Agenda CE Registration Location Exhibitors
Agenda
Saturday, October 24, 2026
7:00am | Registration, Breakfast, Exhibitors
7:55am | Welcome
8:00am – 8:30am | Keynote
- What Makes a Master Clinician – Carol Courtney, PT, PhD, ATC
- A deep dive into the habits, reasoning patterns, treatment approaches and movement‑based assessment strategies that distinguish top‑tier clinicians. This session explores how expert practitioners synthesize patient narratives, movement observations, and clinical evidence including both exercise and manual therapy to make rapid yet accurate decisions.
8:30am – 9:50am | Session 1 | Active Movement – Clinical Decision Making
- Back Pain Red Flags: When and Where to Refer
- A practical review of the red flags associated with spinal pathology. Participants will learn how to differentiate benign mechanical pain from conditions requiring urgent referral, how to communicate concerns to patients, and how to coordinate care with medical providers. Emphasis is placed on efficient screening during real‑world evaluations.
- Functional Testing of the Spine – Derek Vraa, PT, DPT, DSc, OCS, SCS, CSCS, FAAOMPT
- This session outlines evidence‑supported functional tests that reveal meaningful deficits in mobility, control, and load tolerance. Attendees will learn how to integrate these tests into initial evaluations and progressions, and how to use findings to guide exercise prescription and manual therapy selection.
10:05am – 11:40am | Sessions 2 & 3 | Active Movement Breakout Sessions (Choose Two)
Note: Virtual attendees will participate in the didactic sessions through the livestream.
- Loading Principles for Spine Return to Performance (In Person Only) – Cal Dietz, M.Ed., CSCS
- A practical session on applying graded loading to restore spinal capacity. Topics include load tolerance testing, progression strategies, and integrating strength principles into rehab for both acute and persistent presentations.
- Functional Testing of the Spine (In Person Only) – Derek Vraa, PT, DPT, DSc, OCS, SCS, CSCS, FAAOMPT
- A structured, hands-on, walkthrough of guideline‑supported testing frameworks. Participants will learn how to streamline evaluations, improve documentation clarity, and align clinical decisions with current best practices.
- Post-Operative Management for Lumbar Spine Conditions (Didactic) – Tim Mann, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS, GCS, CSCS, MTC, Dip-ACLM
- This topic will be covering timelines, precautions, and functional milestones following common lumbar procedures. Emphasis is placed on restoring confidence, mobility, and strength through active rehabilitation.
- Digital Care – Assessment and Active Treatment (Didactic)
- A talk exploring how to leverage digital platforms to enhance assessment accuracy, patient engagement, and adherence to active treatment plans. This will include demonstrations and discussion on how to utilize remote movement testing and outcome tracking.
11:45am – 12:15pm | Session 4 | Travis Orth Memorial Session
- Case Based Debate: Manual Therapy vs. Exercise – Bill Koch, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT; Chris Kramer, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
- A lively, evidence‑informed debate examining real patient cases where manual therapy or exercise could be the primary driver of improvement. Presenters will defend contrasting approaches, highlight decision‑making nuances, and demonstrate how blended strategies often yield the best outcomes.
12:15pm – 1:00pm | Lunch
- Lunch is provided for in-person attendees. You’ll have the opportunity to network with fellow attendees, meet the speakers, and connect with exhibitors showcasing the latest innovations in the field. This is a great chance to build valuable relationships and explore new products and services.
1:00pm – 1:55pm | Session 5 | Passive Movement and Pain Mechanisms
- Defining Manual Therapy in Modern Practice – Mark Shepherd, DPT, DSc, OCS, FAAOMPT
- A contemporary look at manual therapy’s role within an active, patient‑centered model. This session clarifies terminology, dispels outdated assumptions, and positions manual therapy as a strategic tool rather than a standalone solution.
- Manual Therapy Based on Pain Mechanisms and Phenotyping – Carol Courtney, PT, PhD, ATC
- An exploration of how pain mechanisms – nociceptive, neuropathic, and nociplastic – inform manual therapy selection. Attendees will learn how to phenotype patients and tailor interventions to maximize comfort, control, and functional change.
2:00pm – 3:45pm | Sessions 6 & 7 | Passive Movement Breakout Sessions (Choose Two)
Note: Virtual attendees will participate in the didactic sessions through the livestream.
- Regional Interdependence: Differentiating and Treating Shoulder-Neck Syndromes (In Person Only) – Mark Shepherd, DPT, DSc, OCS, FAAOMP; Will Warmka, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
- A hands‑on session demonstrating how cervical and shoulder dysfunctions overlap and can be differentiated for efficient management decisions. Participants will learn targeted assessment strategies and manual techniques to address multi‑regional contributors to pain and movement limitation.
- Manual Therapy Interventions for Smaller Clinicians (In Person Only) – Carol Courtney, PT, PhD, ATC; Kathleen Caulfield, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
- A practical workshop focused on leverage‑based, efficient manual therapy strategies that reduce strain and maximize effectiveness for clinicians of smaller stature.
- Needling and Lumbar Spine Pain (Didactic)
- A focused discussion reviewing the rationale, mechanisms of action, safety considerations, and clinical integration of needling techniques for lumbar pain presentations.
- To be announced (Didactic)
Q&A Sessions
You will have the opportunity to participate in live Q&A with our experts following each session. This is a great opportunity to interact with them and exchange perspectives. Presentation slides are provided in advance so come ready with your questions!
Objectives
Following this event, attendees will be able to
- Identify internal and external factors that can influence a patient’s treatment
- Describe evidence-based patient management for select musculoskeletal conditions
- Differentiate patient considerations in acute injury management, early versus late rehabilitation, and return to performance
- Discuss biomechanical and neuromuscular considerations throughout a patient’s rehabilitation journey
