DESCRIPTION: This lab intensive course applies clinical reasoning and differential diagnosis through formulating illness scripts based upon a thorough subjective history and a hands-on musculoskeletal assessment of the lumbar and cervical spines. This course is designed to equip the clinician with the proper subjective and objective evaluation to determine the appropriateness of physical therapy, recognize the need for a referral for signs and symptoms of serious pathology and generate a provisional differential diagnosis of lumbar and cervical spinal dysfunction. Pain science, including acute and chronic nociceptive mechanisms are discussed and applied through clinical scenarios. Furthermore, intervention techniques and management of common spinal pathologies are demonstrated, including soft tissue techniques and joint articulation techniques. Neuromuscular reeducation and therapeutic exercises are introduced to reinforce each manual treatment. Dr. James Cyriax principles are presented, including the application of the selective tissue tensioning examination.

Course Number: PTH 841

Credits / CEU's: 1.5 credits / 2.1 CEU’s

Format: 1 day online (7 hours) with 2 assessments + 2 days onsite (14 hours) = 21 hours

Accelerated Format Option: Andrews University: 4 days back-to-back. Sun-Wed. Register for Gateway Lumbar and Gateway Cervical together=42 hours.