New Zealand Chiropractic Continuing Education

• Distinguish Chiropractic influences on muscular strength
• Develop the use of hand-held dynamometry in chiropractic practice
• Identify basic strength training principles for chiropractors
• Construct basics of strength training guidelines for all ages

• Review an Introduction to the Clinical Biomechanics of Stability
• Identify causes of select musculoskeletal injuries
• Describe how LBP in golfers alters motor control
• Describe spinal stability changes with posture
• Distinguish how stability improves with resistance training

• Describe neck anticipatory control with pain
• Describe lateralized fatigue with unilateral neck pain
• Assess head and trunk motion during neck manipulation
• Identify neuromuscular dysfunction in neck pain patients
• Outline exercises for the rehabilitation of neck neuromuscular dysfunction

• Discuss the biomechanical, physiological and psychological evidence for the use of back belts
• Identify and describe recent recommendations and findings for the use of back belts.
• Discuss the principle of affordances and how they relate to environmental constraints (such as a back belt) and posture.

• Summarize the affects of low back health status on low back disorder risk
• Discuss the relation between lumbar curvature and LBP risk factors during postural loading
• Assess the relation between asymmetric lifting and spine loading
• Describe the differences in spine kinematics between LBP patients and normal controls
• Analyze the functional deficits that occur following low back disorders

• Summarize recommendations for backpack use
• Appraise recent research on backpacks and human health
• Discuss the effects of backpacks on musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal variables
• Describe current studies on backpack use in children: perceptions, load, biomechanics, physiology

• Learn current perspectives on which structures are strongly but variably linked to back pain
• Review the state-of-the art in low back disorders research applied to ergonomics
• Describe workplace design guidelines for asymptomatic and low back pain workers
• Determine the influence of exercise on lumbar spine disorders

• Identify common underlying causes of non-organic pain
• Recognize the eight Waddell signs of non-organic back pain
• Develop a level of knowledge, comprehension, and understanding of the medicolegal system as it relates to Waddell signs
• Encourage development and nurturing of skill sets in utilizing Waddell signs

• Determine the epidemiology of low back pain in children and adolescents
• Assess the risk factors associated with back pain in school children
• Outline the effect of an intervention to improve sitting habits in schoolchildren
• Assess the effects of reading a book or using a computer on neck and upper back muscle activity in children
• Review the diagnostic criteria of tension-type headaches in children

• Describe the basic principles of postural control
• Clinically assess postural control
• Outline a protocol of postural rehabilitation

• Examine the association between chiropractic spinal manipulation for newly diagnosed lumbar disc herniation and/or lumbosacral radiculopathy and the odds of lumbar discectomy over 1-year and 2-year follow-up periods 
• Evaluate the clinical outcomes and MRI changes in a cohort of patients who had surgery compared to conservative treatment for sequestered lumbar disc herniations 
• Summarize existing evidence relating to the reliability of the straight leg raise (SLR) and crossed SLR test in patients with suspected lumbar radicular pain 
• Establish the validity of the extended straight leg raise (ESLR) compared to findings on MRI 
• Recognize the effectiveness of neural mobilization interventions in improving pain, disability, and function in adults with low back and radicular pain

Hour 1

• Describe four purposes for performing orthopedic tests
• Describe three approaches to performing orthopedic tests
• Discuss the clinical importance of pertinent negative findings when performing orthopedic tests
• Discuss the concept of “Evidence Based Medicine”
• Define “Orthopedic Test Item Cluster”
• Describe several metrics used in the validation of orthopedic tests for inclusion in orthopedic test item clusters

 Hour 2

• Describe three Orthopedic Test Item Clusters (OSTs) relevant to the evaluation of the sacroiliac region
• Describe the five procedures included in the Laslett Cluster #2 for the assessment of sacroiliac pain
• Describe the two primary types of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
• Discuss the clinical utility of the Bakody Test and the Reverse Bakody Test

 Hour 3

• Describe four testing procedures included in Wainner’s Cluster for the assessment of cervical radiculopathy
• Describe Cook’s Cervical Myelopathy Cluster
• Discuss potential problems that may arise in the application of OST clusters
• Discuss ways to minimize inappropriate application of OST clusters

• Outline the nature of and hallmarks of cancer
• Summarize the relationship between physical activity and cancer
• Summarize the relationship between nutrition and cancer
• Summarize the relationship between massage therapy and cancer
• Summarize the relationship between acupuncture and cancer
• Summarize the relationship between manual therapy and cancer

• Summarize the assessment and diagnosis of pain
• List and describe 5 common causes of back pain and how to prevent injury
• Outline the causes of fibromyalgia
• Illustrate the mechanisms of inflammation and pain
• Discuss the pain of peripheral neuropathy

• Evaluate the test-retest, intra- and inter-examiner reliability of the body pain diagram for determining pain distribution and location for musculoskeletal conditions
• Summarize the current state of knowledge on neuropathic pain, with focus on how it differs from nociception
• Review of the current literature regarding the epidemiology, diagnosis and management of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
• Explore central nervous system neuroplastic adaptations that may contribute to the pathophysiology of chronic conditions
• Differentiate symptoms and signs of central sensitization, peripheral neuropathic pain and nociceptive pain in patients with low back pain (with or without leg pain)

