The Pro-Motion Physical Therapy Residency program enables exploration of the theoretical basis of musculoskeletal physical therapy and its application to the development of your clinical reasoning for advanced clinical practice. Using the process of clinical reasoning as its framework, this program integrates many approaches to clinical practice in this specialist area. It facilitates an evaluation of existing evidence and your clinical experiences through the exploration of the assessment and management of clinical presentations of the musculoskeletal patient. This Residency program will provide a professional development opportunity through didactic education, participation in research, professionally mentored patient care experiences and independent patient care.

Goals of the Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy Residency at Pro-Motion Physical Therapy

To provide a post professional, educational experience to physical therapists who will be better able to:

• critically evaluate previous professional development and plan future development within the framework of contemporary healthcare practice 
• critically analyze the theoretical and conceptual issues underpinning musculoskeletal physical therapy and the different approaches 
• critically evaluate approaches and methodologies for researching theoretical and practical issues relating to clinical practice
• utilize current evidence- based physical therapy information to make accurate physical therapy diagnoses/ prognosis and determine the appropriate plan of physical therapy care
• apply advanced physical therapy interventions for a physical therapy episode of care of musculoskeletal conditions
• use clinical reasoning skills to enable the effective management of complex clinical presentations
• formulate a justifiable research design and conduct analytically an investigation to address a given problem
• produce a written report worthy of scrutiny in both academic and clinical settings.

Pro-Motion Physical Therapy Residency - Curriculum:

Residents will receive training in advanced clinic practice using evidence based guidelines, small group classroom/ lab instruction, integrated and supervised independent study, one on one clinical supervision with clinical faculty while treating patients.

Schedule for education curriculum:

• 104 week/ residency over 24 months:
• 78-week education and clinical supervision – 18 months
• 26-week patient treatment with supervision/ problem solving (6 months)
• 1 week orientation
• 2 weeks non-education time at holidays.

Note: the 3-5 weeks of non-education time are still included in residency hours, these weeks are 100% patient care, and this time is calculated in total residency hours.

Breakdown of teaching hours during the 78 education weeks:

• Approximately 7 hours education, 36 hours treating patients, 5-10 hours self-study per week
• Mentoring: 3-4 hours a week (one on one with faculty) = 234 - 312 hours
• Clinical Investigations: 2.5 hours a week (functional measures, tracking of patient scores, research, journal clubs, peer reviews, case reviews) = 195 hours
• Course work Didactic learning and Lab: 3 hours a week (lectures and labs) = 234 hours

Breakdown of clinical practice hours during the 78 education weeks:

• 36 hours a week for the 78 weeks = 2808 hours
• 40 hours a week for orientation and holiday weeks = 120 hours
• Total clinical practice hours = 1436 *hours (1586 including mentoring hours)
• Total hours for program: 2928 hours*

Outline of Pro-Motion Physical Therapy Residency modules:

Sequence of Modules to be taught (6 weeks per module)

1. Low back pain / SI joint (Faculty)
2. Knee pain (Faculty)
3. Cervical spine pain (Faculty)
4. Headaches (Faculty)
5. Shoulder pain (Faculty and Residents)
6. Ankle pain (Faculty)
7. Hip pain (Faculty)
8. Thoracic spine pain (Residents)
9. Elbow pain (Residents)
10. Wrist and hand. (Faculty external)
11. Pain module (Faculty)
12. Clinical Reasoning module (Faculty)
Additional Modules (variable duration)
13. Pharmacology module (Faculty external)
14. Radiology module (Faculty external)
15. Research (Faculty external)
16. Sport injuries module (faculty)

Treatment Approach:

Treatment of each area will initially follow a Maitland approach, followed by introduction of additional philosophies as Mulligan, Kaltenborn, Sahrmann, Elvey, Jull, Hodges, Hides and Edwards. The individual patient presentation will determine the chosen treatment approach and will vary throughout the treatment process.

