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Course description

Headache, neck pain and symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome are common complaints in patients with poor trunk function. When the upper thorax and shoulder girdle become restricted and/or poorly controlled more load is placed on the head and neck during everyday tasks. When the cranium is twisted due to external neuromuscular imbalances (i.e. asymmetric tone in SCM) or loss of tension ‘balance’ of the intra-cranial membranes (cerebellar tentorium, cerebral and cerebellar falx) (i.e. concussions, head hits etc), function of the upper thorax can be impacted. When there is adverse tension in the intra-cranial membranes, dural mobility can be impacted and this can in turn effect function of the pelvic floor and control of the SIJs!

Do you know how to determine if the upper thorax, neck or cranium is playing a role in the clinical presentation and if so what to do or where to begin treatment? A key feature of the Integrated Systems Model is understanding how to determine the relationships between multiple sites of non-optimal alignment, biomechanics and control and decide where the best place is to intervene. This is called finding the driver and is task and individual specific.

The key concepts of this approach will be highlighted during this course with specific application to the cranium, neck and upper thorax/shoulder girdle in relationship to loss of control of the sacroiliac joints. Once the driver is determined for each meaningful task, vector analysis will confirm the underlying system impairment (articular, neural, myofascial, visceral) and thus determine the treatment prescription of what to release, align, connect and move (RACM). This is craniosacral through the ISM perspective and is unique to this model.

Clinical reasoning of multiple findings and manual and visual assessment and treatment skills are emphasized in this course with plenty of practical time/discussion devoted to these two clinical practice tools.

At the conclusion of this 4-day course, you will have new skills to assess function of the cranium to the 6th thoracic ring (including the clavicle and scapula) and how to find the driver for meaningful tasks involving the head, neck, shoulder girdle as well as pelvic control. How to differentiate and treat dural system impairments from cranial musculoskeletal drivers will be covered. You will understand how to design a multimodal treatment program (including education, manual therapy (introductory craniosacral release techniques), neuromuscular release, and movement training) to restore function and performance for any patient presenting with headache, neck pain and/or shoulder girdle pain. The relationship between loss of dural mobility within the cranium and spinal canal and trauma, and how this is often underpinned by an upregulated SNS and unresolved trauma, will also be discussed.

Objectives & Learning Outcomes

  • Illustrate how the Integrated Systems Model provides a framework to find the underlying driver for the patient’s problem – whether this is pain, loss of stability, loss of performance, or other disability.
  • Demonstrate and practice some key clinical tests for the pelvis, cranium, neck, upper thorax and shoulder girdle to determine whether or not a patient is using an optimal strategy for function & performance for their chosen task and when there are multiple sites of impairment, how to determine the driver (body region) to be addressed first.
  • Discuss the clinical reasoning process required to differentiate if the cranium, neck, upper thorax/shoulder girdle is a driver for loss of dural/neural mobility, or is the musculoskeletal system a victim of adverse dural/neural tension.
  • Demonstrate and practice key clinical tests for the articular, neural, and myofascial systems pertaining to the determined driver.
  • Discuss the clinical reasoning process for the development of a prescriptive treatment program that targets interventions to various system impairments pertaining to the primary driver.
  • Demonstrate and practice treatment techniques and movement training to release, align, connect & move the head and neck for restoration of better strategies for function & performance.

Recommended Preparation

The 2018 edition of The Thorax – An Integrated Approach is the resource text for this course.

Review your anatomy of the cranial bones (including the contents and location of the jugular foramen), the anatomy of the cerebellar tentorium and the venous sinuses that drain the cranium.

Several short (5 minute) skill acquisition videos will be included in your tuition for your review before and after the course.

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