2023-24 Elevating Practice in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy - Entire Course

Course Description:  

This is a comprehensive intermediate-level course in orthopaedic physical therapy. It encompasses commonly encountered disorders of the spine and extremities.

The emphasis will be on the integration of current scientific literature and clinical practice into developing clinical reasoning skills and proficiency in the execution of manual therapy, and motor control, and exercise-based intervention procedures. 

The course will include home study anatomy modules, weekly cases, lecture and lab with an emphasis on active learning. The majority of class time will be spent in lab-based activities. Written and practical examinations will be given for each of the 3 modules in order to help participants assess their competence with the material and skills.

The three-module course provides 120 hours of continuing education.

The entire course (three modules) is structured to provide participants with the opportunity to gain a thorough body of knowledge based on the APTA's Description of Specialty Practice (DSP) in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy.

 The Course:

• Includes weekly online content and case discussions moderated by our expert faculty
• Meets on the MGH Institute campus in the Charlestown Navy Yard for two intensive laboratory weekends per module
• Is composed of three modules which can be taken individually or as a complete package
• Provides comprehensive orthopaedic coursework in a hands-on, small-class learning environment

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, the participant will be able to:

• Apply knowledge of relevant region-specific anatomy and biomechanics to the evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal dysfunction from a movement science and manual therapy perspective.
• Recognize and distinguish musculoskeletal disorders commonly encountered by physical therapists by appropriately categorizing clusters of signs of symptoms.
• Appraise the various classification systems, including treatment-based and impairment-based, that have been described and studied in the scientific literature in order to determine their validity and clinical value.
• Distinguish typical or critical medical conditions that might be present in the orthopaedic physical therapy patient population, and determine the appropriate referral to another medical practitioner or further diagnostic testing.
• Implement and interpret commonly used functional and/or disability scales relevant to the orthopaedic physical therapy patient population.
• Apply critical thinking in order to synthesize orthopaedic physical therapy examination information, determine an appropriate classification of common musculoskeletal disorders and select the most appropriate intervention based on the principles of evidenced-based medicine.
• Demonstrate proficiency with performing a region-specific comprehensive patient examination integrating manual therapy and movement-based assessment tools that have been validated by the literature or supported by clinical experts.
• Demonstrate proficiency with region-specific manual therapy, motor control, and exercise-based interventions established to be effective based on the best available evidence.

Spine Module: October 2 – December 10, 2022

Faculty:

Online Content Runs: 10/1/23 – 12/9/23

On-site Lab Sessions:

• Saturday, October 28th from 8:30–5:30 (Keshrie Naidoo - Lumbar Spine)
• Sunday, October 29th from 9:00-4:00 (Katie Beal - Thoracic Spine)
• Saturday, December 2nd from 8:30-5:30 (Katie Beal - Cervical Spine)
• Sunday, December 4th from 9:00-4:00 (Keshrie Naidoo and Katie Beal - Completion fo cervical spine and Review Day)

Final Exam: Saturday, December 9th from 9:00-10:00am

Upper Quarter Module: January 7th – March 16th, 2023

Faculty:

• Katie Beal, PT, DPT, OCS
• Reginald Wilcox, DPT, MS, OCS
• Michelle Cormier OTR/L, CHT

Online Content Runs: 1/7/24 - 3/16/24

On-site Lab Sessions:

• Saturday, February 3rd from 8:30-5:30 (8:30-12:15 Katie Beal - Upper Quarter Neurodynamics and Upper Thoracic Spine; 1:00-5:30 Reginald Wilcox - Shoulder)
• Sunday, February 4th from 9:00-4:00 (Reginald Wilcox - Shoulder)
• Saturday, March 2nd from 8:30-5:30 (Michelle Cormier - Elbow and Wrist and Hand)
• Sunday, March 3rd from 9:00-4:00 (9-12:15 Michelle Cormier - Wrist and Hand continued; 1-4 Katie Beal and Reginal Wilcox - Review)

Final Exam: Saturday, March 16th from 9:00-10:00am

Course Dates: March 24th – June 1st, 2023

Faculty:

• Benjamin Adams PT, DPT, OCS
• Katie Beal, PT, DPT, OCS
• Caleigh O’Brien PT, DPT, OCS
• Emmanuel Yung, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT

Online Content Runs: 3/24/24 – 6/1/24

On-site Lab Sessions:

• Saturday, April 20th from 8:30-5:30 (8:30-3:30 Manny Yung - Pelvis and Lower Quarter Neurodynamics; 3:30-5:30 Ben Adams - Therex)
• Sunday, April 21st from 9:00-4:00 (Ben Adams - Knee )
• Saturday, May 18th from 8:30-5:30 (8:30-2:30 Keshrie Naidoo - Hip; 2:30-5:30 Caleigh O'Brien - Foot and Ankle)
• Sunday, May 19th from 9:00-4:00 (Foot and Ankle continued; Keshrie Naidoo & Ben Adams - Review)

Final Exam: Saturday, June 1st from 9:00-10:00am 

**If you have MGH Institute vouchers that you would like to use for this course to receive a 50% registration cost discount, please contact  for details before registering.

Upon receiving your voucher information, you will be provided with an access code to receive the discounted ticket price of $425 with 1 voucher for one module or $1055 with 3 vouchers for the entire course. Please note that IHP vouchers can only be redeemed once, and expire 2 years after the issue date.

Host or Publisher MGH Institute of Health Professions - Physical Therapy Department