Program Overview

Program Overview

The Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency: Advanced Musculoskeletal Management Upper Quarter program is designed to provide advanced training in the management of patients with upper quarter region disorders. The program utilizes the American Physical Therapy Association's (APTA) Description of Specialty Practice (DSP) for Orthopaedic Physical Therapy as its foundation.

Course Description

The program focuses on advanced differential diagnosis, physical therapy intervention, clinical decision making, and overall management for patients with upper quarter region disorders. Evidence from peer-reviewed literature serves as the foundation of course material, and case study analysis is used to enhance students' clinical decision making. The program covers physical examination, exercise interventions, and manual therapy procedures, including thrust and non-thrust mobilization, for each upper quarter region.

Learner Outcomes

At the conclusion of the program, students will be able to:

1. Conduct a comprehensive examination for patients with musculoskeletal disorders involving the cervical, craniocervical, thoracic, shoulder, elbow, and wrist/hand regions.
2. Perform a differential diagnosis for patients with upper quarter musculoskeletal disorders and identify patients who require referral to another health care provider.
3. Perform selected tests and measures of the cervical, craniocervical, thoracic, shoulder, elbow, and wrist/hand regions that have been shown to have the highest diagnostic accuracy.
4. Evaluate the information gathered in the examination to arrive at patient care decisions, including diagnosis, prognosis, and a plan of care.
5. Perform skilled manual therapy interventions for cervical, craniocervical, thoracic, shoulder, elbow, and wrist/hand regions that are supported by the current, best evidence.
6. Integrate patient-related instruction, therapeutic exercise, functional training in self-care, and use of adjunctive devices and equipment into the plan of care based on the current, best evidence.
7. Utilize classification schemes to assist with matching the plan of care to patients' specific impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions.
8. Understand and apply selected clinical prediction rules to the management of patients with upper quarter region musculoskeletal disorders.
9. Measure impairment, function, disability, and health-related quality of life outcomes for patients with musculoskeletal disorders of the upper quarter region.
10. Apply the concept of regional interdependence to the management of patients with musculoskeletal disorders of the upper quarter region.

Program Details

• The program is offered online with in-person meetings.
• The program runs from January 12, 2026, to May 31, 2026.
• The tuition fee for the program is $1,400.00.
• The program is designed to provide advanced training in the management of patients with upper quarter region disorders, and it is intended for physical therapists who wish to specialize in orthopedic physical therapy.