Biomechanics of the Lower Extremity: An Update

Oftentimes in physical therapy, there is the tendency to treating joints in isolation rather than seeing how everything is linked together in the body. This potentially leads to missing out on more effective treatment. To help optimize our approach, therapists need to understand how to get the body moving from the ground up. This course is designed to help physical therapists improve their understanding of lower extremity biomechanics and advance their delivery of care.  The aim of the course is to be able to take a patient from working on mobility and isometric movement to following a logical progression and then applying to more sports specific tasks/activities.  In this course we will also examine the importance of co-contractions, loading patterns in the foot with how they influence above, how/when to incorporate plyometric progressions and what that might look like.

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

• To understand lower extremity biomechanics better
• To understand the importance of co-contractions in the lower limb
• To gain a better understanding of ways to challenge lower limb capacity
• To truly understand how to see and cue the hinging pattern
• To understand the importance of the soleus in higher level tasks
• To have a better understanding of progression to higher level activities

Agenda:

• 3:00-3:15pm:  Introduction
• 3:15-4:15pm:  LE biomechanics review
• 4:15-4:30pm:  Break
• 4:30-5:45pm:  Advanced biomechanics, lab, demonstration
• 5:45-6:00pm:  Break
• 6:00-7:00pm:  Case Review, Q&A

Presented by:  Bryce Groshek PT, DPT, C-PS, TPI Level 1

Participants:  This course is intended for Physical Therapists, Physical Therapy Assistants, Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Assistants and related field students.

CEU's: 3.5 hours