clinical education


Low Back Pain: A-Z

Course Description

This course provides an in-depth exploration of the complexities surrounding lower back pain, equipping clinicians with the theoretical foundation and practical tools necessary for effective, individualized care. Participants will examine the multifaceted nature of pain, dispel myths and outdated practices related to anatomy, mechanics, and diagnosis, and enhance their clinical reasoning to better assess and treat diverse patient populations. By integrating updated approaches and evidence-based strategies, this course fosters critical thinking and empowers practitioners to deliver context-driven, patient-centered care.

Course Background

We are pleased to introduce our first course offering presented by a distinguished colleague from outside our organization. This course is designed to complement and expand upon the principles of our Human Rehabilitation Framework (HRF), while also bringing fresh perspectives and insights from external expertise.

While the core material of this course aligns closely with the HRF, emphasizing process-based approaches to rehabilitation and health, it is important to note that there may be some variations and unique interpretations presented. These discrepancies are valuable, as they introduce new ideas and methodologies that may enhance or challenge our current understanding, fostering a richer learning experience.

Participants are encouraged to engage with the content critically, integrating these new insights with the foundational principles of the HRF to enhance their professional practice and personal growth.

Course Target Audience: Physical Therapists, Athletic Trainers, Occupational Therapists, Chiropractors, Physical and Occupational Therapist Assistants, Massage Therapists, Counselors/Social Workers, Nurses/Nurse Practitioners, Osteopaths, Physicians, Rehabilitation Professional Students

Course Objectives

  1. Improve theoretical understanding of lower back pain.

  2. Understand what makes working with someone who has back pain and pain in general so complicated.

  3. Have practical takeaways from foundational and theoretical information to use in the clinic.

  4. Understand myths and common outdated practice areas surrounding lower back pain, anatomy, mechanics, and diagnosis.

  5. Improve clinical/critical thinking how to best assess, diagnose, and treat all types of individuals presenting with back pain.

  6. Test some updated and less guided approaches to treating individuals with back pain so you can individualize care better based on context.

Current Offerings

ONLINE VERSION

Unlock the flexibility to learn at your own pace with our captivating online edition.

Course Instructor

Jacob Templar PT, DPT, OCS, Cert. MDT, Fellow PBMPS, Strength in Evidence Physio, is a Physical Therapist and Online Strength Coach in Rochester NY. Working in an Outpatient setting he sees a wide array of orthopedic conditions but works primarily with individuals who have orthopedic spine related complains, migraine/headaches, and chronic pain. Jacob has worked for world renowned powerlifting group The Strength Guys as an injury consultant working with dozens of national, and international level powerlifters. He has taught courses within the USA and internationally about applications of strength and hypertrophy principles for rehab and about lower back pain and the biopsychosocial model. Notably giving lectures for North Dakota state University, University of Del Rosa Columbia, University of Oxford (England), and THE Ohio State University, as well as presenting for APTA Texas, Michigan and New York .

JOIN OUR COURSE WITH A DONATION

We believe in making our educational resources accessible to everyone. Instead of charging a set price for our online course, we invite you to make a donation that reflects your ability to contribute. Your generosity helps us continue our mission and provide valuable resources to more individuals.

MINIMUM DONATION

16-Hour Self-Paced Course

Lifetime Access to Course Material

Opportunity to Connect with Other Members

Access to Exclusive Q&A Sessions

DONATION + SUPPORT

All the Same Benefits 

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Support for Patients Struggling with Pain:
Your additional donation will contribute to a fund that provides free in-depth patient education and resources. This includes equipment not typically covered by insurance, such as pedal bikes, durable medical equipment (DME), and adaptive equipment, enhancing the support and care for those in need.

Why Donate?

Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference. By donating, you’re not just enrolling in a course; you’re investing in a community dedicated to improving chronic pain management and education.

Your Support Enables Us To:

This initiative is dedicated to ensuring that the most vulnerable populations, including Medicaid recipients and individuals in rural communities, have access to high-quality clinical services, resources, and equipment. By bolstering community clinical services, this effort supports the infrastructure needed to deliver effective treatments, ensures continuity of care, and addresses the disparities in healthcare access and outcomes for these populations. Enhancing the availability of essential resources and modern equipment further empowers these communities, enabling more comprehensive and effective healthcare solutions

This effort involves developing publicly available comprehensive educational materials targeted at both healthcare providers and the general public. For clinicians, this could include detailed guides on the latest research and best practices in pain management and movement disorders. For the public, the focus would be on providing understandable and actionable information that helps individuals make informed decisions about their health, enhances their understanding of pain management, and reduces stigma associated with chronic conditions.

This initiative focuses on enhancing the tools and resources available for personalized pain management. The CPEN technology platform will integrate cutting-edge technology to provide tailored solutions that adapt to individual needs, improving patient outcomes and empowering individuals to manage their chronic pain more effectively

This research aims to advance innovative approaches in the treatment of movement and pain challenges. By focusing on individualized treatments, the research seeks to uncover more effective methodologies that can lead to better therapeutic outcomes. 

Course Schedule

Section 1 - 8 Hours

What is pain? 

Relevant anatomy 

Potential causes and relevant diagnosis of back pain 

Prevalence and epidemiology 

Risk factors for back pain 

Risk factors for chronic back pain 

Natural history 

Guideline based care 

Examination 

Red flags and screening 

Yellow flags and screening 

outcome measures

History 

Imaging 

Subgrouping (still relevant?) 

Section 2 - 8 Hours

Prognosis vs diagnosis 

Treatments

Education on pain (PNE and PNE+)

Addressing beliefs (CFT) 

Aerobic exercise 

Directional preference 

Functional activity

Things to avoid in treatment 

Calm things down and build back up

When to protect versus expose 

Injections

Surgery 

Pyramid of importance 

Too much medicine? 

Not enough resources

This course has been approved by The American Physical Therapy Association, Michigan Chapter for Physical Therapists and Physical Therapy Assistants for 16 CEUs and is eligible for PDR credit in the area of pain and symptom management for Michigan Physical Therapy Licensure.

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