
Take your expertise to a higher level
Elevating Practice in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy is designed to instill a thorough body of knowledge relevant to the specialty practice of orthopaedic physical therapy. Using commonly encountered orthopaedic disorders of the spine and extremities, the course integrates current scientific literature with clinical practice. Through labs and case discussions, there is a focus on building clinical reasoning skills and proficiency in the execution of manual therapy, movement science assessment and intervention procedures.
Sharpen your clinical reasoning skills and advance your practice through Elevating Practice in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy. This comprehensive, intermediate-level course consists of three modules and is required for students in the MGH Institute's Clinical Residency in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy program but also open to licensed physical therapists in the area who want to complete any or all of the modules.

Course Description
This is a comprehensive intermediate-level course in orthopedic 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, motor control, and exercise-based intervention procedures.
The course will include home-study anatomy modules, weekly cases, lectures, and labs with an emphasis on active learning. The majority of class time will be spent on 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. We offer 40 continuing education hours per module.
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.
Course Highlights:
- 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 orthopedic 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 evidence-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.
Faculty:
• Douglas Gross, MPT, DPT, ScD, FAAOMPT, Cped
• Katherine Myos, PT, DPT, OCS
• Keshrie Naidoo, PT, DPT, EdD, OCS
Online coursework: 10/2/22 – 12/10/22
On-site lab sessions
- Saturday, October 29 from 8:30–5:30 (Katie Myos - Lumbar Spine)
- Sunday, October 30 from 9:00-4:00 (Doug Gross - Thoracic Spine)
- Saturday, December 3 from 8:30-5:30 (Keshrie Naidoo - Cervical Spine)
- Sunday, December 4 from 9:00-4:00 (Review Day: 9-12 Keshrie Naidoo; 1-3 Katie Myos; 3-4 Doug Gross)
Cost: $845
Faculty:
• Keshrie Naidoo, PT, DPT, EdD, OCS
• Reginald Wilcox, DPT, MS, OCS
• Michelle Cormier OTR/L, CHT
Online coursework: 1/18/23– 3/18/23
On-site lab sessions:
- Saturday, February 11 from 8:30-5:30 (8:30-12:15 Keshrie Naidoo - Upper Quarter Neurodynamics and Upper Thoracic Spine; 1:00-5:30 Reginald Wilcox - Shoulder)
- Sunday, February 12 from 9:00-4:00 (Reginald Wilcox - Shoulder)
- Saturday, March 11 from 8:30-5:30 (Michelle Cormier - Elbow and Wrist and Hand)
- Sunday, March 12 from 9:00-4:00 (9-12:15 Michelle Cormier - Wrist and Hand continued; 1-4 Keshrie Naidoo and Reginal Wilcox - Review)
Cost: $845
Faculty:
• Benjamin Adams PT, DPT, OCS
• Keshrie Naidoo, PT, DPT, EdD, OCS
• Caleigh O’Brien PT, DPT, OCS
• Emmanuel Yung, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
Online coursework: 3/26/23 – 6/3/23
On-site lab sessions:
- Saturday, April 22 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 23 from 9:00-4:00 (Ben Adams - Knee )
- Saturday, May 20 from 8:30-5:30 (8:30-2:30 Keshrie Naidoo - Hip; 2:30-5:30 Caleigh O'Brien - Foot and Ankle)
- Sunday, May 21from 9:00-4:00 (Foot and Ankle continued; Keshrie Naidoo & Ben Adams - Review)
Cost: $845
Course Fees
- $845 per individual module
- $2,110 for all three modules (a savings of $415)
IHP Voucher Discount Information:
If you have MGH Institute vouchers that you would like to use for this course to receive a 50% registration cost discount, please contact pt [at] mghihp.edu for details before registering. Upon receiving your voucher information, we'll provide you 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.
3
There are 3 modules that comprise this course
120
There are 120 hours of comprehensive orthopaedic coursework
Only
This is the only such program in the Northeast.

Hybrid Learning Format
This course consists of three 10-week modules that you can take individually or as a complete package. Each includes two lab-intensive weekends.

Intimate Learning Environment
Course participation is limited to 20 licensed physical therapists, in addition to residents from our Clinical Residency in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy program. Small class sizes help you develop close relationships with faculty and fellow participants while creating more hands-on learning opportunities during labs.
Faculty committed to you
You will learn from enthusiastic faculty whose clinical experience spans a variety of orthopedic specialties. Most are practicing clinicians who bring the latest evidence-based practices into the classroom. All are dedicated to enhancing your ability to evaluate and treat orthopedic disorders of the spine and extremities.
Assistant Professor Physical Therapy
- bgadams@mghihp.edu
- Shouse - 406

Distinguished Teaching Assistant Professor Director of Curriculum Coordinator of the Clinical Residency in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy
Distinguished Teaching Assistant Professor Director of Curriculum Coordinator of the Clinical Residency in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy
- knaidoo@mghihp.edu
- (617) 724-4848
- Shouse - 409
Associate Professor Physical Therapy
- rwilcox@mghihp.edu
- Brigham and Women's Hospital

Assistant Clinical Professor, Sacred Heart University
Assistant Clinical Professor, Sacred Heart University
Instructor Elevating Practice in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy
Instructor Elevating Practice in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy
Instructor Elevating Practice in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy