Physiotherapists frequently face challenges when treating patients with back pain, a symptom that requires differential diagnosis and skilled management.

In this one day course Dr Lynn Bardin provides clinically relevant updates including:

1. Advances in differential diagnosis and diagnostic triage of back pain (a key clinical guideline): diagnostic updates, pathways of care in primary care management and referral to medical specialists.

2. Clinically useful diagnostic palpation of the lumbar spine and pelvis (theory and practical).

3. Biomechanics, patho-anatomy and clinical reasoning in therapeutic exercise prescription for back pain, particularly where structural pathology and functional limitation need consideration (with real case examples).

A focus on advances in key components of back pain management (both theory and practical) will enable physiotherapists to progress in diagnostic knowledge and practical skills for managing back pain and to liaise efficiently with the medical profession.

This two day Neuro Sensory Motor Development Assessment (NSMDA) practical course includes lectures about the NSMDA, demonstrations of testing infants and children and participation in testing of children in small groups. There will be group feedback and discussion of scoring and grading of each child, discussion on interpretation of results and planning for intervention as needed.

At conclusion, participants should have an understanding of the background of the NSMDA and be familiar with testing procedures for infants and children up to 4 or 6 yrs of age. They will also understand the scoring and grading systems of the NSMDA, be able to interpret the results and use the information in clinical settings to advise, refer and plan interventions. Participants will understand classification of motor developmental performance of children and the use of the test in research.

Participants will gain an understanding of the broad range of Pre-Employment (PE) assessments; the legislative requirements; the evidence base and the roles of key stakeholders in the process. Participants will also gain knowledge and skills in preparation of PE assessments, design and conducting an assessment. The requirements for writing a PE assessment report will be covered. Finally, an understanding of the ethical and moral challenges will be discussed.

This course covers the what, why and how of Pre-Employment assessments. This course covers not only the practical skills required to perform these assessments, but also the legal, ethical and moral considerations that practitioners must be aware of.

APA has partnered with ASCA to provide the Level 1 ASCA Strength and Conditioning Coaching Course, specifically adapted for sports physiotherapists. The ASCA coaching programs are registered with the National Coach Accreditation Scheme (NCAS), which is administered by the Australian Sports Commission and is recognised as an industry leader via international affiliates across the globe. The course provides participants with the knowledge and skills to understand, apply and design programs including basic training principles and variables to physically prepare beginner level athletes to improve their sports performance. This adapted course will be conducted over one full day and is only available to SPA members. Participants must attend the full 1 day course, and required further practical supervision post-course (30 hours) with an ASCA coach, to gain accreditation.

Register online here or email info@strengthandconditioning.org

This is an advanced taping session for 2 - 4th year students who are members of the APA.

Students are asked to bring a towel each to use during the session and to bring a tank top and shorts to wear.

Students to bring their own blunt or tape scissors please.