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Demystifying the Shoulder
PT
OT
Course Level:
Intermediate
Course Type:
In-person
April 18, 2026
Check-In Time: 4/18/2026 7:30:00 AM
Course Time(s): Check in time: 7:30AM-8:00AM Course time: 8:00AM-5:00PM
Course Location:
Contact Hours: 8.0
Course Completion:
Course intended to be completed in full.
Instructor: Dr. Chris Durall, PT, DPT, MS, SCS, AT-Ret, CSCS
Instructor Bio:
Dr. Chris Durall, PT, DPT, MS, SCS, AT-Ret, CSCS spent the bulk of his career as the Clinical Associate Professor from the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point. Prior to his tenure at UW–Stevens Point, Dr. Durall served for 18 years as Director of the Physical Therapy Clinic at the UW–La Crosse Student Health Center. A practicing outpatient orthopedic and sports clinician since 1993, Dr. Durall earned his bachelor’s and advanced master’s degrees in Physical Therapy from UW–La Crosse, followed by a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Creighton University, where he also served as an Assistant Professor in the DPT program. He is a graduate of the year-long Gundersen Lutheran Sports Physical Therapy Residency, a board-certified Sports Physical Therapist, a retired Athletic Trainer, and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist since 1997. Dr. Durall has authored or co-authored 38 peer-reviewed publications in rehabilitation and exercise science journals and contributed 12 textbook chapters in his areas of
expertise.
Financial Disclosure:
Chris Durall receives an honorarium from North American Seminars for this course
Non‑financial Disclosure:
Non-financial, Mr Durall has no–non financial relationships to disclose
learn to confidently recognize and differentiate common pathologies, and adopt a systematic,
high-yield examination approach that enhances diagnostic accuracy. You’ll also develop impairment-specific rehabilitation strategies using an organized clinical reasoning algorithm, apply a broad range of manual therapy techniques for the thoracic spine, first rib, and shoulder
complex, and prescribe targeted exercise programs grounded in EMG, biomechanics, and
outcomes research. Throughout the course, you’ll strengthen your ability to solve simple,
complex, and recalcitrant shoulder cases by integrating best-available evidence with high level of reasoning.
Upon completion of this course, the participant should be able to:
straightforward and complex shoulder conditions.
2. Differentiate key clinical features and underlying etiologies of common shoulder pathologies, including AC joint injuries, adhesive capsulitis, rotator cuff-related
pain syndrome, instability, labral injury, and rotator cuff tears.
3. Conduct a comprehensive, systematic examination of the shoulder, 1st rib and upper thoracic spine, including history-taking, movement testing, and special
tests.
4. Interpret examination findings to generate accurate differential diagnoses and prognoses.
5. Design comprehensive, individualized rehabilitation plans for prevalent shoulder disorders by applying an evidence-based clinical decision-making model.
6. Demonstrate mobilization and manual therapy techniques for the thoracic spine, first
rib, and shoulder complex with appropriate patient selection and safety considerations.
7. Develop and implement therapeutic exercise programs based on current evidence
related to muscle activation, load dosage, progression, and motor control.
8. Integrate the latest, high-quality research into everyday clinical decision-making to
align your care with current best-practice standards
8:00-9:00 Demystifying the shoulder complex
What do we really know?
How much should you care about scapular dyskinesis?
Evidence-based shoulder exam and treatment: 2025 vs 2015
9:00-10:00 Clinical examination of the shoulder complex (lecture/lab)
Assessing thoracic spine and first rib function
How special are the “special” tests of the shoulder?
10:00-10:15 BREAK
10:15-11:15 Clinical examination of the shoulder complex (cont.)
Testing for AC joint and rotator cuff pathology
Clinical testing for lab pathology: an exercise in futility?
Shoulder stability test testing
Putting it all together
11:15-12:00 A novel treatment-based classification system for the shoulder
Simplifying clinical decision-making
12:00-12:30 LUNCH
12:30-1:45 Therapeutic exercise for the shoulder and thoracic spine
(lecture/lab)
Proven exercises to increase strength and stability
Exercises to increase mobility
Exercises to increase proprioception
1:45-2:00 BREAK
2:00-5:00 Manual therapy for the shoulder and thoracic spine (lecture/lab)
Thoracic spine and first rib, mobilization and manipulation techniques: To thrust
or not to thrust?
Techniques to increase scapular mobility
Novel techniques to increase glenohumeral joint mobility
Techniques to increase SC joint and AC joint mobility
Contact Information
M Health Fairview Rehab Services Continuing Education Department
Email: rehabce@fairview.org
Phone: 612-672-5607