Musculoskeletal Practice in the Emergency Department

Course overview

This 16-hour in-person, hands-on course is designed for physical therapists practicing in the Emergency Department and other direct access settings to enhance their evaluative skills in screening, differential diagnosis, assessment, and initial management of adults presenting with a primary musculoskeletal complaint. In the course, participants will review understanding of the role of the physical therapist in differential diagnosis and management of musculoskeletal conditions in the emergency department and direct access settings, review the pertinent medical screenings, anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of common musculoskeletal disorders. The course will be largely focused on case review where students will be challenged to develop differential diagnoses and most appropriate initial management strategies in this setting. A hands-on component to implement skills immediately will be a large part of this course.