Treating the Complex Shoulder

Treating the Complex Shoulder

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Assess. Treat. Restore.

Develop a more integrated approach to complex shoulder dysfunction through advanced assessment, manual therapy, movement analysis, and progressive rehabilitation.

Continuing Education
8.0 Category A CEUs
Course Level
Advanced
Access Period
12 Months From Purchase
BOC Domains
Risk Reduction, Wellness and Health Literacy
Assessment, Evaluation and Diagnosis
Therapeutic Intervention
Orthopedic Domain
Medical Knowledge

Course Overview

Integrated Shoulder Care

Understand the shoulder as part of a connected movement system.

Explore how joint mechanics, soft tissue restrictions, scapular control, thoracic mobility, breathing patterns, and load tolerance interact in complex shoulder presentations.

Scapular mechanics
Thoracic & rib influence
Manual assessment
Soft-tissue techniques
Joint mobilization
Rehabilitation progression

About This Course

The overhead athletic shoulder presents complex anatomical, biomechanical, and neurological challenges that require multifaceted clinical care. Taught by osteopathic practitioner Rebecca Tyler, this comprehensive course offers Athletic Trainers an advanced manual therapy approach to managing shoulder complex pathologies.

Clinicians will examine the interrelated mechanics of the glenohumeral, scapulothoracic, acromioclavicular, and sternoclavicular joints while exploring how thoracic mobility, rib cage positioning, posture, breathing mechanics, movement fear, protective guarding, and load management influence shoulder function and rehabilitation outcomes.

The course covers osteopathic manual techniques, soft-tissue mobilization, fascial release, capsular stretching, movement retraining, and progressive rehabilitation strategies for presentations including shoulder impingement, rotator cuff tendinopathies, labral stress, and scapular dyskinesis.

Rather than viewing the shoulder as an isolated joint, the course uses a broader treatment-room framework to help practitioners recognize compensation patterns, understand why dysfunction develops, and adapt treatment and rehabilitation to the individual athlete or client.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, learners will be able to:

Evaluate kinetic chain interplay between the thoracic spine, rib cage, scapula, and glenohumeral joint during overhead motion.
Perform manual diagnostic assessments to isolate soft-tissue versus articular restrictions in the shoulder complex.
Apply osteopathic soft-tissue release techniques to rotator cuff, subscapularis, and pectoral musculature.
Demonstrate articular mobilization methods for the sternoclavicular and acromioclavicular joints.
Identify scapular dyskinesis patterns and apply targeted soft-tissue corrections to restore scapulothoracic rhythm.
Formulate integrative rehabilitation sequences combining manual releases with progressive rotator cuff strengthening and return-to-throw criteria.

What You Will Learn

Develop a broader understanding of the factors that influence complex shoulder presentations and how assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation can be integrated into a more adaptable clinical approach.

Shoulder Function & Mechanics

Understand rotator cuff function, scapular control, glenohumeral mechanics, and movement coordination.

Thoracic & Postural Influence

Explore how thoracic stiffness, rib position, posture, and breathing mechanics affect shoulder movement and load distribution.

Assessment & Observation

Identify compensation patterns, movement strategies, soft-tissue restrictions, and functional limitations.

Manual Therapy & Rehabilitation

Integrate hands-on treatment, joint mobilization, movement retraining, and progressive rehabilitation principles.

Load Management & Movement Confidence

Support recovery through pacing, graded exposure, movement variability, progressive loading, and functional return-to-activity strategies.

Course Content

The course combines practical demonstrations, rehabilitation-focused clinical reasoning, shoulder anatomy education, and structured course lessons to help practitioners develop a broader and more adaptable approach to shoulder care.

Module
Focus
Understanding Complex Shoulder Presentations
Why shoulder dysfunction often involves multiple contributing factors and compensation patterns.
Scapular Mechanics & Movement Coordination
The role of scapular control, rotator cuff function, and movement organization.
Thoracic, Rib & Breathing Influence
How posture, thoracic mobility, rib mechanics, and breathing patterns influence shoulder function.
Assessment & Clinical Observation
Recognizing movement fear, protective guarding, compensation, and altered loading strategies.
Manual Therapy & Treatment Integration
Hands-on treatment approaches combined with movement and rehabilitation principles.
Rehabilitation & Load Management
Progressive recovery planning, movement confidence, strengthening, and functional rehabilitation strategies.

Who This Course Is For

This course is suitable for athletic trainers, massage therapists, manual therapists, osteopaths, physiotherapists, physical therapists, sports therapists, Doctors of Chiropractic, and other rehabilitation and movement professionals working within their scope of practice.

It is especially relevant for practitioners seeking a more confident, integrated approach to complex shoulder pain, rehabilitation planning, movement-based care, and functional recovery support.

About Rebecca Tyler

Rebecca Tyler, Osteopath SMT PT

Rebecca Tyler is a highly experienced Osteopath and Sports Massage Therapist with more than 13 years of clinical experience.

Her teaching is practical, clear, and grounded in real treatment-room reasoning, with a strong focus on movement, compensation, rehabilitation, and helping therapists build confidence in complex musculoskeletal presentations.

In this course, Rebecca presents shoulder rehabilitation and treatment through a broader functional lens that considers the shoulder as part of an integrated movement system rather than an isolated joint structure.

Included With This Course

Video Tutorials

Over 3 hours of practical instruction and treatment demonstrations presented by Rebecca Tyler.

Course Lessons

Structured lessons reinforcing assessment, treatment reasoning, and rehabilitation principles.

Illustrated Shoulder Workbook

Supporting shoulder anatomy and rehabilitation learning material.

Online Exam

Assessment included for course completion.

Certificate

Downloadable certificate following successful completion of the requirements for 8.0 Category A CEUs.

Course Access & Expiration

This course must be completed within 12 months from the purchase date. For full details, refer to the Expiration Date Policy on our FAQ page .

Topics Covered

Scapular Dyskinesis Shoulder Impingement Rotator Cuff Rehabilitation Glenohumeral Kinematics Manual Therapy Joint Mobilization Subacromial Pain
NATA and Niel Asher partnership logo
Rebecca Tyler, Ost., LMT

Rebecca Tyler, Ost., LMT

Becky Tyler, is a highly qualified, versatile Osteopath with over 13years experience treating patients. Qualified in Osteopathy, Paediatric Osteopathy, Sports massage, Personal training, Swimming teaching and more, her passion for helping people and love for the job keeps Becky always seeking her next course. Working with high level Sportsman including Tom Birchall (Sidecar racer) and Oliver Townsend MBE (a British eventing rider) Becky fully appreciates the demands of high level sport and the importance of having a good therapy programme that fits inline with the demands of training and competing. Becky is a natural and inspirational teacher who thoroughly enjoys passing on her knowledge to the next generation of therapists through teaching and assessment.

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