EXRX: Exercise Prescription


This course is designed to enhance a physical therapists ability to develop and prescribe an individualized exercise program of the spine and extremities for the patient’s specific presentation. The course considers normal tissue healing times, the optimum stimulus for regeneration and repair of each specific tissue. Emphasis is placed on histology, neurology, exercise dosage, biomechanics, and pathology for various musculoskeletal conditions. A thorough understanding of these principles prepares the physical therapist to design an appropriate exercise program in order to achieve optimum functional outcomes. Extensive lab time is provided for practice of exercise prescription for all regions of the spine and extremities. This course is designed to complement the manual therapy and clinical reasoning treatment approach. All required prereading material will be sent in a link via your registration confirmation email. Please bring a pair of athletic shorts and a sport top to this course.

At the completion of this course, the participant will be able to: 

  •  Understand the mechanical and neural influence of exercise on movement dysfunction and pain pathways 
  •  Demonstrate ability to design and implement cervical and lumbar spinal stabilization programs from basic coordinative exercises to high-level function. 
  •  Understand the concepts of exercise dosage for each specific tissue and a variety of diagnoses. 
  •  Implement and demonstrate proficiency in designing and prescribing a specific graded exercise program for a variety of diagnoses and movement dysfunctions. 
  •  Progress patients from basic local exercises to high level functional progressions. 
  •  Understand the principles of both regional interdependence and the tissue in lesion model as it relates to exercise prescription throughout the body. 
  •  Understand graded motor imagery and mirror box therapy in patients with centrally facilitated pain and how this relates to exercise dosage. 
  •  Design and implement neural mobilization techniques while considering the sensitivity of this structure. 

Day One

  •  7:30-8:00 Registration 
  • 8:00-8:15 Introduction / Opening Remarks 
  • 8:15-8:45 Overview and History of Exercise in Physical Therapy 
  • 8:45-9:30 Myokinetics 
  • 9:30-10:00 Effects of Gravity on the MSK System 
  • 10:00-10:15 Break 
  • 10:15-10:45 Energy Systems Lecture / Lab 
  • 10:45-11:00 Inflammation and Tissue Repair 
  • 11:00-11:30 Effects of Immobilization 
  • 11:30-11:45 Optimal Stimulus for Regeneration of Specific Tissues 
  • 11:45-12:30 Eccentrics and Tendonitis 
  • 12:30-1:30 Lunch 
  • 1:30-2:30 Stretching Application and Lab 
  • 2:30-3:30 STEP / MET Principles 
  • 3:30-3:45 Break 
  • 3:45-4:15 Instability / Stiffness Progressions 
  • 4:15-5:30 Spinal Lab-Case Studies 
    • Exercise Prescription for 
      • Instability 
      • Exercise Prescription 
      • for Stiffness 
      • Questions, Review 

Day Two

  •  8:00-8:15 Review / Questions 
  • 8:15-8:45 Literature Review of Exercise Interventions 
  • 8:45-10:00 Extremity Lab-Case Studies 
    • Exercise Prescription for 
      • Instability 
      • Stiffness 
  • 10:00-10:15 Break 
  • 10:15-11:00 Graded Motor Imagery and Central Sensitization Lecture 
  • 11:00-12:00 GMI Lab 
  • 12:00-1:00 Lunch 
  • 1:00-3:00 Functional Movement Assessment and Regional Interdependence 
  • 3:00-3:15 Break 
  • 3:15-4:15 Functional Progressions Upper Quarter 
  • 4:15-5:15 Functional Progressions Lower Quarter 
  • 5:15-5:30 Closing Remarks / Course Evaluations 

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Currently, there are no EXRX: Exercise Prescription courses available. Please contact us for more information or to request a course.

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