Post-whiplash head and neck pain are probably the most frustrating clinical challenges facing the orthopedic manual therapist and the post-whiplash patient potentially one of the most dangerous patients.

Frequently manual therapy provides only temporary relief and the patient becomes a regular feature in the office. The main purpose of this course is threefold, one to teach separate out seriously injured patients including those with vertebrobasilar problems, two a new evaluation and treatment concept in the management of chronic head and neck pain second to identify those patients in whom recovery is unlikely or at best very limited and manage them effectively.

This course will cover:

1. The anatomy and physiology of the spine
2. The anatomy and physiology of the balance system
3. The forces and effects of the impact will be described
4. It will discuss the pathology of balance together with musculoskeletal effects caused by dysfunction of this system
5. It will teach the assessment of the cervical pain, headaches, and dizziness including differential biomechanical and somatosensory diagnosis
6. Prognostic features based on research of the accident and patient presentation will be discussed to allow a reasonable prediction to be made early and late in the progress of the patient and to tailor treatment accordingly
7. It will offer a new approach to the non-recovering MVA patient integrating the re-education of the vestibulo-oculo-spinal reflexes with traditional manual therapy and balance exercises.

Teaching Materials and Methods

Preclassroom Preparation:

• Review of previously learned topics such as video of diagnostic and biomechanical examinations will be available for streaming and these will remain availble indefinitely after the conclusion of the class.
• Pdf versions of the Powerpoint presentations and the course manuals will be sent to students
• Powerpoint presentations of the anatomy of the cervical spine and neurovascular systems

Classroom

• Tutorial style lectures and lectures using PowerPoint presentations
• Lab sessions
  • teaching and/or reviewing diagnostic and biomechanical examinations of the neck
  • teaching neurophysiological examinations and treatments
  • teaching biomechanical treatments
  • teaching specific exercise prescriptions based on the above examinations

Postclassroom

In order to support what was learned in the classroom session each student will be supplied with a USB containing the following:

• All text including manuals
• All PowerPoint presentations
• Technique videos of all examination and biomechanical treatment techniques demonstated during the lab session
• The complete commercially produced MVA video made by Jim Meadows FCAMPT