We are currently reviewing whether we run this course in 2026. If we do, it will be in Hamilton, New Zealand. Register your interest and be kept informed.

Register Interest

Why this course?

Some patients don't respond to conventional rehabilitation because multiple biological, neurological and psychosocial factors interact to drive persistent pain and movement dysfunction. This course provides a structured clinical reasoning framework, advanced clinical assessment and rehabilitation skills to help you confidently assess and manage these challenging patients.

Structured Clinical Reasoning Framework

You'll be guided by a practical roadmap for assessing complexity and prioritising rehabilitation.


By the end of this course you will be able to:

  • Apply a structured clinical reasoning framework to complex shoulder presentations.

  • Differentiate the predominant pain mechanisms contributing to shoulder pain and understand key management priorities.

  • Identify the key biological, neurological and psychosocial factors influencing rehabilitation and apply effective intervention.

  • Prioritise assessment findings to guide clinical decision-making.

  • Design targeted, evidence-informed rehabilitation programmes.

  • Adapt assessment and rehabilitation strategies for patients who are not progressing as expected.

  • Recognise when further investigation, referral or multidisciplinary management is indicated.

Who is this course for?

This is an advanced course suitable for:

  • Advanced Practice Physiotherapists

    who want to learn advanced assessment and rehabilitation skills for more complex presentations.

  • Clinicians managing complex shoulders

    including persistent pain, recurrent instability, scapula and other movement dysfunctions.

  • Rehabilitation professionals

    who want to extend their rehabilitation skills.

About the course:

PART 1:  Online Learning (Approx 2.5 hrs)

Build your theoretical foundation before attending the practical course so practical time can be devoted to hands-on assessment, clinical reasoning and case-based applications:

  • The complex shoulder
  • Neurologic screening
  • Shoulder structural pathology
  • Atraumatic shoulder instability
  • Nociplastic pain
  • Shoulder functional anatomy 
  • Neuromotor function

(Access for 1 year after the course.)

PART 2:  Practical Course (1.5 days)

Apply the framework through hands-on assessment, rehabilitation, clinical reasoning exercises and case studies. 

  • Functional assessment
  • Motor control assessment and rehabilitation
  • Sensorimotor assessment and treatment
  • Neurodevelopmental assessment and treatment
  • Case studies


Presented by: Dr Angela Cadogan and Dr Jacqui Clark

Find out more about this blended learning course:

Become confident in managing:

  • Shoulder instability

    People with atraumatic shoulder instability, including posterior and multidirectional instability, and muscle patterning instability.

  • Scapula dyskinesis

    Persistent scapula dyskinesis that is not responsive to traditional rehab and often associated with periscapula pain, clicking and abnormal muscle guarding.

  • Shoulder girdle pain

    Persistent shoulder girdle and periscapula pain with mixed nociceptive and nociplastic pain presentations.

Included in this course:

  • Learn from the Experts!

    Few courses give you direct access to expertise from 2 Registered Specialists and internationally recognised experts in one course!

  • Clinical Reasoning Framework

    Access to the structured clinical reasoning framework to guide your assessment and rehabilitation decisions.

  • 1 Year Access

    Access to all course materials for 1 year after the course.

  • Course Manual provided

    Keep a copy of the course manual - that includes the structured Clinical Reasoning Framework.

  • CPD certificate

    12 hours of quality CPD from two International Experts!

  • Morning & Afternoon Tea Provided

    Bring your own lunch for Day 1.

What people are saying about this course

I would love for all my staff to complete this course.

Sally

It has so many far reaching applications and extended multiple areas of my practice - very grateful, thanks!

A great course with two inspiring teachers.

Andy

I'd recommend to any physio who wants to boost their understanding and patient outcomes - this has already transformed how I approach my assessments and treatments.

When the kitchen sink isn't working for your complex shoulders, this course will!

Jodi

This course highlights an area of physiotherapy not well addressed in most practices, boosting your confidence in the management of complex clients.

So many lightbulb moments!

Catriona

Really interesting and enjoyable course - so many lightbulb moments! I feel I have added so many tools to my toolbox to help treat those tricky shoulders!

