Vermont Naturopathic Physician Continuing Education

Hour 1

• Discuss the history of elastic taping.
• Define the anatomy of fascial layers in the human body, and how the mechanotransduction concept relates to the use of elastic taping.
• Recognize the most common indications and contraindications for the use of elastic tape within the manual therapist’s practice.
• Describe the application process of elastic taping .

Hour 2

• Discuss the evidence providing support of the use of elastic taping
• Outline various conservative management options for taping musculoskeletal problems
• Construct a treatment plan for a typical patient with acute traumatic swelling
• Apply specific taping techniques for certain biomechanical dysfunctions

Hour 3

• Describe and demonstrate the application of elastic taping procedures for carpal tunnel syndrome
• Describe and demonstrate the application of elastic taping procedures for biomechanical low back pain
• Describe and demonstrate the application of elastic taping procedures for shoulder stabilization
• Describe and demonstrate the application of elastic taping procedures for knee osteoarthritis

• Examine the relationship between hip flexibility and patellofemoral pain
• Summarize the evidence pertaining to the efficacy of manual and physical therapies for the management of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
• Outline the possibility of a continuum existing between patellofemoral pain and patellofemoral osteoarthritis
• Discuss the evidence regarding prevalence, diagnosis and management of patellar tendinopathy
• Review the most common clinical tests used to determine balance in those with knee OA a clinical setting

• Outline the innovation of the therapy
• Summarize the Physics behind the modality
• Describe the interaction of LLLT with live tissue
• Detect the contraindications & precautions
• Assess the different LLLT devices.
• Comprehend the different types of LLLT available
• Optimize the LLLT parameters for improved outcomes
• Apply LLLT in a manner that optimizes your treatment
• Explain the physiological effects to your patients
• Examine the current clinical evidence

• Appraise the combination of pain neuroscience education and exercise or motor control training to alter ‘pain memories’ associated with chronic pain
• Assess the relationship between vibration training and muscle strength and bone mineral density in older adults
• Measure the effects of whole-body vibration (WBV) training on balance and strength in elderly patients suffering from diabetic neuropathy who are at high risk of falls
• Examine the effectiveness of unimodal and multimodal physical therapies for base of thumb osteoarthritis
• Explore the evidence on the effects of manual therapy for the treatment of plantar heel pain

• Explain the origin of microcurrent therapy
• Differentiate the difference between microcurrent and TENS
• Discuss the importance of microcurrent therapy on healing
• Examine the easy of incorporating microcurrent therapy
• Integrate microcurrent therapy into a practice

• Review sensory-motor control and rehabilitation
• Discuss aerobic exercise for LBP patients
• Describe muscle training of the hip, abdominal and paraspinal muscles
• Identify how aerobic exercise improves motor performance in the elderly
• Distinguish the effects of different training styles on the cross-sectional area of paraspinal muscles

• Describe the contribution of hip vs. spinal motion
• Distinguish poor motor patterns of hip and low back movements and what to do about it
• Differentiate the role of exercise for neck disorders and determine what type of exercise works
• Delineate the neural adaptations to exercise and apply towards rehabilitation
• Describe current issues in low back rehabilitation (such as can low back tissues heal within a few weeks)

• Describe the long term course of LBP
• Describe neuromuscular impairments following LBP
• Differentiate the effects of pain on the neuromuscular system
• Discuss the models that explain the nature of motor problems with pain
• Differentiate and discuss the potential sources of LBP

• Identify and describe the major factors influencing muscular strength
• Assess the chiropractic influences on strength
• Identify and discuss the strength training principles
• Illustrate components of a training session
• Apply training principles into a practical strength program

• Define proprioception and describe how it is measured
• Discuss proprioception from a rehabilitative perspective
• Examine ankle, knee and shoulder proprioception and rehabilitation
• Examine spinal proprioception and sensorimotor training
• Summarize rehabilitation recommendations for proprioceptive deficits

• Illustrate basic principles of cardiovascular exercise
• Discuss the mechanisms of cardiovascular responses to exercise
• Discuss the acute effects of exercise on the cardiovascular system
• Discuss the training effects of exercise on the cardiovascular system

• Summarize the functional anatomy of core strength training
• Discuss the principles of core strength
• Develop an assessment of spinal stabilization
• Distinguish specific evaluation tests for spinal stability

• Summarize the effect of training on the fatigue of multifidi muscles
• Discuss which muscles are involved in stabilization exercises
• Assess the relation between low back pain and clinical instability
• Describe a study implementing manipulation and stabilization exercises for chronic LBP
• Introduce the concept of functional restoration vs. physical therapy for LBP

• Describe the early health care utilization for occupational low back pain
• Determine which factors are important in predicting outcome after a spinal stabilization exercise program
• Assess lumbar disc surgery rates before and after implementation of nonsurgical spine clinics
• Determine whether kinematic compromise can be used to predict spine loading in low back pain (LBP) patients under realistic lifting efforts in a workplace
• Determine the effects of subacute LBP and limitation of the straight leg raise on lumbar and hip kinematics during sit-to-stand and its reverse

• Summarize the effect of whiplash on neck muscle strength
• Discuss the effects of manipulation vs. mobilization on head and neck pain in whiplash patients
• Assess the effects of thoracic manipulation in whiplash patients
• Describe a study predicting the response of neck pain patients to neck strengthening exercise
• Introduce the smooth pursuit neck torsion test and its application in whiplash disorders

