Speakers: Jeff Schmidt, PT, OCS, SCS, MTC and Scott Brown, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS
Contact Hours: 14.5 contact hours (MN BPT Cat. 1)

About This Course

Low back pain (LBP) accounts for 3% of all physician visits annually in the United States with direct healthcare costs estimated to be over 85 billion dollars.  Additionally, patients with low back pain make up the largest group of people seeking care from a physical therapist.  This course focuses on evaluation and management of lumbar spine disorders based on the strongest and most recent medical and physical therapy evidence. Because manipulation is under-utilized by physical therapists despite high-level evidence to support its use, several applications and techniques will be emphasized. This course will include a combination of lecture, demonstration and lab that will prepare the attendees to more effectively treat lumbar spine disorders. Credit hours are approved from the MN and ND Boards of Physical Therapy.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Apply the treatment-based classification system to patients with low back pain
• Understand red and yellow flags associated with low back pain and appropriate referrals
• Learn the principles of manipulation including general rules
• Demonstrate competence in thoracolumbar manipulation techniques
• Develop and evidence-based stabilization program
• Demonstrate competence in lumbar manual distraction techniques in multiple positions
• Become familiar with indications for lumbar imaging and pitfalls associated with over-utilization
• Correlate examination findings with an impairment-based treatment model for lumbar spinal stenosis
• Recognize unique aspects of chronic low back pain and the clinical implications

Course Schedule

Day 1: Saturday
Morning Session
8:00am–8:15am Introduction
8:15am–8:45am Evidence Based Practice
8:45am–9:30am Lumbar Examination
9:30am–10:30am Treatment Based Classification System
10:30am–10:45am Break
10:45am–11:30am From Pilates to Planks: Lumbar Stabilization
11:30am–12:00pm Lumbar Stabilization Lab

12:00pm–12:45pm Lunch (on your own)

Afternoon Session
12:45pm–1:00pm Morning review, questions
1:00pm–2:00pm Lumbar Manipulation
2:00pm–3:00pm Lumbar Manipulation Lab
3:00pm–3:15pm Break
3:15pm–4:00pm SI Joint Special Testing
4:00pm–4:30pm SI Joint Lab

Day 2: Sunday
Morning Session
8:00am–8:15am Day 1 Review
8:15am–8:45am Lumbar Manipulation “Round Robin” 
8:45am–9:45am Lumbar Imaging: Harmful or Helpful
9:30am–10:30am Traction/ Spinal Unloading  
10:30am–10:45am Break  
10:45am–11:15am Spinal Unloading Techniques: Lab
11:15am–12:00pm Directional Preference

12:00pm–12:45pm Lunch (on your own)

Afternoon Session
12:45pm–1:00pm Morning review, questions
1:00pm–2:00pm The Hip and Low Back Pain
2:00pm–3:00pm Hip Mobilization Lab
3:00pm–3:15pm Break
3:15pm–4:00pm Thoracolumbar techniques
4:00pm–4:30pm Skill Assessment” 

Speaker Biographies

Scott Brown, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS, Cert. DN
Scott graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007 with a doctorate in physical therapy.  He is currently employed as a Physical Therapist at Sanford Power Physical Therapy in Fargo, ND and sees a variety of orthopedic diagnoses with a special focus on spinal disorders.  He has been involved in the development of the Sanford North Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency program and has been a core faculty member.   He is actively involved in the research team as well.    He became an orthopedic certified specialist in 2011 and a sports certified specialist in 2015 as issued by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties.   His special interests include evaluation and treatment of the spine as well as teaching/ education for students, physical therapy residents, and physical therapists.   Scott became certified in dry needling by the Spinal Manipulation Institute in 2016. He is a co-founder of Orthopedic Physical Therapy Specialists, LLC and the vice president. 

Jeff Schmidt, PT, OCS, SCS, MTC, Cert. DN
Jeff graduated from St Louis University in 1991 giving him over 20 years of experience in both inpatient and outpatient physical therapy.   In 2000, he became certified by the University of St. Augustine, FL as a manual therapist and in 2006 he became a certified orthopedic specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. In 2011, Jeff became a Sports Certified specialist through the same organization. In addition, Jeff was a member of the core faculty for Sanford Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency program where the first resident began in August 2012. He has a strong interest in clinical research, with his first study published 2012.   Jeff became certified in dry needling by the Spinal Manipulation Institute in 2015.  He is the founder and president of Orthopedic Physical Therapy Specialists, LLC, a Physical Therapy education and consulting company established in 2012. He currently works in an outpatient setting in Kalispell, MT.