Oakstone Orthopedics for Non-Orthopedists
Examination · Imaging · Fractures · Conservative Care · Referral Decisions
Build greater confidence evaluating and managing everyday orthopedic and musculoskeletal complaints—from back pain and sprains to arthritis, fractures, sports injuries, rehabilitation, and chronic pain.
Handle common musculoskeletal complaints with greater confidence
Orthopedic complaints are part of everyday frontline practice, yet deciding what to examine, which imaging to order, how to manage the injury, and when to refer can be challenging.
This practical course brings those decisions together through expert-led teaching covering regional examination, common pathology, fractures, sports injuries, rehabilitation, bracing, injections, imaging, pain, and patient-centered care.
The curriculum is designed for clinicians who need a clear, evidence-based approach without becoming orthopedic specialists.
- Perform focused musculoskeletal examinations by body region
- Select and interpret appropriate initial imaging
- Recognize common fractures and begin initial management
- Compare conservative treatment with surgical referral
- Apply practical rehabilitation, bracing, injection, and pain strategies
Why This Course Matters
Move from the first complaint to a safer, more organized management plan.
The course helps frontline clinicians connect history, physical examination, imaging, treatment, rehabilitation, and specialty referral across common orthopedic presentations.
Improve examination skills
Review practical examinations of the hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, spine, knee, foot, and ankle.
Make better imaging decisions
Learn what to order, when to order it, and how imaging fits into the evaluation of common musculoskeletal complaints.
Manage injuries confidently
Strengthen your initial approach to fractures, soft-tissue injuries, overuse problems, and sports-related conditions.
Know when to refer
Recognize red flags, compare conservative and surgical care, and identify cases requiring orthopedic or specialty evaluation.
Complete Orthopedic Curriculum
Open each section to review the sessions and expert faculty.
Musculoskeletal Examination7 sessions
Foundational terminology and examination by body region
- Jeanne M. Doperak, DOFoundations
Evaluating the MSK System — Defining Structures and Terminology
- Daiva Mitchell, MDUpper Extremity
Hand, Wrist and Elbow Examination
- Colleen McFarland, MDShoulder
Shoulder Examination
- Daniel R. Lueders, MDHip
Hip Examination
- Aaron Li, MDSpine
Comprehensive Spine Examination
- Adam Cook, DOKnee
Knee Examination
- Vatsal Gandhi, DOFoot & Ankle
Foot and Ankle Examination
Lower Extremity and Sports Conditions10 sessions
Foot, ankle, knee, hip, core, and athletic conditions
- Jeffrey R. Bytomski, DOFoot
Common Foot Pathology and Treatment
- Mark Rogers, DO, CAQSM, FAAFP, FAOASMAnkle
Common Ankle Pathology and Treatment
- Brian D. Cruickshank, MDKnee
Knee Injuries — Overuse and Acute
- Elizabeth P. Herrman, DO & Jonathan D. Hughes, MDPoint-Counterpoint
Surgery vs Conservative Care for Patellar Instability
- Douglas Comeau, DO & Robert J. Nascimento, MDPoint-Counterpoint
Surgery vs Conservative Care for Meniscal Tears
- Craig S. Mauro, MDHip
FAI and Labral Tears of the Hip
- Craig S. Mauro, MD & Aaron V. Mares, MDPoint-Counterpoint
Surgery vs Conservative Care for Hip Labral Tears
- Mark Sakr, DO, CAQSMHip
Common Hip Issues
- Douglas A. Reeves, Jr., MDCore Injury
Athletic Pubalgia and Other Core Issues
- Kelley A. Anderson, DOBone Stress
Stress Fractures
Upper Extremity, Spine and Thorax9 sessions
Hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder, spine, ribs, and nerve conditions
- John M. MacKnight, MD, FACSMHand & Wrist
Hand and Wrist Pathology and Treatment
- Frederick E. Soliman, DOElbow
Elbow Pathology and Treatment
- Delmas Bolin, MD, PhDShoulder
Common Shoulder Issues: Diagnosis and Treatment
- Bryson P. Lesniak, MD & Jeanne M. Doperak, DOPoint-Counterpoint
Surgery vs Conservative Care for Shoulder Instability
- Stephen J. Rabuck, MD & Jeanne M. Doperak, DOPoint-Counterpoint
Rotator Cuff Tears: Surgical and Non-Surgical Considerations
- Molly B. Gruber, DO, CAQSMThorax
Clavicle, Rib, and Upper Thorax Issues
- Hamza Raja, MDSpine
Lumbar Spine
- Matthew David Maxwell, MD, MSSpine
Cervical Spine
- Ryan P. Nussbaum, MDNeuromuscular
Nerve Entrapments
Special Populations and Clinical Challenges7 sessions
Youth, aging, emergency, mental health, nutrition, and complex presentations
- Anne Marie Zeller, DOSports Medicine
Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports (RED-S)
- Jeanne M. Doperak, DOAging Athlete
Arthritis and the Aging Athlete
- Jeffrey Feden, MDEmergency Care
Sideline Emergencies
- Christopher Bullers, MD, CAQSMSoft Tissue
Muscle Injuries
- Jennifer Daily, MD, CAQSM, FAAFPPediatrics
Growth Plate Injuries and Other Pediatric Population Problems
- Alexandra Salerno, LPC, NCCMental Health
Impacts of Chronic Pain and Injury on Mental Health
- Kayla Martin, MS, RD, CSSD, LDNNutrition
Nutrition and Healing
Imaging, Procedures and Advanced Tools6 sessions
Ultrasound, imaging, injections, orthobiologics, tumors, and practical diagnostics
- Everett Wilson, DO, AOBFP, AOASMRegenerative Medicine
Orthobiologics — Where Have We Been and Where Are We Going?
