Comprehensive Treatment of the Shoulder
Course Description
The shoulder is one of the most difficult joints to treat because the true cause of the problem is often missed. This course provides you with a systematic approach to find the true driver of the problem and help your patients return to a high level of function.
This course will show you an entirely new and unique way to treat the shoulder girdle complex. It focuses on the concept of hypo-hyper compensation, while incorporating joint mobilization in ways not often shown, myofascial release, taping techniques and a fresh way to look at muscle re-education and strengthening of the shoulder.
As with all of our manual therapy courses, this course is at least 75% hands-on lab, and will give the clinician hands-on skills they use immediately upon their return to the clinical setting.
What people are saying!
Top Takeaways
- Often, the site of pain is not the site of dysfunction, but the site of compensation. This course will help you look for the driver.
- Test-Treat-Retest to help you determine the impact a specific joint, muscle or soft tissue restriction is having on the overall problem.
Course Objectives
At the completion of this seminar, the participant will be able to:
- Accurately describe anatomical structures covered in the manual and their application to shoulder joint complex mechanics, shoulder movement and shoulder dysfunction
- Accurately describe the treatment concepts for shoulder joint mobilizations and myofascial release of the shoulder as discussed in the manual
- State the 5 treatment principles for shoulder taping
- Independently discuss strengthening and movement re-education
- Demonstrate each of the 8 joint mobilizations, 5 taping techniques, and 7 myofascial release techniques as shown in the course manual with proficiency and skill
Course Instructors
Mike Antal
MPT, CIMT, CSCS
Mike received his Masters in Physical Therapy from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan in 1997. He has also received his CIMT through Great Lakes Seminars and his CSCS through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Mike is currently the director of an outpatient orthopedic clinic treating a variety of orthopedic dysfunctions with specialization in post-surgical orthopedic rehabilitation. Mike employs a diverse treatment approach utilizing a combination of joint mobilization techniques, muscle energy and myofascial release. He joined the Great Lakes Seminars team in 2006 after taking a number of the GLS courses and experiencing the effectiveness of these techniques with his patients. He continues to expand his knowledge in manual therapy through teaching and continuing education courses.

Course Outline
Saturday
Doors Open
Lecture: Introduction to a comprehensive approach to treatment of the shoulder
Lecture: Overview of anatomy of the shoulder complex and its effect on mobilizations, MFR, etc.
Lecture: Introduction and review of the concepts of functional joint mobilization, MFR, joint taping and muscular re-education
Lab: Mobilization of S-C joint, Upslips
Lunch (on your own)
Lab: Mobilization of A-C joint and scap-thor joint
Lab: Mobilization of GH Joint, 1st Rib, T-Spine
Review of evidence-based literature for today’s topics
Adjourn
Sunday
Doors Open
Lab: Crossed-hand techniques, extremity release techniques
Lab: MFR of Cervical-thoracic releases
Lunch (on your own)
Lab: Taping of MDI, UT inhibition, LT facilitation, A-C joint stabilization
Lecture: Muscular re-education of the shoulder complex
Lab: Speed mobilizations
Lab: Application to specific clinical situations
Review of evidence-based literature for today’s topics
Adjourn