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.

woman works on the knee of a man sitting on a table

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:

  1. 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.
  2. Recognize and distinguish musculoskeletal disorders commonly encountered by physical therapists by appropriately categorizing clusters of signs of symptoms.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Implement and interpret commonly used functional and/or disability scales relevant to the orthopaedic physical therapy patient population.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. Demonstrate proficiency with region-specific manual therapy, motor control, and exercise-based interventions established to be effective based on the best available evidence.

Register for Module 1

Faculty:
• Katherine Myos, PT, DPT, OCS
• Keshrie Naidoo, PT, DPT, EdD

Online coursework: 10/1/23 – 12/9/23

On-site lab sessions

  • Saturday  October 28th   8:30 – 5:30 - Keshrie Naidoo (Cervical Spine)
  • Sunday October 29th  9:00-4:00 - Katie Beal (Thoracic Spine)
  • Saturday December 2nd 8:30-5:30 - Katie Beal (Lumbar Spine)
  • Sunday December 3rd  9:00-4:00 (Review Day) - Keshrie Naidoo and Katie Beal

Cost: $845

Register for Module 2

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

Online coursework: 1/7/24– 3/16/24

On-site lab sessions:

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

Cost: $845

Register for Module 3

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

Online coursework: 3/24/24– 6/1/24

On-site lab sessions:

  • Saturday, April 20 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 21 from 9:00-4:00 (Ben Adams - Knee )
  • Saturday, May 18 from 8:30-5:30 (8:30-2:30 Katie Beal - Hip; 2:30-5:30 Caleigh O'Brien - Foot and Ankle)
  • Sunday, May 19 from 9:00-4:00 (Foot and Ankle continued; Katie Beal & 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 (pt[at]mghihp[dot]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.

one student sits on an exam table, another touches her knee

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.

Register
Woman wearing a mask in a room with people in the backround

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.

Benjamin Adams

Assistant Professor Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Sciences

Keshrie Naidoo, PT, DPT, EdD

Distinguished Teaching Associate Professor Interim Chair, Physical Therapy Dept. Coordinator of the Clinical Residency in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy

Reg B. Wilcox

Associate Professor Physical Therapy

Instructor Elevating Practice in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy

Instructor Elevating Practice in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy

Instructor Elevating Practice in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy

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