- Sean P. Carnahan, DO, CAQSM, Dip. IOCUltrasound
Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Clinical Applications
- Ryan D. Schreiter, DOImaging
What to Order and When — Musculoskeletal Guide to Imaging
- Timothy W. Dancy, MDBone Pathology
Common Bone Tumors
- Jeffrey D. Fleming, DOProcedures
Common Injections
- Ryan Wilson, DOSupport Devices
Bracing Solutions
Fractures and Rehabilitation5 sessions
Fracture care, rehabilitation, movement, and return to function
- Margaret E. Gibson, MD, FAMSSM, FAAFPFracture Care
Fracture Diagnosis and Care — Lower Extremities
- Mark R. Wisthoff, DOFracture Care
Fracture Diagnosis and Care of the Upper Extremities
- Richard Joreitz, PT, DPT, ATCRehabilitation
Physical Therapy — Principles of Rehabilitation
- Sarah Ostop, PT, DPTMovement
Gait Analysis
- Ryan Wilson, DOSupport
Bracing Solutions
A practical review across everyday musculoskeletal care
Each track connects examination, diagnosis, treatment, and referral.
Examination
Focused regional examinations of the upper extremity, lower extremity, hip, and spine.
Imaging
Appropriate test selection, interpretation, fracture recognition, and diagnostic decision-making.
Treatment
Conservative care, injections, bracing, rehabilitation, pain management, and activity modification.
Referral
Red flags, urgent imaging, specialty referral, and surgical versus non-surgical considerations.
Learning objectives and intended audience
A practical educational review for clinicians who routinely encounter orthopedic complaints.
Learning Objectives
After completing this course, participants should be able to:
- Describe the initial evaluation of common musculoskeletal complaints.
- Differentiate common conditions using history and mechanism of injury.
- Identify red flags requiring urgent imaging or specialty referral.
- Select appropriate initial imaging for common presentations.
- Outline evidence-based non-operative management strategies.
- Make appropriate conservative management and referral decisions.
- Apply musculoskeletal care principles to chronic and overuse conditions.
- Integrate assessment, management, and referral into routine practice.
Who Should Participate
This educational activity is designed for frontline clinicians interested in improving their evaluation and management of orthopedic and musculoskeletal conditions.
Course Director
Learn from an experienced primary care sports medicine physician and educator.
Associate Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship Director, UPMC
Team Physician, University of Pittsburgh Athletics and Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Meet the multidisciplinary faculty
Specialists in sports medicine, orthopedic surgery, rehabilitation, imaging, emergency medicine, nutrition, and behavioral health.
Kelley A. Anderson, DO
Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and sports medicine physician, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Delmas Bolin, MD, PhD
Professor of Sports and Family Medicine and team physician serving collegiate and professional athletes.
Jeffrey R. Bytomski, DO
Professor, Department of Community Health and Family Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine.
Sean P. Carnahan, DO, CAQSM
Orthopaedic sports medicine specialist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Douglas Comeau, DO
Sports medicine physician, educator, and team physician for Boston College and the Boston Bruins.
Brian D. Cruickshank, MD
Sports medicine physician and team physician at Stony Brook University.
Jennifer Daily, MD, CAQSM
Professor and program director in primary care sports medicine at the University of Louisville.
Margaret E. Gibson, MD
Professor, vice chair, and sports medicine fellowship director at the University of Missouri–Kansas City.
Bryson P. Lesniak, MD
Orthopaedic sports medicine surgeon and team physician for University of Pittsburgh Athletics.
John M. MacKnight, MD, FACSM
Professor, sports medicine medical director, and head team physician at the University of Virginia.
Craig S. Mauro, MD
Orthopaedic sports medicine specialist and assistant team physician for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Robert J. Nascimento, MD
Chief of Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery and team physician for Boston-area collegiate and professional teams.
Build a clearer approach to everyday orthopedic complaints
Review the full curriculum and strengthen your examination, imaging, treatment, rehabilitation, and referral decisions.
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