Chapter 3: Musculoskeletal Assessment and Treatment for Manual Therapists 2 CE Hours
Expiration Date : July 31, 2027 Learning outcomes
Recognize how to diagnosis common musculoskeletal disorders by utilizing orthopedic tests. Differentiate appropriate manual treatment strategies for musculoskeletal diagnoses.
After completing this course, the learner will be able to: Recognize orthopedic terminology utilized in the clinical setting. Distinguish between various manual therapy techniques. Identify various orthopedic tests used for differential diagnosis by manual therapists. Course overview Pain stemming from muscle, tendon, or ligament injuries often brings with it a myriad of accompanying symptoms, including weakness, restricted movement, and structural imbalances. In the realm of manual therapy, practitioners are tasked with assessing and addressing these soft tissue dysfunctions to alleviate pain and restore optimal function. This course delves into the intricate art of soft tissue differential diagnosis, equipping manual therapists with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively diagnose and treat musculoskeletal ailments. professionals perceive and make treatment decisions, ultimately resulting in disparities in health outcomes. These biases, often unconscious and unintentional, can shape behavior and produce differences in medical care along various lines, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, and socioeconomic status. Healthcare disparities stemming from implicit bias can manifest in several ways. For example, a healthcare provider might unconsciously give less attention to a patient or make assumptions about their medical needs based on race, gender, or age. The unconscious assumptions can lead to delayed or inadequate care, misdiagnoses, or inappropriate treatments, all of which can adversely impact Implicit bias in healthcare Implicit bias significantly affects how healthcare
The course commences with an exploration of fundamental terminology and prevalent manual therapy techniques. Participants will review comprehensive orthopedic assessments covering the entire body. Course sections are structured to delve into typical tests utilized for differential diagnosis across major joints and their associated musculature. In addition, this course will provide manual therapy or stretching techniques for the positive result of a given dysfunction health outcomes. Addressing implicit bias in healthcare is crucial for achieving equity in medical treatment. Strategies to combat these biases involve education and awareness programs for healthcare professionals. These programs help individuals recognize and acknowledge their biases, fostering a more empathetic and unbiased approach to patient care. Additionally, implementing policies and procedures prioritizing equitable treatment for all patients can play a pivotal role in reducing healthcare disparities. Ultimately, confronting implicit bias in healthcare is essential to creating a more just and equitable healthcare system where everyone receives fair and equal treatment regardless of their background or characteristics.
INTRODUCTION
what tissues are at fault and how. While this may seem simple and obvious (for example, pain during rotation of the neck is often due to a neck muscle dysfunction) precisely pinpointing the causes of pain and dysfunction can be more complex. While it may not always be possible to know exactly what muscles or structures are primarily at fault, there are many tests for soft tissue and joint injuries that manual therapists can conduct prior to (or even during) a course of treatment. Commonly referred to as “orthopedic tests,” these are assessments that test for skeletomuscular injuries and help sort out whether an injury is functional (muscular) or structural (skeletal) in nature. Identifying where pain and/or dysfunction is coming from helps narrow the focus of treatment and may allow the manual therapist to treat the client’s dysfunction more effectively. This is important if a dysfunction is affecting a client’s body in other ways, such as a sprain of the ankle ligaments affecting one, or even both, knees. The more a manual therapist understands the underlying causes of their client’s pain and dysfunctions, the greater the success in fulfilling the client’s goal to be pain-free and functional (Wedge, 2022).
Pain due to muscle, tendon, or ligament injury is often accompanied by weakness, a loss of movement, muscular imbalances, or structural or functional distortions. Within their scope of practice, manual therapists might assess the skeletal muscles and their associated tendons; however, they may also find themselves assessing ligaments since all these tissues relate directly to the skeleton and how it moves. A manual therapist might also assist with a client’s movements by helping the client to build their strength, resisting their movements during facilitated stretches, or loosening a joint by taking it through a range of motion (ROM). However, there are times when certain techniques are contraindicated based on the condition of skeleton and related soft tissues. Certain conditions may also impair other systems of the body, such as the nervous system. Therefore, it is important to properly assess a client’s condition before beginning a course of treatment (Wedge, 2022). For injured clients seeking relief from their pain and movement dysfunctions, a quality manual therapist should seek short- and long-term solutions. This requires knowing
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Book Code: MPA0825
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