THE UPPER QUARTER:
The Diagnosis and Orthopedic Treatment of the Cervical Spine to the Hand

          This course is designed to equip the occupational and physical therapist with the ability to differentiate between the numerous causes of upper extremity symptoms. A systematic hands-on approach to the differential evaluations and manual treatment of the neuro-muscular and articular components of the cervical-thoracic spine and upper extremity is presented.
          Participants will learn the interactions between these areas during movement, as well as the loading of different joints and soft tissues. They will also be taught how to execute joint play, neural tissue mobility and muscle balance tests, to indicate a structure’s involvement in the presenting condition, as well as assessment of irritability.
          Gavin will explain how to treat common problems of the cervical spine, hand and upper extremity, utilizing techniques that are functional and effective. The key to the successful treatment of these areas is to have a correct assessment as to the diagnosis of the causative structure as well as the acuity of the condition.
          The assessment system taught will allow the participant to apply sound clinical skills to be more effective in this region. The identification and management of common upper extremity conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, lateral epicondylitis, rotator cuff tears, hand dysfunctions and cervical derangement will be addressed. Mr. Hamer will also present various manual therapy approaches, including disc centralization rationale, mobilization, physiological overpressure mobilizations (POMs), muscle energy and manual traction, along with strain and counter-strain.
          This is a practical course for a clinician in the outpatient setting.

•  Understand how different manual therapy rationales are best used in         the treatment of the upper quarter
•  Incorporate vindication and provocation tests to differentiate between problems of cervical and thoracic spine and structures of the upper    extremity
• Identify conditions that are inappropiate to treat, or are non-musculo-skeletal in nature  
• Perform an objective examination that is effective and timely to assist in treatment selection
•  Assess joint stability and mobility
•  Perform appropriate manual therapy treatment techniques for each area, taking irritability into account

Mr. Gavin E. Hamer, P.T. Dip. M.T.

Gavin E. Hamer is a master clinician who graduated as a physiotherapist in New Zealand in 1979. He was awarded the Diploma of Manipulative Therapy in 1991. With 15 years in private practice in New Zealand and Canada , his approaches range from McKenzie rationale to muscle energy and mobilization. Gavin has further developed these approaches to make them more clinician friendly. Gavin has taught over 100 manual therapy courses since 1995 and is constantly updating material and techniques to allow clinically effective approaches to be shared. This material is the basis of his book. ‘The lumbar Spine and Pelvis, a Syndrome Based Diagnostic and Treatment Approach'. Gavin has developed an effective a practical method of treatment of the spinal and peripheral regions of the body and presents it in a humorous and down to earth manner.