine in people with neck related headache.
Neural System
Neural dysfunction is common in musculoskeletal pain disorders, and examination of the neural system forms an essential element of the physical examination of a patient with a cervical problem. However not all neural disorders are responsive to manual techniques. Hence it is essential that the treating clinician has a good understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying neural pain problems to understand how to effectively manage them. Neural disorders are less common in neck related headache. An overview and clinical relevance of classification and differentiation of neural disorders in CGH will be presented.
Muscle System
An emphasis of this programme is a systematic, graded, functional approach to the assessment and management of the cervical muscle system and motor control. There is good evidence that exercise is effective for certain forms of headache and that strengthening exercise is better than endurance training which is better than stretching. There is also evidence that motor control training is more effective than strengthening exercise for cervical disorders. Determining which patients require motor control re-education is included as part of this programme and the evidence regarding choice of exercise will be discussed.
Management
A core principle of the programme is the ongoing analysis of the examination findings from the subjective and physical examination procedures. To ascertain an appropriate manual therapy diagnosis critical analysis is developed through clinical reasoning applied to specific case studies. This programme does not provide the participants with a recipe approach to treatment. Clinicians will be able to develop though sound methodology, appropriate treatment strategies.
Participants
There is no pre-requisite in terms of manual therapy experience. The programme offers a high level of information and clinical expertise, providing all participants regardless of previous clinical experience and knowledge with a stimulating learning environment. Previous participants have highly recommended Manual Concept courses. They have reported excellent feedback in terms of material content, presenters’ knowledge, and supervision. In these Covid times we are not able to provide face to face courses, hence the best option is to provide Online courses until the situation stabilises.
Registration through KCS provides you with a 10% discount to this high-quality program from Australia’s leading Physiotherapy educators. The discount code is provided by completing the popup form and is sent to the provided email.
