Course Overview

Recorded live at the Florida State Oriental Medicine Association's annual conference, this course covers orthopedic tests and movement assessments needed to properly diagnose and program sports medicine treatments for common shoulder pain syndromes.

The course begins with orthopedic and muscle testing of the glenohumeral joint and acromioclavicular joints. The tests are reliable and specific to properly diagnose and differentiate common shoulder injuries. Obtaining these tools will create confidence for the Acupuncturist in selecting precise local needle locations and drive proper meridian diagnosis for distal point selections.

The second section introduces movement assessments for the scapula, thoracic spine, and glenohumeral joint. The principles for assessing the difference between lack of mobility dysfunctions and motor control dysfunctions are heavily emphasized. Once you can accurately assess these dysfunctions and determine the exact cause of the dysfunction, either mobility or motor control, you can prescribe the appropriate corrective exercises. This differentiation is the biggest tool a sports medicine practitioner can add to create a more distinct practice.

The teacher, Derrick McBride, has 15+ years of experience as a Strength and Conditioning Coach. He's in a unique position to introduce extremely simple yet sophisticated corrective exercises. His favorites for each type of dysfunction for the most influential movement patterns are presented.

Course Objectives

• Learn how to perform orthopedic and muscle tests for the shoulder.
• Understand how to properly diagnose and differentiate orthopedic conditions of the shoulder.
• Learn how to perform movement assessments for the shoulder girdle.
• Understand the difference between mobility dysfunctions and motor control dysfunctions.
• Learn how to prescribe corrective exercises for movement dysfunctions.

Course Outline

0 hrs - 30 minWe first introduce definitions of orthopedic tests, muscle tests, and movement assessments. Next, we cover when to use each test and how they fit into a full treatment plan.

30 min - 1.5 hrsOrthopedic tests for the diagnosis and differentiation of glenohumeral joint and acromioclavicular pain conditions are covered. Clinical recommendations for positioning, how to perform the test, and what a positive test looks like are emphasized.

1.5 hrs - 2.5 hrsMuscle testing for the rotator cuff and other common glenohumeral joint muscles is covered. Selecting specific muscle fibers based on joint angles is clearly explained and emphasized.

2.5 hrs - 3 hrsThe four phases of a sports medicine treatment plan are explained to give context to how the tests and assessments are best used.

3 hrs - 3.5 hrsThe definitions of mobility and motor control are given. An explanation of what modalities an acupuncturist has in our scope can address mobility and motor control dysfunctions.

3.5 hrs - 4.25 hrsMovement assessments and corrective exercises for scapulohumeral rhythm are introduced. Specific cues for testing and coaching the exercises are given.

4.25 hrs - 5 hrsMovement assessments and corrective exercises for thoracic spine extension and rotation are introduced. Specific cues for testing and coaching the exercises are given.