Solving the Mystery of the Injured Athlete: An Evidence-Based Approach to Movement Assessment and Functional Exercise

• Why does an athlete in peak physical condition sustain non-contact injuries?
• Why is an athlete so frequently re-injured and those injuries become chronic?
• Why is it so difficult to treat “overuse” injuries in the athlete?

The current best evidence suggests movement asymmetry and previous injury are two of the most prominent risk factors in sports. This course will explore these risk factors in detail and the participant will learn how objectively assess these risk factors in the individual athlete.  The participants will also advance their hands-on qualitative movement assessment skills which serves as the basis for corrective functional exercise prescription.  Further, this course will guide the participant through the research regarding pre-participation examination, post-injury evaluation, functional exercise, return to sport testing, and injury prevention. This course serves as a foundation for the Selective Functional Movement Assessment™ and Functional Movement Screen™ courses.

Approach

The learner will gain an understanding of epidemiological injury studies and how to translate this information into his/her current practice. Through lecture presentations, active learning, and hands-on laboratory sessions the participant will learn how to perform movement oriented testing for athletes preparing to return to sport as well as tests which we suggest implementing into the pre-participation examination.  Through extensive laboratory time, the participant will be exposed to a model of neuromuscular-based functional exercise designed to correct identified movement deficits.  The movement oriented testing covered in this course provides a basis for both injury prevention and performance enhancement programming for the athlete.  The information is immediately applicable and can be used to develop and foster relationships with area school systems, sports teams, coaches, and parents.  As a concluding activity, the participants will problem-solve barriers to implementation and develop a sport-specific examination that fits the unique needs of their practice setting.

Objectives

Upon completing this course, you’ll be able to:

1. Describe the components of a well executed epidemiological injury study. 
2. Identify the current most prominent modifiable risk factors for injury in field and court sports.
   
3. Perform evidence-based functional movement testing. 
   
4. Design a comprehensive treatment plan to correct dysfunctional movements, reduce injury risk, and prepare the athlete for the rigors of a comprehensive performance enhancement program. 
   
5. Perform and interpret return to sport testing in a reliable and valid manner. 
   
6. Stay current on research related to injury prediction and prevention.

Click here to register through Evidence in Motion