Movement System Syndromes of the Shoulder, Cervical and Thoracic Spines Virtual Course

Virtual learning for your convenience!

The Movement System Syndromes of the Shoulder, Cervical and Thoracic Spines Virtual Course is a two-day course for licensed practitioners interested in movement system syndromes of the upper quarter.

Before attending the live course, participants should be familiar with the content covered in the 2026 Upper Quarter Foundation Webinar Series and Movement System Syndromes of the Shoulder. Participants should also review the prerecorded lecture on Movement System Syndromes of the Thoracic Spine.

• Two days of intensive learning on movement system syndromes of the shoulder, cervical spine and thoracic spine on October 3–4, 2026
• Virtual attendance from anywhere in the world
• A front-row view of all the live demonstrations
• At least 13 hours of CEU credit (approval pending from the California Physical Therapy Association)
• 90 days of access to recordings of the live lectures and demonstrations

Meet Your Course Faculty and Lab Team

Shirley Sahrmann, PT, PhD, FAPTA

Lecturer and Lab Instructor

Dr. Sahrmann is professor emerita of physical therapy at Washington University in St. Louis. She received her BS degree in physical therapy and her master’s and PhD degrees in neurobiology from Washington University, where she was a clinician and faculty member for 56 years. Her research interests included disordered motor control and the classification of musculoskeletal disorders. Dr. Sahrmann and her colleagues at Washington University have been major promoters of the movement system and the development of movement-related diagnostic categories to direct physical therapy treatment. This work formed the basis of her published books. She has lectured extensively nationally and internationally.

Nancy Bloom, PT, DPT, MSOT

Lecturer and Lab Instructor

Dr. Bloom is professor emerita of physical therapy and orthopaedic surgery at Washington University School of Medicine. She received both her master’s degree in occupational therapy and her clinical doctorate in physical therapy from Washington University. She has taught a wide variety of courses and treated multiple types of musculoskeletal problems. Nancy has taught numerous continuing education courses on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Movement System Syndromes and has given several national and international presentations. She is the recipient of the 2025 John H.P. Maley Lecture Award, a prestigious award from the American Physical Therapy Association.

Suzy Cornbleet, PT, DPT

Lecturer and Lab Instructor

Dr. Cornbleet was an associate professor of physical therapy and orthopaedic medicine in the Program in Physical Therapy at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. She recently retired after decades of teaching at Washington University.  In 2015, Suzy received both the Missouri Physical Therapy Association Outstanding Service Award for Education and the University of Colorado Physical Therapy Alumni Achievement Award. Her clinical interests include pediatric and adolescent hip and low back pain and general outpatient orthopaedics. She was instrumental in developing Washington University’s Movement System Clinical Fellowship and served as a primary mentor.

Maiko Morotani, PT, DPT, OCS

Lecturer and Lab Instructor

Dr. Morotani is the president of Nexus Motion and Learn Movement System. She has been a full-time clinician treating patients with neuromusculoskeletal pain conditions for over 15 years. She currently mentors physical therapists in the Los Angeles area. Maiko is one of the Japanese translators of the Movement System Impairment Syndromes of the Extremities, Cervical and Thoracic Spines textbook. She teaches the kinesiopathologic framework to the Japanese community monthly. She also served as a regional mentor for WashU Medicine Physical Therapy’s Movement System Clinical Fellowship. Maiko was a keynote speaker at the Asian Confederation of Physical Therapy Congress in Bangkok, Thailand. She is PhysioU’s education lead for Japan and is responsible for overseeing its Japanese content. Her passion is spreading the joy of movement to physical therapists worldwide, from students to experienced clinicians. Under her leadership, Nexus Motion and Learn Movement System deliver high-quality continuing education content every month.

Tracy Spitznagle, PT, DPT, WCS

Lecturer — No Lab

Dr. Spitznagle is a professor of physical therapy and obstetrics and gynecology at Washington University in St. Louis. Her educational mission is to provide physical therapists around the world with the knowledge needed to help others move better. Her expertise spans the thoracic spine to the pelvic girdle. Tracy firmly believes that everyone benefits when we understand how pregnancy affects the movement system.

Sheila Banovetz, MS, PT

Lab Assistant

Sheila has been a practicing physical therapist since 1985. She first worked at a rehabilitation and amputee clinic before transitioning to outpatient care. Before moving to Stevens Point in 1996, she taught physical therapy at the University of Iowa. Sheila has assisted with the laboratory portion of Movement System Syndromes courses for many years. While working with athletes and teaching at UW–Stevens Point, she began experimenting with video analysis of sport-specific movements. When Stevens Point Orthopedics acquired the Noraxon Movement Analysis system in 2017, Sheila developed the program, managed the system and trained in motion-analysis technology and troubleshooting.

Cheryl Caldwell, PT, DPT

Lab Assistant

Dr. Caldwell spent over 30 years as a key faculty member working alongside Dr. Shirley Sahrmann and her associates to develop the Movement System Syndromes concepts. Her expertise in the upper quarter is reflected in a published shoulder case report and her co-authorship of chapters about the hand, wrist and elbow in the Movement System Impairment Syndromes of the Extremities, Cervical and Thoracic Spines textbook. She has also served as a mentor to students, fellows and experienced clinicians. Dr. Caldwell recently retired from teaching at WashU Medicine Physical Therapy and is excited to continue sharing her wealth of knowledge. She is a former Certified Hand Therapist.

Mary Kate McDonnell, PT, DPT, OCS

Lab Assistant

Dr. McDonnell recently retired from her position as associate professor of physical therapy and orthopaedic surgery at WashU Medicine Physical Therapy. She has been a Board-Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist since 1996 and is a Fellow of the Education Leadership Institute. Throughout most of her career, she worked actively with colleagues at Washington University to develop diagnoses and treatment strategies related to Movement System Syndromes, with a focus on the upper quarter. Her clinical and research work focuses on patients with upper-quarter impairments.

Renee Ivens, PT, DPT

Lab Assistant

Dr. Ivens recently retired from her position as associate professor of physical therapy and orthopaedic surgery at Washington University. Before retiring, she was involved in the entry-level DPT curriculum and served as a mentor in clinical practice at the School of Medicine. Her clinical interests include movement dysfunction involving the spine and shoulder girdle and peripheral nerve dysfunction of the upper extremity. She is happy to share the knowledge and experience she gained while working alongside Dr. Shirley Sahrmann and her associates for over 25 years.

Renee Roth Powers, PT, DPT

Lab Assistant

Dr. Roth Powers owns a private practice in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. She provides a pathway for patients to return to their maximum possible level of physical performance. Her clinical practice is based on extensive study and implementation of Movement System Syndromes. Years of training, study and professional application of kinesiopathologic concepts have given her a highly skilled eye for identifying how and why human body mechanics go wrong and how to restore ideal movement effectively. She is a competitive amateur athlete with an extensive background in cycling, weight training and running.

Joan Vicente, PT, DPT, PhD, OCS

Virtual Lab Assistant — No Hands-On Instruction

Dr. Vicente is a Board-Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist. After completing the training herself, she served as a regional mentor for Washington University’s Clinical Fellowship in the Movement System. She currently works at UCLA Health as a rehabilitation clinical educator and recently completed her PhD at Rocky Mountain University.