Somerset, NJ / The Mulligan Concept™ Upper Quadrant Course

Spinal and Peripheral Manual Therapy Treatment Techniques for Upper Quarter
The Mulligan Concept™ Upper Quadrant two-day course will present the Mulligan approach to manual therapy for the Cervical and Thoracic spine as well as for the upper extremity. It will include lectures, patient demonstrations, and lab time to give the participants a thorough and in-depth coverage of the Mobilization with Movement approach for the upper quarter. This unique approach to manual therapy was discovered and developed by Brian Mulligan F.N.Z.S.P. (Hon), Dip. M.T. from Wellington, New Zealand. This simple yet effective manual approach addresses musculoskeletal disorders with pain-free manual joint “repositioning” techniques for the restoration of function and the abolition of pain.

Learning Objectives 

By the end of the course, the participant will be able to accurately:

• List 3 key components of Mobilization with Movement for the treatment of upper quarter.
• Demonstrate 3 shoulder MWM techniques for shoulder elevation impairment.
• Demonstrate 2 elbow MWM techniques for loss of motion and tennis elbow.
• List 2 indications for wrist/hand taping procedures for the proximal row of carpals and the metacarpals to reinforce an MWM technique.
• Demonstrate 3 key variables that may need to be modified for pain-free effective MWM of the upper extremity, cervical and thoracic spine.
• Demonstrate 3 manual techniques for the alleviation of cervicogenic headaches
• Demonstrate 3 manual techniques for the alleviation of cervicogenic dizziness
• Demonstrate central and unilateral manual SNAG techniques for the pain-free improvement of cervical and thoracic ROM.
• Cite at least 2 RCT studies that support cervical snags for headaches and dizziness
• Cite at least 2 RCT studies that support the MWM approach to Tennis elbow
• Integrate one combined shoulder MWM and cervical SNAG when presented with a persistent cervical / shoulder musculoskeletal dysfunctional pattern.

Outline:

DAY 1:

7:30   Registration
8:00-9:00     Introduction, Discuss Text Required Reading, Case reports, theory and pre test
9:00-9:30     Hand demonstration and lab practice: IP, MCP, Metacarpals, Carpals, and taping techniques
9:30-10:00   Wrist demonstration and lab practice: MWMs for flexion, extension, supination, pronation, and taping
10:00-10:15   Break time
10:15-12:00 Cervical demonstration and lab practice: NAGs, Reverse NAGs, SNAGs for rotation.
12:00-1:00   Lunch
1:00- 2:00     Cervical demonstration and lab practice: SNAGS for flexion, extension, rotation, SB, HEP techniques
2:00-2:15   Upper Cervical: Lecture: evidence for eval and Rx of upper cervical pain, headaches and cervicogenic dizziness.
2:15-2:30     Headache/Upper Cervical: demonstration and lab practice: assessment and treatment techniques
2:30- 2:45     Break time
2:45- 4:00     Upper Cervical lab practice for Headache/Cervicogenic Dizziness treatments continued

DAY 2:
8:00-10:00   Cervical demonstration and lab practice: traction techniques, Positional SNAGs, Spinal Mob w Arm Movement
10:00-10:15   Break time
10:15-11:30 Elbow demonstration and lab practice: flexion, extension, proximal radioulnar jt, tennis elbow treatments, HEP
11:30-12:00   Shoulder demonstration and lab practice: manual and belt MWMs for elevation
12:00-1:00     Lunch
1:00- 2:00     Shoulder demonstration and lab practice: IR, ER, functional activities, HEP, Acromioclavicular jt demonstration and lab practice: MWMs, and taping
2:00- 2:15    Break time
2:15- 3:00     Ribs demonstration and lab practice: MWMs for ribs 1-12, Thoracic demonstration and lab practice: SNAGs for rotation, flexion, SB, extension
3:00-3:30     Review, Clinical review Post Tests with participants challenged in Rx progressions and clinical reasoning, Closing, Practical review session. Post course test.

• Wear loose, comfortable lab clothes.
• Bring mobilization belts, mobilization pads, exercise mat
• Read: The Mulligan Concept of Manual Therapy: Textbook of techniques by Hing, Hall, Rivett, Vicenzino and Mulligan, 2015. (Amazon) and Manual Therapy ‘NAGs’, ‘SNAGs’, ‘MWMs’ etc. 6^th edition, by Brian R. Mulligan, 2010. (Amazon)

Suggested Reading

Don is a graduate of the University of Southern California, where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy in 1981. He is a board certified orthopedic clinical specialist, certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. He has over thirty years of clinical experience emphasizing manual therapy, and currently is in independent practice in Jacksonville, Oregon. Don is an accredited member of the Mulligan Concept Teachers Association and served as Regional Manager in North America from 1999-2013.

He has assisted Brian Mulligan on courses since 1994, and has been the principal instructor in postgraduate manual therapy courses since 1998 throughout the United States and Canada.