2026 San Diego Lumbar Course
Movement System Syndromes of the Lumbar Spine
Instructor: Maiko Morotani, PT, DPT, OCS
Dates: April 18~19, 2026
9am ~ 5pm both days
Location: Scripps Rehabilitation Services
1092 N. El Camino Real, Encinitas CA 92024
The proposed Movement System Syndromes (classification system) has been shown to help clinicians identify the cause of patient’s neuromusculoskeletal pain. By using the systematic examination, physical therapists determine the movement system diagnosis and efficiently guide patients’ return to their prior level of function and optimize their movement. This course will provide the concepts and principles of Movement System Syndromes with focus on the lumbar spine. Interactions with hip will be considered during the examination and development of treatment plan. Participants will be able to practice systematic lower quarter examination to diagnose and identify the contributing factors by participating in lab. Key concepts of movement system syndromes are:
- Body takes the path of least resistance
- Relative flexibility (joint) and relative stiffness (active and passive tension of muscles)
- Micro-instability contributes to progression of neuromusculoskeletal pain
- How we perform everyday activities is crucial (repetitive movements / prolonged postures)
- Strong muscles do not equate to correct movement (neuromuscular activation influence)
- Regional interdependency
- The need for systematic examination and movement system diagnoses
Maiko Morotani, PT, DPT, OCS
Maiko Morotani is a physical therapist and president of Nexus Motion and Learn Movement System. She received her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Washington University in St. Louis and is a board certified clinical specialist in orthopaedic physical therapy. She has received the Alumni Achievement Award from Washington University in St. Louis in 2016 for her work in spreading Movement System Syndromes in the US and in Japan. She is one of 7 Japanese translators of Movement System Impairment Syndromes of the Extremities, Cervical, and Thoracic Spine (Mosby 2010 / Ishiyaku 2013). She assisted and translated Dr. Shirley Sahrmann’s lecture in Japan in 2008 and Dr. Sahrmann’s keynote speech at the 51st Congress of Japanese Society of Physical Therapy in 2016. She has mentored numerous fellows through the Movement System Clinical Fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis. She has been teaching the kinesiopathologic principles in Japan and locally in California since 2012. Currently, under Maiko’s leadership, Learn Movement System is organizing continuing education in movement system syndromes both virtually and in-person.
There are no course pages or recordings associated with this onsite course. You will be receiving handouts, classroom information, and other announcements in your email. Let's have fun with the hands-on sessions!
We will be receiving 13 hours of CEU from California PT Association.
