Benjamin Shield, Ph.D.

Three-Day Spinal Mobilization Course

The purpose of this 3-day hands-on course is to learn effective techniques to successfully mobilize specific segments throughout the entire spine. This is a class I would like to have experienced earlier in my career. We will be exploring gentle low-amplitude/low-velocity techniques that affect both skeletal and paravertebral tissues.

So often, subluxations are treated by simply working deeper and harder or by chiropractic adjustments using high-amplitude thrusts that can shock the client and often create hypermobility. The techniques learned in this class are designed to give your clients gentle and immediate relief.

The primary goal is that each participant will leave with the confidence of treating spinal subluxations from the cervical spine to the coccyx, an understanding of the most common spinal conditions that clients will present in your practice, and the skills and confidence of diminishing or eliminating your clients’ pain and dysfunction.

This may be a one-time only class with my intention of passing along what I have learned over my thirty-eight years of study and practice. It is my deepest wish that this class will significantly improve your clinical skills in evaluation and treatment, up-level your confidence in treating most clinical conditions involving spinal subluxation, pain and dysfunction, and refine your existing techniques and the quality of your touch.

Some of the topic we will discuss along with mobilization techniques:

Day One:

Goals of this course
Common anatomical presentations
Quality of touch
Theory of mobilization
Facilitating spinal mobilization
Advantage of treating client in the supine position
Use of short and long levers
Facet-based mobilization
How these techniques differ from chiropractic
Use of Arc of Tension
Visceral referral
Relevant questions to ask client

Lumbar spine

Ranges of motion
Compressive patterns
L4-L5 Spondylolisthesis
Anteriority of L5
Decompression of L5-S1
Degenerative disc disease
Stenosis

Lower Thoracics

Lumbodorsal transition

Mid-thoracics

Common restrictions at T7
Freyette’s Laws

Upper Thoracics

Treating reduction of the kyphotic curve
Scoliosis and scoliotic patterns

General mobilization technique of mid- and upper thoracics

Mobilization of the Upper Two Ribs

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Effect on C5-C6

Global rib mobilization

Day Two:

Upper Cervicals

C0-C1 (occiput – atlas)

Ranges of motion
Decompression / Distraction
Greater Occipital Nerve
Vertebral Artery insufficiency
Headaches, Mood disorders

C1-C2 (atlanto-occipital joint)

Lesser Occipital Nerve
Trigeminal involvement

Lower Cervicals (C3-C7)

Ranges of motion
Biomechanic principles of mobilizing the lower cervicals

C2-C4

Subluxations / Rotational patterns / Lateral flexion

C5-C6

Frequent hypermobility of C5 / Restriction of C6

C6-C7

Normalizing restrictions

Day Three:

Lumbopelvic dysfunctions

Special tests
Discussion of lumbopelvic influences on the SIJ

Sciatica

Treatment principles
Myth of the Piriformis Syndrome

Treating sacroiliac joint disorders (SIJD)

Sacroiliac evaluation & special tests
Hypomobility
Hypermobility
Sacral torsion
Double-recoil spring tests
Direct and indirect techniques

Treatment of the coccyx

Effect on the sacrum and sacroiliac joint
Effect on pelvic diaphragm

Review