This immersive, two-day course blends anatomy, neurophysiology, biomechanics, and manual therapy techniques, giving you a comprehensive toolkit to address lumbar spine instability and enhance functional mobility. Designed for clinicians, including physical therapists, osteopaths, and rehabilitation specialists, this course equips you with the evidence-based knowledge and hands-on skills to assess and treat lumbar spine dysfunction with a focus on dynamic stabilization and rehabilitation

This course will covers identifying lumbar spine instability (ligamentous and muscular), evaluation of the lower quarter with segmental mobility assessment; differential diagnosis of the lumbopelvic and hip complex (the unhappy triad of lumbar spine, Sacroiliac and hip Joint); 

Treatment Strategies and Functional Rehabilitation

• Dynamic Soft Tissue Mobilization (STM):
  • Instruction and hands-on practice of STM techniques for the lumbar spine and hip complex.
  • Use of dynamic mobilization to address soft tissue restrictions, muscle tone imbalances, and fascial adhesions.
• Joint Mobilization Techniques:
  • Specific joint mobilizations for lumbar spine and hip joint to improve range of motion, relieve pain, and support functional recovery.
  • Progressively advancing from basic joint mobilization to more dynamic, functional movements.
• Progressive Functional Rehabilitation Exercises:
  • Focus on recruiting the deep lumbar stabilizers (rotators, multifidus) and integrating them into functional movements.
  • Step-by-Step Progression: From foundational deep muscle activation to achieving stability and control during functional tasks such as bending, lifting, and sports-related movements.
  • Key exercises to develop trunk stability, improve postural control, and enhance dynamic lumbar stability.

• Cueing Techniques for Muscle Recruitment:
  • Palpation, positioning, and graded muscle recruitment to optimize spinal stabilization and functional movement patterns.
  • Learn how to cue your patients to effectively engage their deep core stabilizers for better lumbar spine support.
• Clinical Application of Manual & Tactile Techniques:
  • Using tactile feedback and manual techniques to facilitate motor learning and muscle recruitment.

The instructor will discuss Surgical Considerations:

Understanding Adjacent Segment Disease (ASD):

• Insight into the role of physical therapy pre- and post-surgery, particularly for patients who may undergo surgical intervention for lumbar instability, such as fusion or decompression.
• How to work with patients who have undergone Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA), understanding the rationale, benefits, and potential complications.
• Overview of Adjacent Segment Disease (ASD) and its impact on rehabilitation strategies.
• The instructor will discuss recent trends in restorative therapy for lumbar instability.

The instructor will utilize manual and tactile techniques, introduce pulley concepts for recruitment, and demonstrate home exercise strategies designed to maintain the gains made in the clinic. The participants will be able to take the knowledge learned in this two-day course and apply it immediately to their patients and clients. This course is 30% lecture and 70% hands-on lab.

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the anatomy of the lumbar spine, including the osseous structures, ligamentous support, and the associated musculature.
2. Identify and explain the neurology and motor control mechanisms relevant to the lumbar spine, including the deep stabilizing muscles and their role in spinal stability.
3. Describe the biomechanics of the lumbar spine, focusing on its functional range of motion, stability, and the interrelationship between the lumbar spine, pelvis, and hip complex.
4. Discuss the concept of manual therapy lesions in the lumbar spine and identify how these lesions affect movement patterns and spinal stability.
5. Evaluate lumbar instability, recognizing the signs and symptoms of both ligamentous and muscular instabilities, and their impact on function.
6. Perform a thorough lumbar spine evaluation including segmental mobility testing to assess spinal dysfunction and identify mobility restrictions or instabilities.
7. Implement Dynamic Soft Tissue Mobilization (STM) techniques for the lumbar spine, targeting myofascial restrictions and improving tissue flexibility to enhance spinal mobility and stability.
8. Conduct a limited functional screening of the lumbar spine to assess functional limitations and identify compensatory movement patterns related to lumbar instability.
9. Perform isolated muscle testing for key lumbar stabilizers, such as the deep rotators and multifidus, to assess their recruitment and function in maintaining spinal stability.
10. Design and implement progressive functional exercises to activate deep stabilizing muscles of the lumbar spine and restore proper movement patterns.
    •  Manual therapy techniques (mobilizations, STM)
    • Pulleys, body weight exercises, and free weights to enhance stability and motor control.
11. Discuss the progression of lumbar stabilization exercises, including key concepts for progressing stability exercises from basic to functional levels.
12. Explain the progression of concentric and eccentric exercises, detailing how each phase contributes to strengthening the lumbar spine and improving movement control.
13. Outline the positional progression necessary to optimize muscle recruitment during lumbar stabilization exercises, including specific cues for engaging deep stabilizing muscles.
14. Develop a safe and effective Return to Sports plan for patients recovering from lumbar instability, incorporating functional rehabilitation exercises and sport-specific movement patterns.

By the end of the course, participants will have the ability to integrate these techniques and concepts into their clinical practice, improving outcomes for patients with lumbar spine instability and dysfunction.