Clinical Biomechanics of the Upper and Lower Body

via Coursera

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Details

Go to class

Provider

Coursera
Pricing

Paid Course
Languages

English
Certificate

Certificate Available
Effort

9 hours 29 minutes
Sessions

Self-Paced
Level

Intermediate
Subtitles

English

Overview

Pain, stiffness, weakness, and recurring injuries often come from the way the body moves as a connected system, not from one isolated joint or muscle. By the end of this course, learners will understand how biomechanics, myofascial anatomy, and movement patterns influence the shoulders, spine, hips, knees, ankles, and overall function. Taught by award-winning educator and physiotherapist Phillipa Butler, PT, this comprehensive course explores the relationship between upper- and lower-body movement, helping learners see how restrictions, compensations, and faulty mechanics can contribute to pain and reduced performance. Through detailed lectures, clinical examples, and guided exercises, learners study functional movement principles, myofascial connections, posture, joint mechanics, injury patterns, corrective exercise strategies, and movement efficiency. Healthcare, fitness, rehabilitation, and performance professionals will gain practical tools for assessment, treatment planning, and injury prevention, while general learners will better understand why movement quality matters for long-term mobility and comfort. This course offers a clear, applied approach to understanding the body as an interconnected movement system.

Syllabus

Upper Quadrant Biomechanics 1

Module 1 introduces the foundational biomechanics of the upper body with a focus on how regional interactions influence movement, loading, and clinical decision-making. The instructor explores the relationships between the cervical spine, thoracic spine, ribs, scapulae, and upper-limb joints, emphasising how movement restrictions or compensations in one region can create symptoms elsewhere. Throughout the module, learners are guided through clinically relevant concepts such as optimal thoracic motion, scapular orientation, muscle recruitment strategies, and the kinetic chain’s role in functional movement. This session sets the stage for a practical, evidence-informed understanding of how upper-body biomechanics shape assessment and treatment planning for therapists, trainers, and rehabilitation professionals.

Upper Quadrant Biomechanics 2

Module 2 focuses on detailed biomechanics and clinical reasoning related to the acromioclavicular (AC) joint, cervical spine contribution to symptoms, and the influence of scapular mechanics on upper-body function. The instructor explains common AC joint presentations—including instability, osteolysis, and degenerative changes—alongside typical mechanisms of injury and pain referral patterns. Learners are shown how provocative movements, repeated-movement testing, and symptom-modification strategies can help differentiate shoulder pathology from cervical contributions. The module also highlights the vital role of thoracic rotation, scapular positioning, and coordinated muscular control in maintaining efficient load transfer and shoulder performance.

Upper Quadrant Biomechanics 3

Module 3 progresses into practical upper-body biomechanics through targeted therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises. The instructor demonstrates how to modify the scapular assistance test, facilitate clavicular and scapular movement, and select exercises based on symptom-modification findings. A wide range of shoulder and upper-limb exercises—including wall slides, serratus-biased drills, deltoid and cuff conditioning, open-book variations, bow-and-arrow patterns, and progressive push-ups—are broken down biomechanically to highlight their clinical purpose. The module concludes with cervical rehabilitation principles, emphasising deep neck flexor activation, endurance development, pattern retraining, and postural control. The session equips therapists with actionable strategies for restoring coordinated upper-body movement.

Lower Body Biomechanics - Part 1

Module 1 explores the foundational biomechanics of lower-body movement through the lens of myofascial continuity, efficient gait, and optimal load distribution. Beginning with an overview of fascia, anatomy trains, and tensegrity, the instructor explains how fascial elasticity, joint sequencing, and muscular coordination together support efficient walking and reduce compensatory strain. You’ll examine the essential events of gait—heel strike, mid-stance, heel off, toe off, and swing—and learn how the four foot rockers (heel, ankle, midfoot, great toe) drive fluid motion up the kinetic chain. The module also demonstrates practical observations using a model to highlight superficial front, superficial back, lateral, and spiral line involvement in walking. By the end, you’ll better understand how mobility, stability, and timing must interact for healthy, energy-efficient lower-body movement.

Lower Body Biomechanics - Part 2

Module 2 expands on lower-body biomechanics by exploring common movement errors of the superficial front and back lines and demonstrating targeted clinical interventions. You’ll investigate how dysfunction in the foot rockers leads to compensations such as hip hitching, overpronation, and altered torsional patterns, and how these contribute to conditions like plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, patellofemoral pain, and toe-off inefficiency. The instructor demonstrates a full range of practical techniques including progressive loading, stretching, self-mobilisation, foam rolling, plantar fascia release, acupressure (BL60), and joint mobilisations for hallux rigidus. The module also covers intrinsic foot-muscle strengthening, footwear considerations, and orthotic strategies. By the end, you’ll have a set of clinically applicable tools to assess, treat, and retrain lower-body movement and foot mechanics.

Biomechanics in Practice

This module translates biomechanical theory into real-world clinical application. Learners will observe and analyze functional movement patterns to recognize muscular imbalances and inefficient mechanics. Through case-based reasoning, manual therapists will learn how to adjust technique, apply treatment strategies that improve movement quality, and support safer, more effective client outcomes.

Course Exam

This final exam is designed to assess your understanding of the key concepts presented throughout the course. Please review all video lessons and written materials before beginning. A passing score of 70% or higher is required to successfully complete the course and earn your CE certificate. You may reference your notes during the exam. Once you pass, your certificate will be available for immediate download.