Diploma courses in orthopaedic medicine: course structure?

Orthopaedic medicine diploma course modules: content?

The diploma modular course in orthopaedic medicine consists of different course modules which cover all theoretical and practical details about clinical reasoning, diagnosis and treatment strategy. Those courses are designed for MD's and PT's with specific interest in musculoskeletal medicine.


Final learning outcome of the Orthopaedic Medicine Diploma course


The sequence and the structure of the modules can vary from country to country, also depending on the specific wishes of the local organisation partner. Finally the intrinsic global content is always similar, regardless from the chosen course structure.


After attending the orthopaedic medicine courses, consisting of a basic and an advanced training program he therapist must be able:


  • to examine a patient in an independent, reliable and safe way and to reach a diagnosis as specific and as valid as possible.
  • The therapist must manage a multifactorial objective clinical reasoning system.
  • We focus on diagnosis and therapy within the field of musculoskeletal medicine. Once a diagnosis is obtained the therapist can start a relevant conservative treatment strategy, taking into account the nature, the severity and the localization of the lesion, as well as the personality of the patient, with respect for symbiotic treatment options and inter-method links.
  • The therapist will promote a thorough multidisciplinary team work between MD and pysical therapist in order to optimize the efficiency of the examination and treatment techniques.

Besides achieving a diagnosis one must also know how to achieve a diferential diagnosis including the recognition of red flags. The therapist has to take into account changing the treatment procedure if necessary, also with emphasis on self treatment and prophylactic strategies in order to help the patient to return to his normal daily activities in a most optimal way.

Module A, highlights in orthopaedic medicine - 2,5 days


  • Basic principles of modern orthopaedic medicine Cyriax
  • Rules of referred pain
  • How to reach a valid diagnosis : inspection, history, relevant functional examination, palpation
  • Clinical reasoning by using a standardized Cyriax assessment form
  • General treatment strategy for soft tissue lesions: muscular, ligamentous, tendinosis / tendinopathy
  • Elbow : inspection, history and basic functional examination
  • Elbow : diagnosis and treatment procedures of tennis and golfer elbow
  • Shoulder : inspection, history and basic functional examination
  • Shoulder : diagnosis and treatment procedures of tendinitis, -osis (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, biceps,...)
  • Foot : inspection, history and basic functional examination
  • Foot : diagnosis and treatment procedures of inversion and eversion traumata (sprained ankles : lig. talofibulare ant-post, lig. calcaneofibulare, lig. calcaneocuboideum, peronei, tibialis posterior)
  • Knee : inspection, history and basic functional examination
  • Knee : diagnosis and treatment procedures of ligamentous lesions (MCL, LCL, coronary ligaments)
  • Wrist : inspection, history and basic functional examination
  • Wrist : diagnosis and treatment procedure of a carpal subluxation (dorsal-palmar ; ligamentous lesion)

Module BC, spine - 4 days

Lumbar spine

  • Specific history taking
  • General history
  • Inspection : what is relevant ? Scoliosis or lateral deviation?
  • Basic functional examination : how to reach, in a valid and practical way, a diagnosis and differential diagnosis, respecting red flags
  • Accessory examination
  • What do we learn from the Straight Leg Raise test?
  • (ir)relevance of palpation and other diagnostic procedures
  • Specific indications and contraindications of manipulative techniques ; techniques with and without traction component
  • Specific indications and contraindications of mechanical traction techniques
  • Specific indication and contraindications of self treatment exercises
  • Creating a treatment strategy with incorporation of prophylactic and self treatment procedures
  • Accessory SI pain provocation examination
  • Clinical reasoning by using a standardized examination protocol incorporating links to McKenzie and other manual therapy approaches : how to reach a diagnosis and differential diagnosis ; is there any compatibility between different methods ?
  • Non-mechanical disorders : discover the yellow and red flags - sign of the buttock
  • Differential diagnosis with SI-joint and hip problems
  • Indications for epidural local anaesthesia and nerve block
  • Detailed analysis assessment form
  • Lumbar : true false questions
  • Lumbar : Quizz
  • Lumbar : MCQ questions

Cervical spine

  • history, inspection, functional examination
  • pre-manipulative considerations
  • manipulation indications-contraindications / treatment techniques / therapeutic strategy
  • recapitulation functional examination + extra test for RA
  • differential diagnosis - scapular area
  • more differential diagnosis incl. facet joint - whiplash - adhesions
  • analysis assessment form

Thoracic spine

General recapitulation of treatment techniques

Module DE, advanced extremities- 4 days


Module D : Extremities advanced 1

  • Shoulder : recapitulation examination procedures
  • Shoulder : interpretation capsular and non-capsular pattern / treatment techniques / bursitis
  • Shoulder : recapitulation treatment techniques contractile structures
  • Shoulder : further differential diagnosis - analysis assessment form - impingement tests
  • Shoulder : true-false questions, Quizz, MCQ
  • Elbow : recapitulation examination procedures
  • Elbow : interpretation capsular and non-capsular pattern / treatment techniques / loose body manipulation
  • Elbow : interpretation resisted tests / treatment techniques
  • Elbow : recapitulation tennis- and golferelbow techniques
  • Elbow : further differential diagnosis
  • Elbow : true- false questions, Quizz, MCQ
  • Wrist : recapitulation examination procedures
  • Wrist : interpretation caspular pattern
  • Wrist : recapitulation carpal subluxation techniques
  • Wrist : further interpretation wrist, fingers, thumb / treatment techniques
  • Wrist : pressure on nerves - carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Wrist : true-false questions, Quizz, MCQ

Module E: Extremities advanced 2

  • Hip : history, inspection, functional examination
  • Hip : interpretation capsular and non-capsular pattern / treatment techniques
  • Hip : interpretation resisted tests / treatment techniques
  • Hip : differential diagnosis bursitis
  • Hip : sign of the buttock
  • Knee : recapitulation functional examination
  • Knee : articular lesions / treatment techniques / loose body manipulation
  • Knee : recapitulation ligamentous lesions / techniques
  • Knee : interpretation resisted tests / treatment techniques
  • Knee : further differential diagnosis - analysis assessment form
  • Knee : true-false questions, Quizz, MCQ
  • Foot : recapitulation functional examination
  • Foot : interpretation resisted tests / treatment techniques
  • Foot : recapitulation ligamentous techniques
  • Foot : further differential diagnosis / analysis assessment form
  • Foot : true-false questions, Quizz, MCQ



Module F, recapitulation and exam course - 3 days


Depending on the number of candidates, the Cyriax orthopaedic medicine diploma course takes 2-3 days

  • Extremities and Spine : general recapitulation treatment and examination techniques - specific theoretical and practical problem as a preparation for the theoretical and practical exam.
  • Theoretical examination : answer 70 MCQ questions in a maximum time frame of 2 hours.
  • Practical examination : demonstration of 17 different examination and treatment procedures.


Note: the course structure can be different depending on the country in which the course takes place ; the content is always the same