Jul 19, 2025
@
8:00 am
–
Jul 20, 2025
@
4:00 pm
PST
Spinal and Peripheral Manual Therapy Treatment Techniques For Upper Quarter
This two-day course will present the Mulligan approach to manual therapy for the Cervical and Thoracic spine as well as for the upper extremity.
- PTs and PTAs will receive 1.3 CEU’s for those holding license in the state of CA. For those residing outside of the state of CA, please contact your state governing board to determine reciprocity for your state. You may also contact the course instructor as the course may have been pre-approved in your state as well. If necessary, all forms required to submit individually for CEU’s can be found on this website under Courses/CEU’s.
Description
Spinal and Peripheral Manual Therapy Treatment Techniques For Upper Quarter
This two-day course will present the Mulligan approach to manual therapy for the Cervical and Thoracic spine as well as for the upper extremity. It will include lecture, patient demonstrations, and lab time to give the participants a thorough and in depth coverage of the Mobilization With Movement™ approach for the upper quarter. This unique approach to manual therapy was discovered and developed by Brian Mulligan F.N.Z.S.P. (Hon), Dip. M.T. from Wellington, New Zealand. This simple yet effective manual approach addresses musculoskeletal disorders with pain free manual joint “repositioning” techniques for restoration of function and abolition of pain.
Objectives
Learning Objectives
By the end of the course the participant will be able to accurately:
- List 3 key manual components of Mobilization With Movement™ for the treatment of upper quarter.
- Demonstrate 3 shoulder MWM techniques for shoulder elevation impairment.
- Demonstrate 2 elbow MWM techniques for loss of motion and tennis elbow.
- List 2 indications for wrist/hand taping procedures for the proximal row of carpals and the metacarpals to reinforce an MWM technique.
- Demonstrate 3 key variables that may need to be modified for pain-free effective MWM of the upper extremity, cervical and thoracic spine.
- Demonstrate 3 manual upper cervical techniques used for the alleviation of cervicogenic headaches
- Demonstrate 3 manual upper cervical techniques used for the alleviation of cervicogenic dizziness
- Demonstrate central and unilateral manual SNAG techniques for the pain-free improvement of cervical and thoracic ROM.
- Cite at least 2 RCT studies that support cervical snags for headaches and dizziness
- Cite at least 2 RCT studies that support the MWM approach to Tennis elbow
- Integrate one combined shoulder MWM and cervical SNAG when presented with a persistent cervical / shoulder musculoskeletal dysfunctional pattern.
Outline:
Instruction in the MWM concept with lecture, demonstration and lab practice
Two Day Course:
DAY 1: 8:00AM–4:30PM
DAY 2 7:30AM-3:30PM
DAY 1:
- 7:45-8:00 Registration
- 8:00-9:00 Mulligan Theory, case report, pre test
- 9:00-9:30 Hand demonstration and lab practice: IP, MCP, Metacarpals, Carpals, and taping techniques
- 9:30-10:00 Wrist demonstration and lab practice: MWMs for flexion, extension, supination, pronation, and taping
- 10:00-10:15 Break time
- 10:15-12:00 Cervical demonstration and lab practice: NAGs, Reverse NAGs, SNAGs for rotation.
- 12:00-1:00 Lunch
- 1:00- 2:00 Cervical demonstration and lab practice: SNAGS for flexion, extension, rotation, SB, HEP techniques
- 2:00-2:15 Upper Cervical: Lecture: evidence for eval / Rx of upper cervical pain, headaches and cervicogenic dizziness.
- 2:15-2:30 Headache/Upper Cervical: demonstration and lab practice: assessment and treatment techniques
- 2:30- 2:45 Break time
- 2:45- 4:30 Upper Cervical lab practice for Headache/Cervicogenic Dizziness treatments continued
DAY 2: (course will start at 8:00 and end at 4 but keep same timeline as below)
- 7:30-10:00 Cervical demonstration & lab practice: traction techniques, Positional SNAGs, Spinal Mob w Arm Mvmt
- 10:00-10:15 Break time
- 10:15-11:30 Elbow demonstration and lab practice: flexion, extension, proximal radioulnar jt, tennis elbow, HEP
- 11:30-12:00 Shoulder demonstration and lab practice: manual and belt MWMs for elevation
- 12:00-1:00 Lunch
- 1:00- 2:30 Shoulder demonstration and lab practice: IR, ER, functional activities, HEP Acromioclavicular jt demonstration and lab practice: MWMs, and taping
- 2:30- 2:45 Break time
- 2:45- 3:30 Ribs demonstration and lab practice: MWMs for ribs 1-12; Thoracic demonstration and lab practice: SNAGs for rotation, flexion, SB, extension
- 3:30 Review, Post Test and Closing
Requirements
Wear loose, comfortable lab clothes. Bring mobilization belts, mobilization pads, if available.
To facilitate your learning and preparation for the course, it is recommended that you purchase a mobilization belt, contact pad, and Brian Mulligan’s 7th edition textbook. Other tools to facilitate learning include video tutorials of the techniques presented in the courses. Click the product links below for information and purchase.
CANCELLATION POLICIES:
Please see cancellation policies under courses tab on home page.
Faculty
Mark Thomson – DPT, FAAOMPT, OCS, CMP, MCTA
Dr. Thomson earned his BS in Physiological Science from UCLA in 1992. He graduated from UCSF/SFSU with an MPT degree in 1995. Mark graduated from the Kaiser Permanente Manual Therapy Fellowship in Los Angeles, CA in 2000. In 2005, he earned his tDPT from Temple University. Mark is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists, is a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, and APTA Orthopedic Section member. Mark’s clinical practice is currently at Kaiser Permanente in San Diego, where he works as a Clinical Specialist and treats outpatient orthopedic patients full time. From 2010-2017, he also worked as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Saint Augustine in San Diego within the Physical Therapy Doctoral Program, teaching courses in Spinal Manipulation, Extremity Manipulation, and Orthopedics. Mark is the Regional Manager for the North American Mulligan Concept ™ Teachers Association and has been involved with teaching short and long-term manual therapy courses since 1999 with excellent course reviews. Dr. Thomson is a clinical faculty member in the Kaiser Southern California Orthopedic Residency program, and thoroughly enjoys mentoring several residents every year. He practices an integrated style of manual therapy, focusing on passive and active mobilization techniques and exercise, with a commitment to continual analytical assessment. Mark is currently the North American Regional Manager of the Mulligan Concept ™ Teachers Association.
Travel
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Instructor
Mark Thomson