SMARTERehab - Cervical Spine: Movement Analysis, Sub-classification & Neuromuscular Retraining

Cours donné par Sean Gibbons (SMARTERehab). Cours donné en anglais.

Description du cours

Neck pain can be caused by trauma such as whiplash or it can be insidious and frequently recurrent. In a large sub-group of people this is related to their movement patterns and neuromuscular control in their cervical spine.

Motor control and sensory motor deficits can be identified in association with neck pain. Following an episode of pain changes occur in the central nervous system including: a loss of proprioceptive awareness, reduced tactility, deficits in oculomotor function, altered postural stability, and changes in movement patterns. As well, the deep stabilising muscles have been shown to exhibit motor control deficits and the superficial muscles become more active at low threshold compared with non-neck pain subjects. The changes are more pronounced following whiplash. Tissues can be overloaded from uncontrolled segmental translation or compression due to the increased activity of the superficial muscles.

This course will provide participants with strategies to diagnose a movement pattern control deficit in the cervical spine and whether this relates to a concurrent scapular dysfunction. Motor control retraining strategies will be introduced using a comprehensive and evidence based clinical reasoning process. This involves; specific activation of the appropriate stability muscles to control segmental translation of the anterior and posterior cervical spine; the retraining of movement patterns; and the integration of these training strategies into function. This can create an environment for normal healing by reducing tissue provocation. A Clinical Prediction Rule will also be taught to predict if patients will respond to this rehabilitation. Other strategies will be introduced for other groups of clients.

Also covered are the relationship between scapular control and cervical movement control deficits and the diagnostic accuracy of cervical orthopaedic tests. Some beneficial taping techniques will also be used. The exercise progressions are described and strategies for the integration into function are discussed with participant examples and case studies to iron out real life difficulties.

Objectifs spécifiques du cours

• Make an accurate movement pattern control diagnosis and relate this to the client's presentation.
• Apply a clinical prediction for who will respond to motor control exercise.
• Understand the relationship of scapular dysfunction and cervical dysfunction.
• Appreciate the importance of concurrent respiratory control in the rehab of cervical muscle function.
• Problem solve the use of movement patterns as a clinical reasoning tool to help guide manual therapy and other techniques.

Public cible

Physiotherapists. Prerequisite: Sub-Classification course (SMARTERehab).