Shoulder Impingement: A Postural Model

A postural model from Dr Don Hunter

High Street Holistic - 60 High Street, Preston South, 3072

Sunday 18 May 2025 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM AEDT

Shoulder pain can be one of the most complex presentations a therapist will see. It can be difficult to understand, frustratingly slow to improve and limit the patient’s quality of life considerably. If you find shoulder impingement treatment tricky to treat then this is the course for you.

Shoulder complaints are the third most common musculoskeletal cause of visitation to a general practitioner with at least half of these persisting beyond 12 months. Shoulder Impingement Syndrome (SIS) is the most common cause of shoulder pain and a recent systematic review of interventional treatment for Shoulder Impingement Syndrome concluded the effectiveness of surgical or conservative therapies targeting the shoulder joint are limited.

Don Hunter completed his PhD (University of Newcastle) in 2022, providing evidence that a relationship between thoracic posture and shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS) exists. Using a randomised control trial he established an evidence-based clinical approach to treating SIS using simple osteopathic techniques. In addition, as part of his PhD, Don provided an anatomical model describing why SIS occurs, which lends itself to the treatment of other limb conditions as well.

Shoulder Impingement: A Postural Model will review the normal anatomy and function of the shoulder complex, the pathophysiology of SIS, the most common differential diagnoses of SIS and their key clinical signs and symptoms, and evidence-based clinical testing for SIS. Don will describe why thoracic posture is so important in addressing SIS and provide an anatomical model, from his PhD, that provides an explanation for the occurrence of SIS. Using this model Don will provide a treatment framework for SIS as well as other wrist, elbow, upper limb and tendonitis conditions (such as tennis elbow).

Learning objectives:

• Revise the functional anatomy of the shoulder complex and how this relates to pain presentations
• Update your understanding of shoulder pain based on the latest medical literature including the main contributors to impingement and why a whole-body treatment approach can help your patient's recovery
• Confidently diagnose impingement syndrome using an evidence-based clinical examination of the shoulder complex
• Apply an evidenced-based treatment model confidently in clinical practice, including manual therapy techniques utilised as part of a Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) Don recently completed at Newcastle University
• Confidently apply treatment principles to address other wrist, elbow, upper limb and tendonitis conditions (such as tennis elbow)

Details and Registration

Disclaimer: Content correct at the time of publication.