Manual Therapy and Therapeutic Exercise in Headache: An EBM Approach

This course introduces participants to the most updated scientific headache literature, particularly migraine, and how to properly assess and treat patients with primary or secondary headache disorders.

Day 1 includes up-to-date, evidence-based headache epidemiology, classifications, diagnostic criteria, and pathophysiological mechanisms of the most common headaches. Participants will learn an evidence-based clinical reasoning process to examine and treat patients with headaches properly and consider the potential presence of myofascial trigger points in the craniocervical region, recognizing their role and meaning within a neurophysiological context.

During the second day, the focus will be on joint-related musculoskeletal impairments most commonly found in headache patients. Participants will learn how to assess headache patients, including taking patients' history with the most relevant questions. The course includes general and specific assessments of impairments in the craniocervical region of headache patients.

On day 3, participants will focus on designing specific exercise programs, manual therapy management strategies, and a general review of pharmacological options.

Finally, an important part of the course will also focus on pain neuroscience education (PNE) and how to introduce PNE to patients with headaches. In the last part of the course, the focus will be on clinical reasoning applied to headache patients, and students will learn how to assess which patients are more likely to benefit from a highly specialized physical therapy approach. Numerous clinical cases will be presented throughout the course.

There are no prerequisites for this course.

Note: The actual times may vary with each program at the discretion of the instructors.

Day 1

09:00 - 10:00   Up-to-date, evidence-based pain mechanisms (theory)
10:00 - 11:00   Headache epidemiology, classification, and diagnostic criteria (theory)
11:00 - 11:15   Questions & Answers
11:15 - 12:00   Sensitization mechanism and pathophysiology of migraine and tension-type headaches (theory)
12:00 - 01:00   The role of trigger points in headaches (theory)
01:00 - 02:00   Lunch Break 
02:00 - 03:45   The myofascial assessment of the craniocervical region (practice)
03:45 - 04:00    Questions & Answers
04:00 - 06:00   Myofascial treatment techniques for the craniocervical region (practice)

Day 2

09:00 - 10:00   Evidence of musculoskeletal impairments in headache (theory)
10:00 - 11:00   Assessment of the cervical spine (part 1) (practice)
11:00 - 11:15   Questions & Answers
11:15 - 01:00   Assessment of the cervical spine (part 2) (practice)
01:00 - 02:00   Lunch 
02:00 - 03:45   Manual therapy techniques (part 1) (practice)
03:45 - 04:00   Questions & Answers
04:00 - 06:00   Manual therapy techniques (part 2) (practice)

Day 3

09:00 - 11:30   Therapeutic exercise in headache: assessment and treatment progression (practice)
11:30 - 11:45   Questions & Answers
11:45 - 01:00   Basis of pharmacological treatments of migraine and TTH (theory)
01:00 - 02:00   Lunch 
02:00 - 03:00   Pain neuroscience education for headaches (theory and practice)
03:00 - 03:45   Clinical cases (theory and practice)
03:45 - 04:00   Questions & Answers
04:00 - 04:30   Clinical reasoning algorithm for the optimal management of every headache patient (theory)
04:30 - 05:00   Recap and final comments (theory)

We have applied for CEUs with the Maryland Board of Physical Therapy Examiners

A 10% discount will be applied automatically when 3+ individuals are registered for one course on the same ticket.

New graduates, active Military/Veterans, Residents, and Full-Time University Faculty are eligible for a 10% discount.

You may retake this course for a 50% discount. You will need to pay full price at the time of registration. Upon receipt of a copy of your previous Myopain Seminars certificate and a note of for which course you have registered, the 50% discount will be credited to your credit card. Please send a copy of the certificate and note to Ms. Avelene Mahan. 

Only one discount may be applied to any course. Click here for more information about available discounts.

At the end of the 3-day course, participants will be able to:

• Recognize the different kinds of headaches and their clinical characteristics according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3) classification. 

• Assess the craniocervical region for the most common musculoskeletal impairments (myofascial, articular, motor control) in headache patients.

• Develop a clinical reasoning process understanding the role of musculoskeletal impairments in primary headaches.

• Design the appropriate management program for patients with headaches.

• Manage the most common musculoskeletal impairments associated with headaches with manual therapy techniques and specific exercises.

• Apply pain science education in the communication and management of headache patients.