The Scoliosis Online Master Course
Isico introduced in 2016 a yearly distance-learning course that is available to students worldwide. The programme was designed to provide professionals with specialised training in the Principles and Practice of Scoliosis Conservative Treatment (PPSCT), taught by a faculty comprised of some of the world's foremost authorities in the area today. In planning the course, we drew on the decade of experience we had acquired through our residential Master course.
The past editions proved to be enormously successful and saw participants from all continents in an ongoing, fruitful, and captivating educational experience.
Isico is excited to impart to course participants its extensive clinical and scientific knowledge, with the ultimate goal of improving worldwide accessibility of high-quality conservative treatments with a high success rate on a global scale.
Through the discussion of actual clinical situations, the Isico professionals break down their treatment methods and tactics into a more manageable format for the course participants. Still, participants are also provided a broad review of the key therapy procedures that have been demonstrated to be beneficial by the best medical specialists across the world.
To acquire a broad understanding of the course themes, watch Stefano Negrini's conclusive live lecture of a past edition, to gain a general idea of the course subjects.
Course organisation
The PPSCT course is delivered entirely online and can be self-administered through a dedicated online learning platform. It is divided into 16 modules, each lasting two or three weeks. Typically, a single module consists of three 45-minute recorded theoretical lectures that participants can listen to at any time. To dive deeper into the topics covered in these video lectures by our outstanding faculty, you can explore the related in-depth scientific publications.
Additionally, the module contains Discussion Group sessions that concentrate on particular facets of the subject matter covered. The goals of these discussions are to boost student involvement and enhance the educational experience. Participants must defend their arguments using pertinent references and offer justification for their opinions.
A coordinator leads an online live session at the conclusion of each module, during which clinical cases chosen in accordance with the themes covered in the module and the discussion group sessions are discussed. The 60-minute live sessions (one every two or three weeks) are the only components of the course that require participants to be online at a set time and date.
The 60-minute Live sessions (one every two or three weeks) are the only components of the course that require participants to be present online in real time at a specific date/time.
Follow this link for the program of the edition 2024
Educational goals
- To achieve the ability to provide good-quality care over time to patients affected by spinal deformities, especially children and adolescents
- To grasp the theoretical basis of such care
- To learn the ISICO approach to patient assessment and the treatment decision process
- To gain a solid basic understanding of the main current treatment techniques
- To become familiar with conservative treatments, particularly SEAS (exercises) and SPoRT (braces), and when and how to prescribe them.
Topics
The PPSCT course focuses on scoliosis at all ages (mainly idiopathic, although it also provides insight into secondary scoliosis) and examines the following topics:
- Etiopathogenesis
- Classification
- Assessment
- Therapeutic choices
- Conservative treatment (exercises, braces)
- Basic notions of surgery
- X-ray measurements and related concerns
- Screening
- Why scoliosis has to be treated
- Clinical measurements and measurement errors
- Sport and scoliosis
- Posture and scoliosis
- How to manage aesthetics
- Compliance to treatment
- The therapeutic team
- The role of psychology in bracing
Qualifications for the Course
Even though the PPSCT course was originally designed for physicians to address their need for a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the art in the diagnosis and treatment of scoliosis, its content may also be of interest to other professionals involved in the treatment of this condition. Thus, applications from physiotherapists, orthotists, PhD candidates, and other professionals are also welcome. The various learning activities are predicated on the knowledge that course participants have a background in medicine, which all applicants must be aware of.
The way the course is graded is by active participation in the discussion groups and live sessions; points are awarded according to this system. A minimum number of points must be obtained in order to receive at least the Attendance-Certificate.
Reaching this threshold entitles to participate in the final PPSCT examination. A careful evaluation of the work carried out during the course and the results of the final exam will determine the participants' final grade.
Important note
A computer (Mac/PC) or tablet (Android/Mac) and a stable internet connection are required to access the eLearning content and virtual live sessions.
