A course focused on athletic low back pain is offered by MedBridge Inc. In the course, according to the MedBridge website, instructors Kyle Kiesel, PT, PhD, ATC, and Todd Arnold, MD, will present participants key knowledge and application of treatment for the athlete with spinal pain.

The site notes that the course’s goal centers on enhancing the decision-making and examination skills of the sports physical therapist in a clinical setting in an effort to streamline treatment of the athletes with neck and back pain that is limiting their participation.

Learn more about “Lumbar Spine: Athletic Low Back Pain

Once the course has been completed, the site says, the sports physical therapist will gain the ability to appropriately guide the athlete through a movement-based exercise progression and utilize guidelines for improved return to play decision-making.

Additionally, the site states that the course will feature live case examples of lumbar spine injuries designed to help the sports physical therapist in the development of critical thinking, problem-solving, and patient/parent education.

During the first chapter, Kiesel will discuss a modified treatment-based classification model for the athlete. The site notes that he discusses the differences in low back pain in athletes, as compared to the general population. In this chapter, the participant will learn to accurately classify athletes into one of three treatment categories. Based on these categories, the user will be able to conduct tests, provide treatment programs, and conduct appropriate discharge testing for their athlete.

In the next chapter, Arnold will address the medical diagnosis for athletes with back pain. During this chapter, Arnold will emphasize the importance of taking a detailed patient history, ensuring that the clinician does not skip over the signs and symptoms that may be red flags for a young athlete. Additionally, he also explains the importance of referred pain and diagnostic tests. Specificity and sensitivity of various tests for flexion, extension, and mobility patients are also discussed, as well as treatment and prognosis options. At the end of the chapter, the site says Arnold provides imaging examples for the spine.

The course’s third chapter features a case study of a soccer player using a live patient. The two instructors discuss both the medical and rehab considerations for a soccer player with low back pain. The site notes that the patient presents with motor control dysfunction for spinal flexion and positive Thomas and FABER tests. The patient is also classified in the mobility treatment category. Kiesel goes on to discuss and demonstrate the treatment and outcomes of the patient.

In the fourth chapter, the instructors outline the case of an athlete that presents with low back pain and B pars stress injury without slippage, confirmed by an MRI scan. The patient’s pain is greater on the left side than the right side, and is painful in extension, according to the site. Additionally, the site says that there is a test on breathing dysfunction and a negative straight leg raise conducted. Arnold provides an overview of the medical treatment plan, and how it relates to the physical therapy treatment program. Once referred to physical therapy, Kiesel discusses his treatment approach, including diagnostic testing, discharge testing, and expected outcomes.

The final chapter offers study materials on the lumbar spine and athletic back pain. The materials are designed to assist participants in managing low back pain and allow them to see the answers to the advanced case questions.

For more information, visit www.medbridgeeducation.com

[Source: MedBridge Inc]