Certificate Program
The Athlete Movement System: Sports Performance
Improve your ability to analyze and treat athlete movement dysfunction.
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About this Certificate Program
This certificate program teaches you how to use the movement system to assess, diagnose, and treat athlete movement dysfunction. The first series of courses focus on body regions and serves as a foundation for assessing the upper quarter, lower quarter, and spine of all athletes. The material then focuses on the key performance aspects of sport, including speed, power, endurance, and agility. The content then becomes more sport specific, covering tennis, swimming, baseball, volleyball, running, and rock climbing. The content is highly interactive and emphasizes the practical application of principles covered.
Target audience
This certificate program is for physical therapists, occupational therapists, and athletic trainers.
Goals & objectives
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Demonstrate and select appropriate movement assessments and treatments for the upper half of an athlete
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Integrate research support into sport-specific assessments and treatments for the upper half of an athlete
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Learn the biomechanics and sport-specific demands of athletes
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Understand the importance of regional interdependence and its functional relationship to pathobiomechanics
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Provide interventions based on faulty movement patterns observed and related to key impairments obtained from the objective exam
What’s included in the Certificate Program
Accredited Online Courses*
21 hours of online video lectures and patient demonstrations.
Interactive Learning Assessments
Case-based quizzes to evaluate and improve clinical reasoning.
Case Study Interviews
Recorded Q&A sessions between instructors and practice managers.
Certificate Program overview
Section 1
Body Region 3 ItemsThe Athlete Movement System: Spine (Recorded Webinar) Course
Chapter 1: The Movement System
This chapter will discuss the movement system framework, including posture, movement, mobility, muscle performance, and symptom modification procedures.
Chapter 2: Posture and Movement
This chapter will focus on posture and movement analysis related to the lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spine.
Chapter 3: Movement Classification
This chapter will utilize movement system impairment (MSI) syndromes developed by Shirley Sahrmann and colleagues to classify cervical and lumbar movement dysfunction.
Chapter 4: The Treatment Pyramid
This chapter integrates sports-specific interventions into a systematic framework that addresses the athlete's spine. The chapter will include 15 athlete case examples from various sports.
Chapter 5: Question and Answer Session
This chapter is a viewer-submitted question and answer session facilitated by Jared Vagy.
The Athlete Movement System: Upper Quarter (Recorded Webinar) Course
Chapter 1: The Movement System and Foundational Assessment
The first chapter of this course covers the movement system framework, foundational movement analysis, mobility, and muscle performance.
Chapter 2: Biomechanics and Advanced Assessment
This chapter reviews speed and endurance concepts, including speed of force generation, closed kinetic chain testing, and mirroring movement.
Chapter 3: The Treatment Pyramid
The final chapter of this course discusses the components of the treatment period. Topics include patient education, improving alignment and joint centration, utilization of newly acquired motion, and using the entire kinetic chain.
Chapter 4: Q&A
This is a viewer submitted question and answer session, which will be facilitated by Jared Vagy.
The Athlete Movement System: Lower Quarter (Recorded Webinar) Course
Chapter 1: The Movement System
This chapter will discuss the movement system framework, the foundational movement analysis, mobility, and muscle performance.
Chapter 2: Biomechanics and Advanced Assessment: The Application of Advanced Concepts in LQ Sport
This chapter will take the foundational concepts that could be used on any patient and apply them to the biomechanics and advanced assessments specific to movements in various sports.
Chapter 3: The Treatment Pyramid: The Application of Movement Science Concepts Into the Treatment of Sport Injury
This chapter will discuss the objectives of the treatment pyramid, specifically the application of movement, signs, and concepts of sports-related injuries.
Chapter 4: Q&A
This is a viewer submitted question and answer session, which will be facilitated by Jared Vagy.
Section 2
Performance Assessment and Training 1 ItemThe Athlete Movement System: Speed, Power, and Agility Course
Chapter 1: Speed: Movement and Performance
In this chapter, Dr. Vagy will discuss a framework to assess and treat athletes to improve their speed, power, and agility. He will introduce advanced techniques to properly assess these three key components of sport and present strategies to make them easy to assess within the clinic setting. He will teach you the four main components of speed: reaction time, acceleration, maximum velocity, and speed maintenance. He will go on to show you how to quantify speed with both movement and performance testing in a clinical setting and how to use the results from your testing to improve speed performance.
Chapter 2: Power: Movement and Performance
In this chapter, Dr. Vagy will teach you research-validated tests to assesses athlete lower extremity power. This includes vertical hop, triple hop, and drop vertical jumps. You will learn how to use a landing error scoring system to assess movement and plyometric tests to quantify power output. Finally, you will learn how to use the results of these tests in a clinical setting to improve athlete power through plyometric exercise progressions.