• Gain insight into the different types of pain
• Differentiate different sources of spinal pain
• Summarize the societal and clinical challenges of the pain patient
• Describe the difference between acute and chronic pain
• Provide an initial appreciation of alternative treatment options
• Understand the importance of chiropractic principles with the pain patient

• Explore chiropractic patients’ perceptions of discomfort, pain, and stiffness to determine if and how they differentiate among the concepts 
• Describe the relationship between the presence of an audible pop during spinal manipulative therapy and pain outcomes
• Evaluate the effect of spinal manipulation on pressure pain thresholds in a real-world clinical setting 
• Assess whether a 10-second one legged stance test can independently predict survival in middle and older aged men and women 
• Illustrate the relationship between physical activity levels and pain

• Relate the different neurophysiologic mechanisms to the development of chronic pain states. 
• Draw the pathways specific to Lamina I versus Lamina V sensory pathways.
• Discuss basic science research that supports the main theories of chronic/central pain syndromes.  
• Apply basic neurorehabilitation techniques to modulate chronic pain circuits.
• Develop treatment plans for chronic pin patients consistent with current pain models.

• This contains all courses with the educational objectives listed from Pain 116 through Pain 121

• Relate the effects of interoceptive dysfunction to the development of chronic pain.
• Draw the pathways specific to Lamina I versus Lamina V sensory pathways.
• Discuss how the interoceptive nervous system may relate to Functional Neurologic Symptom Disorder.
• Apply knowledge of how interoceptive dysfunction may negatively affect higher cortical functions.
• Design and utilize strategies that normalize interoception to improve intractable patient symptoms.

• Relate the effects of cold sensory deficit to chronic central pain states.
• Map the pathways specific to Lamina I versus Lamina V sensory afferents.
• Discuss basic science research that links C-Fiber subpopulations with hyper-excitability of sensory neurons.
• Apply techniques to gate pain processing through the Dorsal Insula/Anterior Cingulate pain switch.
• Utilize relationship between cold pathways and pain pathways to gate chronic pain.

• Identify the relationship between the ANS and chronic pain.
• Explore the cause of sympathetic maintained pain.
• Discuss the emerging role of the brain and spinal cord in CRPS.
• Apply non-invasive neuromodulation techniques for pain control.
• Formulate an effective treatment plan based on current knowledge.

• Relate the effects of failure within the DNIC to the development of chronic pain.
• Draw the pathways specific to ascending sensory and descending pain modulatory circuits.
• Apply knowledge of the DNIC, as it relates to chronic lower back pain.
• Discuss basic science research that links the PAG with the phenomena of offset analgesia and conditioned pain modulation.
• Formulate and apply treatment plans based on stimulation of the DNIC utilizing spinal cord stimulation, motor cortex activation and heterotopic noxious conditioning stimulation.

• Relate the effects of cingulate cortex activation on chronic pain suppression.
• Draw and identify regions of the cingulate cortex pertinent to pain and suppression.
• Discuss basic science research that links area’s 32, 24 and 25 with pain and its relief.
• Apply specific techniques to modulate cortical areas 32, 24, and 25 for pain suppression.
• Formulate and implement a treatment plan based on the M1-ACC pain model.

• Determine why communication is imperative in clinical encounters
• Classify rights and responsibilities of the patient -provider partnership
• Recognize barriers and benefits regarding improved communication
• Apply numerous strategies to improve and solidify patient interactions
• Summarize how to fix the system so providers will provide better quality visits

• Identify the ways your conscious or unconscious bias toward patient characteristics may enter the clinical relationship
• Outline ways to improve your clinical communication with patients who are elderly, poor or ethnic minorities.
• Distinguish male and female patient communication styles and plan what to do when your patient wants a different gender provider
• Compare the way Jewish, Irish, Italian, and other cultures present differently as patients and prepare your communication style appropriately
• Internalize the seven ideal interpersonal traits patients want in their health care providers

• Recognize deceptive behaviors from other people and integrate these skills
• Use tips garnered from former CIA officers to separate truth from lies
• Determine motivations for patients to lie to health care providers
• Strategize ways to avoid being lied to by your patients and staff
• Assess the consequences of lying and how it compromises clinical relationships

• Explain the Four Habits of Highly Effective Clinicians
• Show the payoffs for each of the habits and provide examples
• Demonstrate how to avoid “Door Knob Concerns” and uncover hidden problems
• Specify barriers to patient communication and how to overcome them
• Describe action steps to incorporate better communication habits into practice immediately

• Modify explanations about risks, harms and benefits to avoid miscommunication to patients
• Apply research concepts such as sensitivity and specificity to outcomes communications
• Identify weak spots in clinical trials with regard to benefits and harms
• Implement the best practitioner action to build trust in patients
• Discover strategies for better communicating with low functional health literacy patients

• Describe and utilize an effective but non-invasive treatment for warts
• Understand the risk versus benefit of diagnostic imaging radiation in children
• Recognize patterns of pain in children that might actually indicate malignancies
• Develop an understanding of pediatric atlantooccipital dislocation
• Be able to perform 5 minute infant physical examination to detect congenital anomalies of the musculoskeletal system