Workshop 12:
Assessing & Treating the Neck & Thorax

Accredited by the FHT and STO - Advanced Training, 5 credits.

Aimed primarily at holistic/swedish massage therapists but also suitable for those qualified in sports massage, physio or trainee osteopaths looking to refresh and re-enforce their skills or learn new ones.

Where you'll train
For this workshop we’re at the British School of Osteopathy (BSO)Teaching Centre.

A comprehensive workbook accompanies the day and a certificate of attendance is awarded. In addition to this, we automatically and informally assess all attendees. This ensures that you have reached a good understanding of the subject and are able to apply techniques safely and effectively. 

Although all our diplomas and workshops take place at the BSO, our courses are not run or managed by the BSO, and the BSO does not in anyway endorse the course content of any external provider.

This practical workshop will help you to safely assess clients presenting with neck problems, plan appropriate treatments and practice techniques for use on this area of the body. Under guidance Chartered Physiotherapist Jane Johnson you will practice a range of assessments and treatments. Feel more confident in treating clients with neck pain, when to treat and when to refer.

This workshop can be taken as a stand alone day but our Assessing & Treating the Lumbar Spine

This workshop is split into two halves. In the morning you will learn how to safely assess the cervical & thoracic regions and discuss common pathologies. In the afternoon you will give and (for those who want to) receive techniques commonly used for the treatments using non-oil techniques.

Assessment: How to assess range of movement in the neck actively
How to identify problems caused by soft tissue shortness/tension compared to joint problems.
How to do a basic cervical postural assessment posteriorly, laterally and anteriorly
How to palpate cervical vertebrae
How to identify and palpate levator scapulae and scalenes and know their referred pain patterns
How and why to use a Visual Analogue Scale
How and why to use head-shoulder ratios
'Knots' in rhomboids - differentiating between these and trigger points
Postural assessment: identification of flatback, kyphosis
Testing for restrictions in thoracic cage
Treatments in prone, supine and sitting include Neuromuscular techniques (NMT), active & passive stretches including Soft Tissue Release (STR) & Muscle Energy Technique (MET) and self stretch programmes.

Pathologies discussed on the day:tension in neck muscles
trigger points in neck muscles
whiplash
torticollis (wry neck)
stiff neck
Flatback
Kyphosis