
SPECIALTY COURSES
Manip Like A Girl: Work Smarter, Not Harder - Stacy Soappman
Not just for girls, this course is for anyone who wants to learn how to treat patients larger than themselves. Have you learned manipulation skills in class but struggle to integrate it into your clinical practice? Do you avoid using these techniques on your patients because it hurts your hands? Do you have difficulty performing manual therapy techniques or manipulations on patients larger than yourself? If you want to learn how to handle patients larger than yourself and do it with more efficiency and effectiveness then this is the course for you.
This course will emphasize ergonomically efficient manipulation techniques. We will teach you that speed and body mechanics, not size, dictate how well you can manipulate.
10hrs of CEU credit. 3hrs on-line, 7hrs in the classroom

Upper Extremity Manual Therapy for the Physical Therapist Assistant: - Pam Kikillus
This one-day course will provide instruction in hands on joint and soft tissue mobilization for the PTA on the shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist and hand. The class with be largely hands-on laboratory experience with demonstration, practice, feedback and critical thinking for case scenarios. Discussion will be given to the dose of the intervention, expected response, modifications of the interventions, and complementary neuromuscular techniques for the manual therapy interventions.
CEU Credits: 8 Hours

Lower Extremity Manual Therapy for the Physical Therapist Assistant: - Pam Kikillus
This one-day course will provide instruction in hands on joint and soft tissue mobilization for the PTA on the hip, knee, foot and ankle. The class with be largely hands-on laboratory experience with demonstration, practice, feedback and critical thinking for case scenarios. Discussion will be given to the dose of the intervention, expected response, modifications of the interventions, and complementary neuromuscular techniques for the manual therapy interventions.
CEU Credits: 8 Hours

Dry Needling - Level 1 - Nelson Min
Format:
3-day tract: 27 hours in person
2-day tract: 17 hours in person
Upon completion of the Aspire Dry Needling Coursework (DN1, DN2, and DN3) and successful passing of a practical examination during the DN3 course, you will earn “Certified Dry Needling Specialist” or CDNS. The practical exam during the DN3 course will include coursework from all three course levels.
Overview
This is an introductory dry needling course for the muscles of the lumbar spine and lower quarter. This course is based on the foundational knowledge of anatomy, neurology, biomechanics and pathology in the use and treatment of dry needling. This course will also expose you to the Aspire system to evaluate and determine the pain generator and motion restrictor to use dry needling as efficiently as possible. Safety and clinical application are prioritized with ample lab time to build your skills to prepare you safe application in the clinic. Topics such as electrical stimulation, dosage, acute and chronic pain as well as post treatment care will also be discussed.
No prior course work is required but you are responsible for knowing your state’s requirements.

Chronic Pain and Holistic Physical Therapy: Improving Patient Outcomes: Chronic Pain, Nutrition, Functional Medicine, Scars, Stress Management and Traumatic Brain Injury-A Live Stream CE course - David Musnick MD
Course Number:
To be assigned
CEU's:
To be assigned
Format:
Live streamed lectures, pre recorded lectures, assessment questionnaires(for you and to hand out to your patients), and virtual labs.

Overview
This course will give the PT a method of analysis and a wealth of practical information to evaluate more than just mechanical factors that affect pain and symptoms and disease progression. It will cover pain sensitization and the role of the brain and spinal cord as well as peripheral sensitization. It will also cover issues such as toxicity, mold, autoimmune conditions, leaky gut, nutrition, stress and many other factors that affect the musculoskeletal system. When this material is learned the PT will be able to be much more effective with the same number of PT visits. You will learn a lot about nutrition as well as supplements. You will learn about which modalities are most effective for pain. In fact, you will be able to be less stressed and more confident treating more complex patients and patients that will not respond to mechanical treatment only.
Integrating Manual Therapy With Pain Science - Kathy Berglund
Course Number:
To be assigned
CEU's:
To be assigned
Format:
2 day course, online pre-recorded lecture and didactic portion.
Overview
Over the last 40 years much has happened in PT research. Manual Therapy, Motor Control and now Pain Science have dominated the research in respective decades. Does one take precedence over the other in terms of clinical practice? No! The well rounded clinician will understand how all of these pieces of the puzzle fit together to offer cutting edge treatments for the myriad of clients that we serve.
In this course, the learner will explore the research behind each of these entities and learn, using sound clinical reasoning , what “tool” to utilize and when, depending on the presentation of the patient. Evaluation and treatment skills will be taught with regards to pain science so that the learner feels confident incorporating these principles into their clinical practice. This course is useful for all clients but will especially help the clinician dealing with chronic pain patients.

Dry Needling Level 2: Cervical Spine and Upper Quarter - Nelson Min
CEU's/Format:
3-day tract: 27 hours in person
2-day tract: 17 hours in person
Upon completion of the Aspire Dry Needling Coursework (DN1, DN2, and DN3) and successful passing of a practical examination during the DN3 course, you will earn “Certified Dry Needling Specialist” or CDNS. The practical exam during the DN3 course will include coursework from all three course levels.

Overview
This is an intermediate dry needling course for the muscles of the cervical spine and upper quarter. This course is based on the foundational knowledge of anatomy, neurology, biomechanics, and pathology of the upper quadrant in the clinical application of dry needling. This course will build upon the foundation learned in Dry Needling Level 1 and add new techniques necessary for the increased complexity when dealing with the cervical spine, lung field, and TMJ. To promote safety and clinical application, this course is taught by full-time clinicians to maximize outcomes for real-time clinic scenarios. Ample lab time is still a major part of this course as it was in Aspire DN1. Completion of Aspire Dry Needling 1, or equivalent, is required to attend this course. Please note that you are responsible for knowing your state’s requirements to use this technique.
Dry Needling Level 3: Thoracic Spine & Advanced Techniques
CEU's/Format:
3-day tract: 27 hours in person
2-day tract: 17 hours in person
Upon completion of the Aspire Dry Needling Coursework (DN1, DN2, and DN3) and successful passing of a practical examination during the DN3 course, you will earn “Certified Dry Needling Specialist” or CDNS. The practical exam during the DN3 course will include coursework from all three course levels.

Overview
This is an advanced dry needling course for the thoracic spine, CV spine, TL junction, and advanced techniques. This course is based on the foundational knowledge of anatomy, neurology, biomechanics, and pathology. This course will build upon the foundation
learned in Dry Needling Level 1 and Level 2 adding new techniques necessary for the increased complexity when dealing with the muscles over the thorax, CV junction, and TL junction. To promote safety and clinical application, this course is taught by full-time clinicians to maximize outcomes for real-time clinic scenarios. Ample lab time is still a major part of this course as it was in prior Aspire dry needling courses.
This 3-day course will continue with the concepts from the Aspire COMT coursework to apply musculoskeletal assessment, examination, and clinical reasoning to differentially diagnose and prepare you to incorporate dry needling in the clinical setting. Please see the course description for the COMT courses for more information. Completion of Aspire Dry Needling 1 and 2, or their equivalent, is required to attend this course. Please note that you are responsible for knowing your state’s requirements to use this
technique.