Early Bird Rate Available July 10 – August 31, 2023

Discount Code: earlybird10%

Limit one discount code per registrant. Cannot be combined with any other promo code.

Introducing Virginia is for Learners Live Virtual Training! Attend live training and be part of a virtual classroom. It's the same high-quality learning experience and expert instruction you've come to expect from APTA Virginia in-person classroom training—only it's from the convenience of your own home or work computer.

Classes are limited in size and specifically designed to engage students virtually. Our course content has been adapted for optimal online learning:

Instructor-led/facilitator-supported
CEUs and Certificate of Completion available

This course uses the movement system impairment syndromes approach, symptom modification procedure, and principles of motor learning to address the common problem of plantar heel pain syndromes.

Course attendees will leave with a process to enhance and sharpen the clinician’s well-established toolkit, action to provide case level evidence of efficient valuable patient centered care, information that can lead to personalized treatment, and specific movement/functional skill training for plantar heel pain syndrome, which is more effective in the short term and long term than frequently prescribed exercise – faster results, more durable.

Distinguish the biomechanics of plantar aponeurosis including at least the two length modulating mechanisms shortening or compression of longitudinal arch, lengthening or increasing excursion of the 1st MTPJ.
Differentiate actions of plantar intrinsic foot muscles.
Differentiate the kinetics occurring at the level of the foot when walking/running during the 3 periods of stance phase (heel rocker, ankle rocker, and forefoot rocker periods) and how slight deviations can lead to microtrauma that can lead to microtrauma.
Recognize symptoms, key test & signs, contributing/risk factors, differential movement & associated diagnosis, potential medical diagnosis requiring referral, and interventions for 3 potential kinesiopatholgic model subclassifications of plantar heel pain syndrome (heel rocker period of stance deviations impact loading; ankle rocker period of stance deviations ↑ pronation; forefoot rocker period of stance deviations of 1st MTPJ dorsiflexion).
Recognize a symptom modification procedure to address plantar heel pain syndrome.
Identify patient specific movement/functional skill training using principles of good verbal cuing/prompting and feedback to alter deviant movements associated with each subclassification of plantar heel pain syndrome.

Damien Howell PT, DPT, OCS has extensive academic, clinical, and continuing education teaching experience, along with previous academic positions at Indiana University and Virginia Commonwealth University. He has presented on gait analysis and gait training to more than 1000 health professionals across the country, sharing what he has learned from his extensive clinical experience.

Dr. Howell continues to provide evidence-based, client-centered healthcare to clients in a way that is innovative and engaging, while mentoring, teaching, and leading peers to change the way physical therapy is practiced.