This didactic program addresses the typical development of postural alignment and control and its significance in healthy and pathologic sensorimotor and orthopedic development. The discussion includes a review of sciences of optimum postural alignment, control, and movement acquisition including kinesiology, biomechanics, sensory input, physiologic adaptation, massed practice, and treatment principles drawn from S.A. Sahrmann’s Movement Systems Analysis.
Instructor Beverly Cusick, PT, MS, NDT, COF then suggests science-based management strategies using TheraTogs™ systems to improve functioning torso alignment in daily life with photographs and videotaped cases.
Course Description: Download the full Course Description (PDF).
Course Level: This course is appropriate for qualified clinicians from Student through Intermediate levels.
Target Audience: This course is intended to enhance the knowledge of a range of qualified clinicians who are likely to work together to maximize physical function, including: physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, orthotists, occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants and physiatrists.
Once you have registered, you will have 60 days to review the course material. Each section must be completed before moving on to the next, but you can review any completed section at any time
In addition to offering a substantial investment in your professional development, the Posture & Torso Alignment online course delivers 4.75 contact hours of Cusick-level content.
Certificates will be emailed within 2 weeks to those who complete all sessions, record 90% or better on all quizzes, and submit their online evaluation.
For Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistant:
FLORIDA: Progressive Gaitways is a rule approved provider of the PT Board of Florida #50-45480. (4.5 hours)
CALIFORNIA: Progressive Gaitways has been approved as a provider of continuing education for Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants in California (CA) by Redefine Health Education, a recognized approval agency of the Physical Therapy Board of CA. (4.75 hours)
TEXAS: This course is approved for 4.75 contact hours by the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners through March 1, 2026. Course #78631TX.
Courses approved by other state boards in the following jurisdictions are likely accepted for licensure credit based on the state regulation.
AL | AK | AR | CO | CT | DE | GA | HI | ID | IN | IA | KS | KY | ME | MA | MI | MO | MT | NE | NH | NC | ND | OR | PA | RI | SC | SD | TN | UT | VT | VA | VI | WA | WI | WY
APTA State Chapter Approvals
ILLINOIS: This course is approved for 4.5 contact hours by the Illinois Physical Therapy Association through August 1, 2025. Course approval number 593-9291.
NOTE: Courses approved by other APTA chapters in the following jurisdictions are likely accepted for licensure credit based on the state regulation.
AZ | DC | MD | MS | NM
Please reach out to your state licensing board to confirm the currency and accuracy of this information. If you have a specific question about CEU approval for this course in your state, please direct your inquiry to [email protected]
The following states are not pre-approved: LA, MN, NV, NY, OK, WV
Participants licensed in states not pre-approved may file for individual approval using the instructions on this document.
Orthotists: The Posture & Torso Alignment course has been approved for 4.75 scientific contact hours by ABC.
For Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants: Progressive GaitWays, LLC is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. PD activity approval ID# 7689. This Distance Learning-Independent activity is offered for .475 CEUs, an intermediate learning level, in the OT Service Delivery and Foundational Knowledge categories. AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.
Your learning objectives for this course include the following....
Name the primary benefit of antigravity righting reactions to body COM (weight) shifts in daily function.
Name the three planes of acquisition of antigravity muscle function and control in the neck and torso in sequential order.
Name the most fundamental component of motor development.
Relate postural alignment to somatosensory input from loaded joints and segments.
Describe the relationship between postural control and the acquisition and functional limb use.
Compare the status of sensory processing in typically developing children to that of children with hypotonia and cerebral palsy.
Describe the physiologic effects of massed practice of balance and movement skills on the developing musculoskeletal system.
Explain Sahrmann’s attention to muscle recruitment strategies in the management of muscle contractures.
Explain Sahrmann’s focus on shortening the dominant muscles and using them in their shortened state before attempting to lengthen the shortened, dominant muscles.
Apply one principle from each of the sciences discussed in this program to the use of TheraTogs systems designed to improve functioning torso alignment in daily life.
Group discounts available: contact [email protected] for details.
Regular price
Welcome to the course!
Introduction
Section 1. Foundations in Science: Postural Control Acquisition & Significance
Section 2. Building the Foundation
Section 3. Building Upon the Foundation
Section 4. Postural Control Deficit in Cerebral Palsy
Section 5. Significance of Trunk Control in Cerebral Palsy
Session 1: Wrapping Up
A word on the quizzes
Session 1: Review Quiz
Section 6. Bringing MSA to Neuromusculo-skeletal Management
Section 7. Muscle Imbalance in Children with Cerebral Palsy
Section 8. MSA-Based Treatment Principles
Section 9. Clinical Evidence of MSA-Based Interventions
Session 2: Review Quiz
Section 10. Postural Assessments: Introduction
Section 11. Resting Posture: Prone
Section 12. Resting Posture: Supine
Section 13. Resting Posture: Sitting
Section 14. Resting Posture: Quadruped
Section 15. Resting Posture: Standing
Section 16. Assess & Address the Trunk First
Session 3: Review Quiz
Section 17. On TheraTogs Research
Section 18. TheraTogs Effects: Postural & Functioning Alignment
Section 19. TheraTogs Effects: Muscle Recruitment
Section 20. TheraTogs Effects: Lower Extremity Muscle Extensibility
Section 21. TheraTogs Effects: Sitting / Standing Balance
Section 22. TheraTogs Effects: Muscle Strength
Section 23. TheraTogs Effects: Motor Skills Acquisition
Section 24. Research: Closing Considerations
Session 4: Review Quiz
Section 25. Product Contents, Properties, Limitations & Contraindications
Section 26. Routine Use Requirements
Section 27. Training Caregivers Towards Compliance
Section 28. Managing TheraTogs Effectively
Section 29. The Dragonfly TLSO
Sessions 5 & 6: Review Quiz
Beverly (Billi) Cusick PT, MS, NDT, COF/BOC is an internationally known pediatric physical therapist whose specialty is the orthopedic development and orthotic management of children with cerebral palsy and other neuromotor deficits.
She has been teaching these and related topics since 1978 - including presentations by invitation for the APTA, AACPDM, AOPA, and AAOP and more than 460 full programs and workshops worldwide.
Ms. Cusick received her BS in PT from Bouve College at Northeastern University in Boston, MA in 1972, and her MS in Clinical and College Teaching for Allied Health Professionals from the University of Kentucky in Lexington in 1988. She is an Associate Professor for the Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions – Pediatrics Program – Provo, Utah (2006-present) and is NDT basic- and baby-trained.
Group discounts available: contact [email protected] for details.
Regular price
Financial Disclosure
Instructor Beverly Cusick PT, MS, NDT, COF/BOC is the inventor of TheraTogs orthotic garment systems and co-founder of TheraTogs, Inc. She is also the co-founder and President of Progressive GaitWays, LLC. She possesses a financial interest in both companies.