This course bridges the gap between clients hardware and software issues in rehabilitation!

Hal

Olivia

A great course for deepening your understanding of shoulder pain and all the drivers that can contribute to ones pain experience. Got me thinking outside of the box

This course can really help with the long term/chronic shoulder patients who can be tricky.

Henry

So having a good understanding of the neuromuscular side of the shoulder can help get past that road block.

Since completing the course, I have trialed some of the assessment and treatment techniques with existing clients with positive benefits.

Becky

I work in a community neuro setting and this course provided useful information for clients with shoulder pathologies following a brain injury. Although the course had a lot of motor control content, the information around sensory detection/interpretation and sensory integration was really beneficial. It has not only broadened my assessment techniques but since completing the course, I have trialed some of the assessment and treatment techniques with existing clients with positive benefits.

Such a great teaching environment

Tiffany

I felt going into the course that I may have been out of my depth, but during the course I felt well educated and supported and learnt a significant amount. It was also taught in a manner that helped solidify the learning material.

Celia

This excellent course provides a brilliant framework for when normal rehabilitation isn't progressing/working and you need to take a side track to sort out any motor control issues. Very clear and concise teaching and the instructors are, of course, world-class, knowledgeable, approachable, and very, very good!

We are currently reviewing whether we run this course in 2025. If we do, it will be in Hamilton, New Zealand. Register your interest and be kept informed.

Register Interest

Instructors

Dr Angela Cadogan

Dip Phys, M.Sports Physio, Dip MT, PhD
Physiotherapy Specialist (Musculoskeletal).

Angela is a NZ registered Physiotherapy Specialist (Musculoskeletal) with a Ph.D in Musculoskeletal Diagnostics from AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand (2012) (shoulder sub-specialty). Based in Christchurch, she works as a clinical consultant in her own private practice specialising in the diagnosis and management of shoulder pain.

Angela also works in an Orthopaedic Triage and Assessment role (Shoulder Service) with the Canterbury District Health Board. Angela has an ongoing research interest in shoulder conditions, has many publications on the topic, has been an invited keynote speaker at many national and international shoulder conferences and is Associate Editor at JOSPT (Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy).

Angela has been teaching courses on the diagnosis, management and rehabilitation of shoulder conditions for over 10 years and is passionate about upskilling other physiotherapists and improving capability of the physiotherapy workforce to meet the needs of the changing healthcare system. Angela is the director of Physio Academy. Learn more: www.drangelacadogan.co.nz

Instructor Dr Jacqui Clark

PhD, MSc, Grad DP, MCSP, MNZSP

Registered Specialist Pain Physiotherapist at ‘Pains and Brains’.

Jacqui holds a joint PhD from two European Universities and has lectured extensively around the world in motor control and sensorimotor retraining for recurrent and persistent musculoskeletal injuries. She is a registered Specialist Physiotherapist and works clinically in Tauranga at Pains and Brains.

Cancelation Terms & Conditions

Physio Academy may cancel a course due to insufficient registrations.  In this instance a full refund will be given. We recommend you book refundable travel and accommodation or take out insurance cover. 

  • A printed manual cannot be guaranteed for registrations less than 1 week before course date. 
  • Please read our full cancellation policy carefully. 


Registrant Cancelations

  • For cancellations more than 8 weeks before the course: full refund less a $50 admin fee.
  • For cancellations up to 4 weeks before the course: 50% refund less a $50 admin fee.
  • For cancellations less than 4 weeks’ notice: no refund will be given.*
    .

 Exceptions:

  • If Covid -19 lockdown level 3 or 4 restrictions are put in place a full refund will be provided. 


*We understand that sometimes the unavoidable happens and people can't attend a course due to illness, a family situation, or other last-minute reasons. In this case, we give you the option to find a suitable health professional to take your place on the course. Let us know their contact details (name, email, mobile number) so we can transfer your enrolment to them. And you sort out payment with them. The cancellation policy applies to your replacement as well. 

We recommend you consider travel insurance for flights and accommodation in case of course disruptions or cancellations.

Additional products

View more courses