Lumbar Radiculopathy – Myths, Mechanisms and Management

Live Webinar | Science, Assessment & Treatment Strategies

Lumbar radiculopathy is a common and highly debilitating clinical problem. The presence of changes within the function and sensitivity of the nervous system, in addition to concomitant back pain, make this a complex and challenging condition for clinicians to manage. There is a large body of evidence on the aetiology and pathophysiology of radiculopathy but there is still a paucity of research on optimum management strategies to help guide practitioners in clinical practice.

In this Power talk, Thomas will separate myth from fact and delve into the underlying mechanisms of lumbar radiculopathy so that listeners understand the pathophysiological processes in depth. A clear assessment framework will then be demonstrated to help clinicians clarify their diagnosis, with multiple objective measures to track their patient’s progress over time. Finally, a comprehensive treatment paradigm will be outlined. There will be a large focus on conservative rehabilitation including therapeutic exercise, education and manual therapy. In addition, the basis and indications for pharmacological, injection and surgical interventions will be discussed.

 
This is a highly dynamic webinar with lots of real-life clinical examples and applications from Thomas’ extensive experience of working as a spinal specialist Physiotherapist within the Neurosurgery team at Cork University Hospital. By the end of the talk, participants will feel confident to manage lumbar radiculopathy in an effective and evidenced-based manner. 

Agenda

Part A: Science & Assessment (50mins approx )

• Pathophysiology of Radiculopathy
• Assesment 

Questions (5-10mins)

Part 2: Treatment Strategies (50mins approx)

• Conservative Rehabilitation 
• Pharmacology
• Injection Therapy & Surgery

Questions (5-10mins)

Learning Outcomes

Through participating in the Power Talk candidates will:

• Understand the pathophysiology and aetiology of lumbar radiculopathy.
• Learn how to assess the function and integrity of the lumbar nerve roots 
• Develop clinical reasoning skills to aid in hypothesis generation and diagnosis
• Understand the role of exercise, manual therapy and education as a interventions for lumbar radiculopathies
• Understand the medical management of radiculopathy including pharmacology, injections and surgery.

Bio

Thomas Dekkers, MPhty MSc BSc (Hons) MISCP, 

Specialist Spinal Physiotherapist, 

Certified Strength, and Conditioning Specialist

Thomas is a Physiotherapist, researcher, and educator with over 18 years’ experience in the field of musculoskeletal and sports medicine. Clinically, he has worked across multiple sectors including the NHS, private practice, and professional sport. He practiced for many years on London’s Harley Street as a spinal specialist Physiotherapist and has worked extensively with Olympic athletes at the English Institute of Sport, in addition to athletes from professional soccer, rugby, boxing and inter-county GAA. He holds a BSc degree in Physiology from University College Cork, a Masters in Physiotherapy from University of East Anglia and a Masters in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy from the University of Queensland, Australia. 

Thomas now holds roles as a clinician, educator and researcher. Currently he works in an Advanced Practice Physiotherapy role in the Neurosurgery team at Cork University Hospital. He also consults in private practice on patients and athletes with complex spinal pain. In addition to his clinical work, he is completing a PhD at Technological University Dublin investigating trunk muscle performance in athletes with back pain and has numerous peer-reviewed publications. His passion is in the use of exercise medicine for patients with spinal pain and he teaches internationally in the area of spinal rehabilitation and athletic back pain.