I SURVIVED, NOW WHAT?

The focus of this course is on identifying, treating, anticipating/preventing common consequential spinal and rib cage restrictions: thoracic kyphosis, scoliosis, pectus deformities, rib flares, asymmetries, tightness, etc.

Educational level: PT, PTA, OT, COTA

At the conclusion of this course, the participant will be able to:

1. Describe the relationship between chronic health conditions (pediatric & adult), atypical motor plans for breathing and/or postural stability, and the development of secondary musculoskeletal deficits.

2. Screen for musculoskeletal abnormalities, inadequate core stabilization strategies and compensatory breathing patterns that may contribute to the abnormal alignment of the rib cage, trunk and/or spine secondary to pediatric and adult chronic health conditions.

3. Develop and demonstrate musculoskeletal mobilization and soft tissue techniques of the rib cage, trunk and spine to correct or minimize these deformities.

4. Develop subsequent treatment plans for neuromuscular retraining that is focused on simultaneously optimizing breathing, core stabilization and postural development across the lifespan in order to minimize long-term secondary postural impairments.

Nechama Karman, PT, MS, PCS

Nechama Karman received her MSPT from Columbia University in 1994, her Advanced MS in orthopedic PT from Touro College in 1998, and has completed her Health Sciences PhD coursework at Seton Hall University. Nechama is an APTA board-certified pediatric clinical specialist and the chief clinical educator at Mobility Research for LiteGait nationally and internationally. In addition, Nechama owns a private practice in NYC focusing on complex neurological conditions and complex pelvic conditions.

Nechama has completed two invited Massery faculty apprenticeships. In 2016, she became Mary’s first certified faculty member for the “Breathing” course! And in 2019, she was the first certified faculty for Mary’s “I Survived” musculoskeletal course. Two huge accomplishments! In addition, she co-authored a new one-day course with Mary: “Braking Bad: Eccentric Control from Talking to Walking.”

One of Nechama's proudest “Mary Massery” moments occurred when she treated a man suffering from prostatectomy-related incontinence using Mary’s approach. She taught him to transfer without incontinence for the first time in 9 months - all in under 15 minutes! She is passionate about helping other therapists learn these important concepts.

This is a in-person three day course.

Children with medical problems and/or physical disabilities are surviving to adulthood. Adults with chronic health conditions are living longer. As these patients “survive” their health conditions, atypical breathing patterns and atypical postural control strategies often develop and cause repetitive stress on the musculoskeletal system. The consequences can be chronic pain, inefficient motor plans, and/or physical dysfunction, all which limit health and participation. Current research supports this paradigm, showing a higher incidence of chronic pain and decreased quality of life among children and adults with long-term health conditions. The focus of this course is on identifying, treating, anticipating/preventing common consequential spinal and rib cage restrictions: thoracic kyphosis, scoliosis, pectus deformities, rib flares, asymmetries, tightness, etc. These musculoskeletal restrictions can limit breathing (health) and/or shoulder, trunk, and hip/pelvis mobility (participation). Labs present manual therapy techniques (soft tissue techniques, joint mobilizations) and neuromotor re-education techniques. While Dr. Massery’s primary focus is on pediatrics and young adults, the material is pertinent across the whole lifespan.

Day one (8.0 Contact Hours)
Focus: Breathing mechanics and mid-trunk assessment of alignment and function

7:30 - 8:00am: Registration

8:00 - 8:30am: Discussion - Overview of course topics

8:30 - 9:45am: Lecture - Adverse postural development related to maturing around a chronic health condition

9:45 - 10:00am: Break

10:00 - 11:30am: Lecture/Lab - Breathing: I don't have a clue how to evaluate breathing...Well, now you will! (musculoskeletal support for posture and respiration).

11:30am - 12:30pm: Lunch

12:30 - 1:15pm: Lecture - Matthew Case Study: Long term management of spine, posutre & breath support

1:15 - 2:45pm: Lab - Assessing breathing patterns and postural relationships

2:45 - 3:00pm: Break

3:00 - 3:45pm: Lab - Breathing Measurements, wrap up

3:45 - 5:30pm: Lab - Rib cage, shoulders, trunk, pelvis: musculoskeletal assessment and interventions: Screening functional trunk mobility in stance: ribs, spine, shoulders.

Day two (8.0 Contact Hours)

Focus: The Rib Cage: Assessment and treatment of consequential problems

7:30 - 8:00am: Coffee

8:00 - 8:30am: Discussion - Review, synthesis and Q&A

8:30 - 10:00am: Lab - Detailed trunk mobility screening in sidelying

10:00 - 10:15am: Break

10:15am - 12:00pm: Lab - Rib mobilizations & soft tissue techinques

12:00 - 1:00pm: Lunch

1:00 - 1:45pm: Lecture - Trent Case Study: Scars and Restriced fascia

1:45 - 3:00pm: Lab - Quadratus lumborum & other manual techniques

3:00 - 3:15pm: Break

3:15 - 4:30pm: Lab - Trunk/postural control: Therapeutic exercises

4:30 - 5:30pm: Demo - Patient demonstration (if available)

Day three (5.0 Contact Hours)

Focus: The thoracic spine: assessment and treatment of consequential problems

7:30 - 8:00am: Coffee

8:00 - 8:30am: Discussion - Review, synthesis and Q&A

8:30 - 9:45am: Lecure - The Spine

9:45 - 10:00am: Break

10:00 - 11:30am: Lab - Thoracic spine mobilizations

11:30 - 12:15pm: Lunch

12:15 - 1:30pm: Lab - Thoracic spine mobilizations & dynamic neuromotor re-educations techiniques

1:30 - 2:00pm: Lecture: Kristy Case Study: Long term consequences of survival and course wrap up

Continuing Education credits for P.T./O.T. will be offered through the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. Early Intervention and AOTA credits have been requested for 21 contact hours or 2.1 CEUs.

All participants will receive a course completion certificate upon successful completion of the conference. No certificates will be awarded until course completion is verified on the final date of the conference.

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