Overview

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Shoulder pain and restriction can affect everything from throwing, lifting, training, and reaching overhead to simple daily tasks like dressing or sleeping comfortably. By the end of this course, learners will understand how shoulder mechanics, stability, mobility, and whole-body movement patterns influence pain, performance, and recovery. Led by Sue Falsone, PT, ATC, former Head Athletic Trainer of the Los Angeles Dodgers, this course combines elite sports medicine experience with practical shoulder care for both athletic and general populations. Learners explore how the shoulder works as part of the kinetic chain and why dysfunction often involves more than the joint itself. Through expert instruction and practical demonstrations, learners study shoulder assessment, throwing mechanics, mobility and stability concepts, exercise progressions, rehabilitation strategies, and performance-based treatment planning. Healthcare, fitness, sports, and rehabilitation professionals will gain adaptable tools for working with shoulder dysfunction, while general learners will better understand how shoulder movement connects to posture, strength, and daily function. This course offers a practical framework for supporting pain-free movement, better performance, and long-term shoulder health.

Syllabus

Shoulder Anatomy and Biomechanics

In Module 1 of the Shoulder Master Class, Dr. Sue Falsone breaks down the shoulder as an integrated system — not a single joint, but a coordinated relationship among the scapulothoracic, glenohumeral, AC, and SC joints. She emphasizes that shoulder dysfunction often originates elsewhere in the kinetic chain, such as the trunk or lower body, and highlights how energy leaks in the system can contribute to pain or loss of function. Using clear anatomical demonstrations, Sue shows how the subacromial space can easily become compromised and explains how posture, inflammation, rotator cuff function, and scapular stability all influence shoulder mechanics. Throughout the module, she reinforces the importance of anatomy and biomechanics literacy, encouraging therapists to think globally rather than treat locally. This module lays the groundwork for assessment and treatment by showing that to understand shoulder pain, you must first understand how the entire system works together.

Shoulder Injury Rehabilitation

Module 2 shifts from theory to application. Dr. Falsone demonstrates real-time assessment and corrective strategies for the most common compensations seen in athletes and clients with shoulder dysfunction. Using live models, she walks through upward/downward scapular rotation control, external rotation/external rotator dominance patterns, internal rotation deficits, and thoracic/neck involvement. She teaches how to activate the serratus anterior, lower trapezius, and deep neck flexors to restore efficient scapular mechanics. Exercises progress from simple band-assisted movements to loaded stability patterns like modified side planks with external rotation. Sue reinforces the concept of force couples, how muscle imbalances distort shoulder mechanics, and how proper activation creates improved centration of the humeral head. The session finishes with performance-focused posterior cuff strengthening, scapular stability drills, and high-value rehab exercises (Y’s, T’s, W’s, and dynamic Blackburns) that therapists can use immediately in clinical practice.

Reflective Learning - 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.