Physical Therapies in Sport and Exercise: Module 1: The Upper Extremities and the Spine

Course Goals:    

This course is intended to instruct the student through self-paced study on the treatment principles and evaluation techniques for athletes with disabilities of the spine and upper extremity.

 Student Objectives:               

At the end of this course the student will be able to:

1. Identify key components in a subjective spinal examination of an athlete.
2. Identify 4 common sports injuries to the cervical spine and treatment protocols for each
3. Identify which sports have the highest risk for thoracic spine injuries
4. Identify the 5 classifications of spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis and identify which is the most common in young athletes.
5. Identify which sports have the highest risk for spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis injuries
6. Identify which sporting population has the highest incidence for sacroiliac injuries
7. Identify 3 tests for passive stabilizing components of the shoulder
8. List 5 tests for assessment of shoulder labral injuries
9. Identify 2 tests for dynamic control of the glenohumeral joint/scapulothoracic joint.
10. Identify common shoulder problems with swimming, throwing and racket sports
11. Identify sports in which shoulder injuries are prevalent.
12. Identify the stabilizing capsuloligamentous structures of the elbow
13. List the effects of injury to the radial, median, ulnar and musculocutaneous nerves
14. Identify the biomechanics of baseball pitching, tennis and golf swinging and identify the most common point of injury during each activity.
15. Identify 6 principles of rehabilitation for an athlete’s elbow
16. Identify the 4 stages of rehabilitation for a non-operative elbow injury
17. Identify an interval throwing program for baseball players
18. Identify an interval tennis and golf program.
19. Identify a treatment protocol for medial and lateral epicondylitis, ulnar nerve transposition, ulnar collateral ligament sprain and reconstruction and olecranon osteophyte excision.
20. List the 3 stages of ulnar neuropathy of the elbow
21. Identify a treatment program for patients with osteochondritis dissecans, degenerative joint disease, elbow dislocations, fractures and arthrolysis.
22. Identify the “Thrower’s 10” rehabilitation program
23. Identify a treatment protocol for wrist fractures and carpal instabilities
24. List 14 provacative tests for radial, central and ulnar nerve lesions that cause pain and impingement.
25. Identify a treatment program for deQuervain’s stenosing tenovaginitis
26. Identify treatment protocols for thumb and phalangeal injuries