Chapter 3: Agility: Movement and Performance
In this chapter, Dr. Vagy will teach you how to assess and treat athlete agility. This includes research-supported return-to-sport protocols that analyze deceleration, lateral shuffle, and plant and cut movements. You will be introduced to performance tests for change of direction speed and reactive agility and will learn how to quantify agility with both movement and performance testing in a clinical setting to improve overall athlete agility performance through fundamental agility exercises.
Section 3
Application to Specific Sports 5 ItemsThe Movement System: Advanced Running Assessment and Treatment Course
Chapter 1: Advanced Running Assessment
In this chapter, Dr. Vagy teaches you joint angle normative values during the running cycle, factors that influence running mechanics, and a movement system model for analyzing and treating running injuries. You will be introduced to concepts of speed of force generation, closed kinetic chain testing, mirroring movement, and cross body assessment. Learn how to integrate these advanced orthopedic assessments with running biomechanics to determine hypothesized impairments. This will enable you to treat the identified impairment and return the patient to running without pain.
Chapter 2: Dynamometry and Speed of Force Generation
In this chapter, Dr. Vagy teaches how to utilize dynamometry to calculate maximal voluntary isometric contraction and use concepts of speed of force generation in the assessment and treatment of a runner. You will learn how to capture the acceleration component of force with impulse muscle testing and how to match your assessments and treatments to the cadence of the running cycle. Learn how to apply these concepts into a clinical case of a runner with medial knee pain during the absorption phase of the running cycle.
Chapter 3: Closed Kinetic Chain Testing and Cross Body Assessment
In this chapter, Dr. Vagy teaches how to utilize concepts of closed kinetic chain muscle testing and cross body assessments. You will learn how to perform muscle tests in the closed kinetic chain to simulate the muscular demands during the running cycle. You will further learn how mobility deficits on one side of the body can affect running mechanics on the contralateral side. Learn how to apply these concepts to clinical cases of runners with lower quarter pain during both the stance and swing phases of the running cycle.
Chapter 4: Mirroring Movement
In this chapter, Dr. Vagy introduces a case that highlights the importance of replicating running phase positions during assessment and treatment. The case involves a runner who has anterior hip pain during the swing phase. Learn how to develop orthopedic assessments that mirror both the propulsion and swing phases of running. Treat the identified impairment with exercise that replicates the affected running phase position.
The Movement System: Practical Swimming Biomechanics and Treatment Course
Chapter 1: Swimming Introduction and Freestyle Stroke
In this chapter, Dr. Vagy will teach you swimming injury demographics, gender and anthropometric differences, training volumes, and the etiology of swimming injuries. You will then learn the biomechanics of the freestyle swim stroke and the common compensations during the pull-through and recovery phases. Integrate manual symptom modification procedures during the swim stroke to decrease the swimmer's pain and improve their mechanics.
Chapter 2: Butterfly
In this chapter, Dr. Vagy introduces the key phases of the butterfly swim stroke. He identifies common compensations that can lead to tissue breakdown and movement corrections that reduce the likelihood of injury. You will learn clinical assessments to improve the coordination of the lower and upper extremities during the stroke and specific thoracic mobilizations that can improve stroke efficiency.
Chapter 3: Breaststroke
In this chapter, Dr. Vagy introduces the key phases of the breaststroke swim stroke. He identifies common compensations that can lead to tissue breakdown and introduces assessment and treatment strategies that reduce the likelihood of injury. You will learn how to utilize concepts of hip mobility and muscle performance in sport-specific angles to assess and treat lower quarter pathology during the whip kick.
Chapter 4: Backstroke
In this chapter, Dr. Vagy introduces the key phases of the backstroke swim stroke. He identifies common compensations that can lead to tissue breakdown and movement corrections that reduce the likelihood of injury. He introduces the concept of relative flexibility, how it can influence the biomechanics of the swim stroke, and how to effectively treat this impairment. You will learn how to assess and treat muscle performance deficits in the swimmer’s core by placing them in swim-specific positions on the land.
The Movement System: Throwing Biomechanics and Treatment Course
Chapter 1: Throwing Biomechanics and Assessment
In this chapter, Dr. Vagy will introduce a research-based model to assess pitching mechanics. Dr. Vagy introduces the key phases of the throw: windup, stride, cocking, acceleration, deceleration, and follow-through. You will learn how to identify the six key critical events of the throw and common movement errors that throwers demonstrate during each critical event. Integrate the use of your smart phone and tablet to video analyze throwing mechanics.
Chapter 2: Scapular Assessment
In this chapter, Dr. Vagy introduces the importance of the scapula during throwing and presents assessment and treatment strategies that target the scapula. He presents a scapular alteration test, the application of dynamometry and its role in assessing muscular performance, as well as how to assess the speed of force generation.