• Identify the anatomy of upper motor neuron tract systems and discuss the functionality of upper motor neuron tract systems
• Explain the effects of a spinal cord injury
• Discuss the anatomy and functionality of regions of the brain
• Describe complications post injury of brain and spinal cord injury
• Describe standard treatment procedures prior to rehabilitation of brain and spinal cord injured patients
• Explain the difference between neurological deficit rigidity versus disuse atrophy/spasm of spinal cord and head injured patients
• Describe treatment options for rehabilitation of spinal cord and head injured patients
• Explain treatment methods to transition C curve locomotion to S curve locomotion
• Explain treatment methods for atrophy and spasm
• Discuss most current curative research for spinal cord and head injured patients

• Outline the anatomy of cervical spine proprioception
• Review clinical studies investigating cervical spine proprioception
• Assess existing literature on the reliability of cervical spine joint position sense
• Assess the effect of spinal adjustments/manipulation on cervical spine proprioception

• Summarize the central role of muscle protein in whole-body metabolism and muscle mass
• Outline the role of skeletal muscle metabolism in health and disease (such as diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis)
• Describe the role of hormones for influencing muscle metabolism and health
• Identify the catabolic and anabolic mediators of muscle metabolism
• Specify ways to maximize muscle mass and metabolism to promote wellness

• Explain the anatomical constituents of the core musculature
• Consider implications of weak or inadequate core muscles
• Emphasize the importance of the gluteal muscle group in rehabilitation
• Illustrate common compensation patterns when individuals have weak core musculature with clinical examples
• Explain the concept of neural adaptation
• Review reciprocal inhibition and it's clinical application
• Discuss physiological overflow and its clinical application

• Discuss conventional situps and their pitfalls
• Provide a logical rationale for core training
• Explain and demonstrate a logical progression of exercises for core training, emphasizing skill, then endurance and strength

• This contains all courses with the educational objectives listed from Rehab 115 through Rehab 125

• Recognize some of the common mistakes with conventional sit ups and how to correct them
• View and narrate the ideal sit up
• Recognize the importance of the brain and cortex in core training
• Discuss how inhalation and exhalation affect muscular activity, and how to utilize this in training
• Point out the pitfalls of abdominal hollowing and core training
• Examine the importance of the thoracolumbar fascia
• Analyze what cues to look for when evaluating a bench press exercise

• Demonstrate the proper patient positioning for the lunge and squat exercises
• Explain and show common problems with the lunge and squat exercises
• Explain and show Dr cues for proper patient positioning of the lunge and squat exercises
• Explain, evaluate, compare and demonstrate variations of the squat exercise, including ball squats, theraband squats, potty squats, squat shuffles
• Explore and demonstrate how foot function and shoe type impacts squat and lunge activities
• Introduce, explain and demonstrate proper and improper performance of additional, advanced gluteal activation exercises including the Texas walk, ball squats, drops, roman chair and 1 legged dead lifts

• Apply core exercise to facilitate improved lower limb mechanics in women
• Recognize the connection between improved lumbar multifidus function and clinical improvement after spinal manipulation
• Discuss the potential of full kinetic chain manual therapy treatment for hip osteoarthritis
• Assess muscle activation and spinal loading profiles during common Kettlebell exercises
• Describe specific exercises that could improve hip strength and mechanics in women with patellofemoral pain

• Describe the Nordic Hamstring exercise and its potential applications for hamstring injuries
• Summarize the state of the literature on exercise interventions for adolescent scoliosis
• Integrate strength training with flexibility training to improve patient progress
• Appraise the potential role of yoga in managing spinal conditions
• Grade and recognize the state of the literature on physical and rehabilitation interventions for chronic non-specific low back pain

• Compare slower treadmill walking on a moderate incline to faster walking with no incline for moderately obese adults patients
• Summarize the current state of the literature on exercise interventions for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
• Explain the utility of interval training for patients with coronary artery disease
• Support the inclusion of resistance training in exercise programs for aging patients based on existing scientific research
• Appraise various types of exercise for patients with metabolic syndrome

• Outline the neuroendocrine-immune interactions and communication pertaining to exercise
• Contrast sprint training with endurance training regarding performance adaptations and cardiac output
• Identify the benefits and underlying mechanisms of agonist-antagonist paired set training for improving strength and power
• Summarize the validity of dehydration signs, compared with body weight change, in marathon runners
• Describe methods for developing maximal neuromuscular power

• Apply contemporary rehabilitation strategies for anterior cruciate ligament patients
• Illustrate the importance of proximal stability and rehabilitation in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome
• Outline the relationship between quadriceps strength, proprioception and knee osteoarthritis
• Discuss the potential value of gait retraining for improving lower limb biomechanics in runners with patellofemoral pain
• Contrast lower extremity kinematics & muscle activation in patients with and without patellofemoral pain syndrome

• Discuss a proposed model for the logical sequence of active rehabilitation
• Review ‘the core’, its healthy functional role and how it is commonly changed in people with spinal and pelvic girdle pain syndromes
• Describe core muscle activity during physical fitness exercises
• Provide an introduction to dynamic neuromuscular (core) stabilization and athletic performance
• Introduce the basics of exercise prescription

• Illustrate the effects of external pelvic compression on the passive, active and neuromotor control systems of the lumbopelvic region and thigh
• Summarize the importance of core stability assessment and rehabilitation in lumbosacral radiculopathy cases
• Assess the differences in torso motion and muscle activity between elliptical trainer use and treadmill walking
• Discover how even small amounts of daily exercise can positively impact patients with neck and shoulder pain
• Critique and apply periodization concepts to rehabilitation for patients with non-specific low back pain