Treatment of the Lumbar Complex
Course Description
Simply put, this course takes the complexity out of effectively assessing and treating lower back dysfunction and conveniently combines assessment options and an array of treatment tools to address lumbar dysfunction.
This course was designed to give you a thorough and in-depth understanding of the lumbar spine complex. Its material is evidence-based and incorporates Muscle Energy Technique (MET), articular mobilization, myofascial release and stabilization exercises to give you a multi-faceted approach to treat this area with confidence. You should feel comfortable with most lumbar patients once you leave this class.
As with all of our manual therapy courses, this course is at least 75% hands-on lab, and will give the clinician skills they can use immediately upon their return to the clinical setting.
What people are saying!
Top Takeaways
- Learn how to identify the driver of lower back dysfunction.
- Gain a better understanding of how lumbar dysfunction evolves and why patients have the symptoms that they have.
- Learn the key structures that are involved in lumbar dysfunction and how to efficiently and effectively find these structures.
Course Objectives
At the completion of this seminar, the participant will be able to:
- Correctly and independently perform 12 lumbar mobilization techniques
- Correctly and independently identify specific effects of Muscle Energy Technique and manipulations
- Correctly demonstrate palpation, use of testing techniques, and application of specific mobilizations and releases of the lumbar complex
- Quickly correlate multiple positive tests to ascertain a correct assessment of lumbar dysfunction
- Correctly and independently identify three specific effects of direct articulations at the lumbar spine
Course Instructors
Jim Herman
PT, MPT, MS, CIMT
Jim received his Masters degrees in Kinesiology and Physical Therapy from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1997 and 2000 respectively. As a graduate assistant at UNLV, he instructed anatomy and physiology lab sections as well as courses in fitness walking and aquatics. Since graduating, Jim spent two years teaching spinal orthopaedics and pathological conditions as an adjunct instructor in the Physical Therapy Assistant program at Henry Ford Community College. Clinically, Jim has worked primarily in outpatient orthopaedics, including five years with Patrick Hoban at Probility Physical Therapy. Recently, Jim relocated to South Carolina and is supervisor of Blythewood Physical Therapy. He joined Great Lakes Seminars in 2003 to assist with instruction of the Lumbar Complex, Sacroiliac, and Cervical Thoracic courses and has been a primary instructor for the past five years.

Course Outline
Saturday
Doors Open
Lecture: Introduction and Principles of Treatment
Lecture: Types of Dysfunctions
Lecture: Review of Anatomy
Lab: Assessment Techniques for Lumbar Dysfunctions and Soft Tissue
Lunch (on your own)
Lab: Palpation of Muscles
Lab: Lumbar Spine Assessment
Lab: Treatment of Lumbar Spine Leg Pull
Lab: Treatment of Lumbar Spine Flexion Dysfunctions
Lab: Review of Evidence-Based Literature
Adjourn
Sunday
Doors Open
Lab: Treatment of Lumbar Spine Flexion Dysfunctions
Lab: Treatment of Lumbar Spine Extension Dysfunctions
Lab: Treatment of Lumbar Spine Type I Dysfunctions
Lab: Review of Myofascial Release and Soft Tissue Mobilization
Lunch (on your own)
Lab: MFR and STM of Multifidus
Lab: MFR and STM of Quadratus, Lumborum, Piriformis, Psoas and Iliacus
Lab: Spinal Exercise Stabilization and Transverse Abdominus
Lab: Speed Mobilization and Clinical Application
Lab: Review of Evidence-Based Literature
Adjourn