Chapter 3: Scapular Treatment
In this chapter, Dr. Vagy introduces treatment options targeting periscapular musculature utilizing concepts of muscular facilitation. He integrates the usage of CLX bands to provide vectors of assistance and resistance to selectively active muscles involved in throwing. He also applies the concepts of speed and perturbation to CLX band exercises to increase specificity of training and progress high level patient population.
Chapter 4: Humeral Assessment and Treatment
In this chapter, Dr. Vagy introduces the concept of glenohumeral joint centration, its importance during throwing, and how to assess the humerus using this concept. He utilizes progressive exercises that maintain joint centration while mirroring the transition from late cocking to acceleration of the throw.
Chapter 5: Lumbopelvic Assessment and Treatment
In this chapter, Dr. Vagy discusses the importance of thoracolumbar/lumbopelvic coordination and stability during throwing. Learn to assess and treat various abdominal muscle activation patterns as well as incorporate reflexive cues for maximal activation. Learn general and sport specific abdominal exercise progressions to improve the stability and coordination of the throwing athlete.
The Athlete Movement System: Tennis Biomechanics and Treatment Course
Chapter 1: Tennis Introduction and the Serve
In this chapter, Dr. Vagy introduces the sport of tennis, including an overview of the serve, backhand, and forehand strokes. He introduces the critical events involved in the serve. He breaks down the ideal joint angles needed to optimize movement. He then presents specific assessments and treatments that target the impairments during each phase of the serve for a patient with shoulder pain.
Chapter 2: The Backhand
In this chapter, Dr. Vagy introduces the critical events involved in the backhand. He breaks down the ideal joint angles needed to optimize movement. He then presents specific assessments and treatments that target the impairments during each phase of the backhand for a patient with lateral elbow pain.
Chapter 3: The Forehand
In this chapter, Dr. Vagy introduces the critical events involved in the forehand. He breaks down the ideal joint angles needed to optimize movement. He then presents specific assessments and treatments that target the impairments during each phase of the forehand for a patient with low back pain.
Chapter 4: Trunk Power
In this chapter, Dr. Vagy introduces the concept of trunk muscle performance. He introduces research-supported methods to quantify trunk power and provides tennis-specific supplemental exercises to improve overall trunk power to reduce the risk of shoulder, wrist, and low back injuries in the tennis player.
The Athlete Movement System: Rock Climbing Course
Chapter 1: Introduction and Patient Case: Jeremy
This chapter will introduce you to the sport of rock climbing and will review the various settings, disciplines, and types of climbing. You will then be presented with a patient case of a climber with shoulder pain. You will learn how to utilize a systematic framework to assess the climber’s shoulder pain and provide interventions to return him to sport.
Chapter 2: Patient Case: Tara
This chapter will present a climber with medial elbow pain. You will review specific test clusters to rule up or down competing diagnoses and determine how inefficient climbing movement contributes to the climber’s pain. You then learn a step-by-step process to rehabilitate the patient and return her to climbing pain-free.
Chapter 3: Patient Case: Leah
This chapter will present a climber with finger pain. You will learn how to evaluate pulley sprains based on grade and severity and review research-supported best practices for rehabilitation. You will review how to assess the mobility and muscle performance of the fingers with a climbing-specific focus. Additionally, you will be provided with detailed recovery protocols and exercises to restore a climber’s finger to full function.
Section 4
Article References 4 ItemsSpecificity in the Clinic: Basic Therapeutic Exercise Just Won’t Do Text And Links
The Need for Speed: From Athletes to Aging Adults Text And Links
Moving Beyond MMT: Diagnosing & Treating Movement Dysfunction Text And Links
Muscle Performance Testing: Create Your Own Dynamometer Text And Links
Instructors
Jared Vagy
PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS
CEU approved
21
total hours*
of accredited coursework.
Medbridge accredits each course individually so you can earn CEUs as you progress.
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Browse PlansFrequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about Certificate Programs.
Accreditation Hours
Each course is individually accredited and exact hours will vary by state and discipline. Check each course for specific accreditation for your license.
When do I get my certificate?
You will receive accredited certificates of completion for each course as you complete them. Once you have completed the entire Certificate Program you will receive your certificate for the program.
Do I get CEU credit?
Each course is individually accredited. Please check each course for your state and discipline. You can receive CEU credit after each course is completed.
Do I have to complete the courses in order?
It is not required that you complete the courses in order. Each Certificate Program's content is built to be completed sequentially but it is not forced to be completed this way.
How long do I have access to the Certificate Program?
You will have access to this Certificate Program for as long as you are a subscriber. Your initial subscription will last for one year from the date you purchase.
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