IC14: Manual Therapy Interventions for the Upper Extremity after Spinal Cord Injury: Hands on Workshop

Interdisciplinary workshop designed to enhance all clinicians, but specifically physical and occupational therapists’, confidence and ability to utilize manual therapy in managing the upper extremity in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI); with the goal of reducing pain, improving mobility, meeting functional goals, increasing independence, and improving quality of life. The workshop will include discussion of common neuromusculoskeletal impairments and functional limitations after SCI. There will be demonstration and hands-on application of joint mobilizations for the shoulder, scapula, elbow and wrist, as well as, assessment and application of upper extremity neurodynamics, therapeutic cupping and vibration. Additionally, there will be discussion and demonstration of dry needling for specific musculature of the shoulder complex and upper extremity, using multiple case-based examples. Dry needling will be demonstrated but not physically taught in this course. Focus will be on current evidence, common questions, and ideas to overcome barriers to utilizing dry needling after SCI.