Finding Dysfunction: A Master Clinician’s Approach to Finding the Cause of Patients' Pain

Course Description

This course will provide you with a unique yet systematic framework to finding the true cause of patients' pain. You'll learn to assess the body in a "global" way, looking beyond the local pain area to find dysfunctions elsewhere that could be causing the problem. The major focus points of this approach are the joint, muscle, fascial, and compensatory barriers a patient has (what we call the JMFC Framework) as well as the hypo-hyper compensation model, both in theory and on actual patient case studies. We know patients tend seek out therapists who have a great reputation for making a difference, and these simple frameworks will help you develop that reputation and help you get patients' lives back. This course will cover how to identify key dysfunctions in the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle, and foot, as well as look at spinal referred pain.

 

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At the completion of this seminar, the participant will be able to:

  • Synthesize data from a clinical exam to develop a master-level approach to finding the root cause of upper and lower extremity pain
  • Identify 4 pathological barriers to motion which can contribute to peripheral joint pain
  • Apply the Joint-Muscle-Fascia-Compensation Framework to justify single and multiple dysfunctions that can contribute to peripheral joint pain
  • Devise 1-2 pain pathways for upper and lower extremity joints in all 3 planes of motion
  • Apply the Hypo-Hyper Compensation Model, and as outlined in the manual, and identify 4 ways in which this model contributes to the origin of peripheral joint pain
  • Accurately describe the significance of applying the Test-Treat-Retest concept and justify the use of 1-2 manual therapy techniques for each pathological barrier to motion
  • Explain 2 mechanisms by which mechanical pain is perceived in the brain
  • Interpret 3 key pieces of the patient's subjective history that give the clinician information by which to find dysfunction effectively and efficiently

Saturday

7:30am

Doors Open

8:00am

Lecture: Introduction, Overview of the Keys to Finding Dysfunction

9:30am

Lecture: Key Concepts - Discussion on Mechanical Pain

11:00am

Lecture and Lab: Key Concepts with Finding Joint Dysfunctions

12:00pm

Lunch (on your own)

1:00pm

Lecture and Lab: Key Concepts with Finding Muscle Dysfunctions

4:00pm

Review of Evidence-Based Literature for Today's Topic's

4:30pm

Review Questions and Self-Assessment

5:30pm

Adjourn

Sunday

7:30am

Doors Open

8:00am

Lecture: Review Questions

9:00am

Lecture and Lab: Key Concepts with Finding Fascial Dysfunctions

10:45am

Lecture and Lab: Key Concepts with Finding Compensation Dysfunctions

12:00pm

Lunch (on your own)

1:00pm

Lecture: Applying the Join-Muscle-Fascia-Compensation (JMFC) Framework (identifying key dysfunctions in hip, knee, ankle, foot, shoulder, elbow, and wrist regions)

3:15pm

Lecture: Case Studies and Speed Thinking using Pain Algorithms

4:45pm

Questions, Post-Test, Course Evaluation

5:00pm

Adjourn

Course Instructors

Kelly Poppaw

PT, DPT, CIMT

Kelly holds a Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy from Grand Valley State University. Kelly received her Bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University where she was a NCAA Division One athlete and Captain of the Women’s Soccer Team. As a Certified Integrated Manual Therapist, Kelly is credentialed through Great Lakes Seminars to assess mechanical dysfunction from a holistic perspective, and she is very comprehensive in her treatment approach. She uses a wide variety of manual therapy techniques, functional exercise, and patient education to provide people with an exceptionally high quality of care. She treats orthopedically across the entire age spectrum from birth to adult to geriatrics. Kelly created this course after working under Patrick Hoban for a number of years. She has a passion to teach clinicians how to think systematically; find the root of the patient’s problem on day-one, and eliminate the potential for misdiagnosis. Kelly is a Physical Therapist and Clinic Director at Probility Physical Therapy, a Trained Steward of the leadership methodology Intentional Energetic Presence (IEP) and uses her experience in these areas to create and sustain thriving businesses and cultures.

Kelly Poppaw

What people are saying!

It was a fantastic review of anatomy and biomechanics; wonderful for critical thinking and working through a problem to find the "driver" and to create an immediate, measurable result.
Newark, NJ
This course was very educational, and I will be able to implement what I’ve learned over the past two days to each and every one of my patients. The instructor did a great job of expanding my mind, knowledge, and ‘toolbox’ of ways to assess and treat, which will greatly benefit my patient. . .I am excited for a new work week to be able to begin using these new tools to help get my patients better so they can enjoy the quality of life they deserve.
Green Valley, AZ
You really "connected all the dots." I have been in practice for 36 years and have taken probably over 100 courses. Each gave me something to apply to my practice. I have been using these techniques with similar lines of reasoning as to what is driving the pain, but this course finally made it so much more clear as to why sometimes I just couldn't find it quick enough or at all with some patients. Your JMFC targets are so simple and easy to apply, really justifying why we are doing the treatments we are. I also had not had much exposure to the fascial "slings." They really put it all together. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise and making us all so much better. I think every new grad should be taking this course ASAP in their career!
Newark, NJ
I liked how we learned a pathway to treating patients with goal of getting immediate improvement day 1 . And loved lab portion instructor was great in demonstrating and providing feedback.
Philadelphia, PA
I enjoyed that this course really focused on the "why" behind manual therapy and exercise interventions. I enjoy that this course challenges clinicians to look beyond local impairments and to consider multiple regions to determine dysfunction.
Palm Beach, FL

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