Lumbar Nerve Manual Assessment and Treatment

This three-day course for the experienced pelvic rehab therapist will address manual treatments and problem-solving assessments for the major contributory nerves from the lumbar plexus to the pelvis in an organized, systematic fashion. Clinical assessment and differential diagnosis will include history, symptoms, strength and sensation changes, and differential neural tension testing for each major peripheral nerve of the lumbar plexus. Students will practice interactively mapping the pathway of each nerve and neuro-fascial techniques to decompress the nerve along the path, including common sites of entrapment and impingement. Treatments will encompass manually releasing the specific fascial pathway of each nerve, treating the proximal spinal nerve for each peripheral nerve, and direct neural manipulation. Once the nerve path is addressed, neural mobilization with movement (gliding), manual regional integration with the nervous system, and a home program to maintain neural strength and mobility will be provided in easy to use handouts for your patients.

Neural structures addressed in this course include the lumbar plexus nerves (Iliohypogastric, Ilioinguinal, Genitofemoral, Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve, Femoral Nerve, and Obturator Nerve and Foramen), This course will be very lab heavy, around 65% of the course will be interactive, hands-on learning.

Nerves transmit pain messages. When nerves are compressed they can cause pain or weakness. Pelvic rehab is traditionally centered around muscles, but muscles are at the will of the innervating nerve. Frequently the nerve is overlooked as the source of pain or weakness. Unfortunately, the patients who receive diagnoses such as neuropathic pain or nerve entrapment are presented with few options. Pelvic neural pain can be mimic or be the actual cause of vulvodynia, labial pain, gluteal and low back pain, SI pain, lower abdominal and bladder pain, pubic symphysis pain, groin pain, IT band pain, as well as many other syndromes and weakness, such as weakness in the transverse abdominus.

Prerequisites:
Participants must have prior experience with internal vaginal assessment. Pelvic Floor Level One or comparable experience is required. Additional intermediate coursework, Pelvic Floor Level 2A or 2B, is recommended. This is an excellent course to follow Capstone.

What to Bring:
Please click here to download a full list of items to bring with you to the course
Yoga Mat

Highly Suggested Text:
Gray's Anatomy for Students - Available at a 25% Discount for Herman & Wallace registrants with promo code 70484. Registrants who already own a copy of this or a corresponding textbook are not required to purchase an additional one.