Overview

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Shoulder problems can make everyday movements like reaching, lifting, exercising, sleeping, or working overhead painful and limiting. By the end of this course, learners will understand how shoulder anatomy, biomechanics, and common pathologies influence pain, movement restriction, and recovery, while learning practical rehabilitation strategies that support better function. Taught by osteopath and athletic trainer Rebecca Tyler, this course explores the shoulder as a complex and highly mobile joint system. Learners study clinical presentations of conditions such as frozen shoulder, impingement, labral tears, and other common sources of shoulder dysfunction. Through expert video instruction, case examples, and step-by-step demonstrations, learners explore shoulder assessment, movement analysis, manual therapy applications, corrective exercise, and progressive rehabilitation planning. Healthcare, fitness, bodywork, and rehabilitation professionals will gain a practical framework for evaluating and treating shoulder dysfunction, while general learners will better understand why shoulder pain can be complex and how recovery is supported. This course connects anatomy, pathology, manual therapy, and exercise-based rehab into a clear approach for improving shoulder mobility, strength, and function.

Syllabus

Shoulder Essentials

Module 1 establishes the foundations needed to understand and treat the complex shoulder. The module begins with a clear overview of the shoulder structure, including the glenohumeral joint, shoulder girdle, and the relationships between cervical, thoracic, and scapular function. You’ll explore why shoulder pain can be challenging to assess—frequently the painful point isn’t the source. Instead, symptoms often stem from postural habits, muscular imbalance, or referred pain.

Shoulder Assessment and Treatment

From there, the instructor presents step-by-step manual treatment strategies. You will learn palpation, soft-tissue approaches, trigger point therapy, and manual techniques for reducing pain and improving movement. Real client demonstrations show how to identify the true driver of a client’s pain and select hands-on interventions that produce meaningful change. The focus is not on blindly treating where symptoms appear, but on understanding why the dysfunction exists and applying manual techniques to restore mobility, decrease pain, and improve function.

Shoulder Rehabilitation

Module 3 begins with the introduction to shoulder rehabilitation and shifts from hands-on treatment to exercise-based progressions. You will learn how to transition a client safely from pain and limited movement into strengthening, motor control, and full functional capacity. The instructor teaches a structured sequence—from restoring mobility, to re-establishing stability, to building strength and load tolerance.Step-by-step exercise demonstrations show how to choose exercises based on irritability, tolerance, and functional goals. You’ll learn how to build rehab plans that incorporate scapular control, rotator cuff loading, full-chain integration, and progressive resistance. This module emphasises practicality: what to start with, how to progress, and how to know when to increase challenge or reduce intensity. By the end, you’ll know how to design an effective rehab programme that moves beyond symptom relief and builds a resilient, functional shoulder.

Course Summary

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.