Wilderness Physical Therapy: A New Frontier for Rehabilitation and Human Performance (McCurdy - Live Interactive Webinar)

Course overview

Outdoor recreation participation continues to grow in the United States, with more than 175 million Americans engaging in outdoor activities annually, resulting in increased demand for healthcare professionals who understand the unique physical demands and injury patterns associated with wilderness environments. Clinicians are increasingly treating hikers, backpackers, trail runners, climbers, and adventure travelers whose rehabilitation goals extend beyond traditional daily activities and into remote environments where access to healthcare resources may be limited. Failure to adequately address these unique demands can contribute to recurrent injury, delayed recovery, and reduced participation in meaningful recreational pursuits. This course will introduce participants to the emerging specialty of wilderness physical therapy and explore how rehabilitation, injury prevention, and performance principles can be applied in remote and outdoor settings. Through case-based discussion and practical clinical examples, participants will learn assessment strategies, treatment adaptations, load-management principles, and performance optimization techniques that can be immediately incorporated into clinical practice to better prepare patients for successful participation in outdoor recreation and wilderness activities.