Residency Faculty Qualifications:

Paul Humphries

Clinical Instructor

• BSc (hons). Physiotherapy University of Brighton, UK 1993
• Master of Manipulative Therapy, Curtain University, Perth, Western Australia 1999
• Clinical supervisor for physiotherapy students 1997-2014
• Recipient of the Brian Edwards award for clinical excellence, Perth, Western Australia 2000
• Associate professor at Northwestern University School of Physical Therapy 2002-2003
• Head of education at University of Chicago Hospitals PT department 2001-2004
• Published author Lumbar spine and Cervicogenic headache
• Co-owner of private practice in Minooka, Illinois

Kari Kiviniemi

Clinical Instructor

• University certificate in Physiotherapy, School of Physiotherapy at Karolinska Institute, Stockholm Sweden 1991
• Clinical supervisor for physiotherapy students 1997-2012
• Master of Manipulative Therapy, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia 1999
• Certified Specialist in Orthopedic Manual Therapy, Sweden 2000
• Lecturer in clinical practice at Karolinska Institute, School of Physiotherapy Stockholm Sweden 2000 - 2008
• Lecturer in clinical practice at Karolinska Institute, Center of Sports medicine research and education, Stockholm, Sweden 2009-2016
• Certified Sports Physiotherapist Sweden
• Owner of a private practice in Södertälje, Sweden

Physical Therapists licensed or eligible for licensure, in the State of Illinois, are encouraged to apply. Only physical therapists licensed in the state of Illinois by the program start date will be hired.

Admission requirements:

1. This postgraduate program is designed for people who have completed a doctor in physical therapy (DPT) degree from a CAPTE accredited physical therapy program.
2. Successful completion of FSBPT’s National Physical Therapy examination (NPTE)
3. An applicant must demonstrate a strong commitment to professional development
4. Current CPR certification
5. Comply with all Pro-Motion Physical Therapy employment requirements.

Application process:

It is the policy of the residency program to recruit, admit and retain participants on a non-discriminatory basis. Pro-Motion Physical Therapy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, gender, age, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation and disability or health status.

How to Apply:

To complete the application process please submit a letter of intent, curriculum vitae, two letters of recommendation, and an online Pro-Motion Physical Therapy Residency application form. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD APPLICATION

The letter of intent must include the following:

1. goals/objectives for the residency program
2. a summary of prior clinical and educational experience
3. Short and long term goals for an orthopedic subspecialty.

Please include a current curriculum vitae or resume.

The 2 letters of recommendation must include two of the following:

1. Current or former supervisor, (if a recent graduate; from a current or former clinical instructor)
2. Instructor/faculty member from an accredited physical therapy program

The completed application should be forwarded no later than March 31st 2022 of the corresponding year through Pro-Motion Physical Therapy application process. Please contact the program coordinator for any other questions/concerns.

Interviews: All interviews will include behavioral, clinical questions, and patient scenarios. Please be prepared to discuss research ideas and to demonstrate patient interactions and treatment plans.

Pro-Motion Physical Therapy Residency Benefits and Paid Time Off Guidelines

Hours: The majority of onsite residency activities occur Monday through Friday between the hours of 7 AM and 9 PM. Residents are considered to be exempt employees who are salaried. Their work schedule will be flexible and allow for patient care, training, mentoring, and study time and preparation. Schedules are coordinated by the residency program coordinator and shall not exceed expectation of more than 50 hours /week of direct program participation. There will be additional personal study time required.

Weekend Coverage: Residents will be expected to work/attend lectures as needed throughout the course of the residency. This may be onsite or held virtually.

Supplemental work opportunities, e.g., covering weekends or extended weekly workdays are available for additional fund allocation to the student loan re-imbursement package for any resident whose residency expectations are being met. This opportunity is voluntary and not reflected in the total hour calculation given for the program.

Professional Liability Insurance: As an employee of Pro-Motion Physical Therapy, a resident is covered by the company’s professional liability policy. This coverage extends only to those activities that are required by their participation in the program.

Salary: Pro-Motion Physical Therapy offers a competitive salary and benefits package. As a resident in the program, your salary for the year of the residency program is offset according to the cost of maintaining the program.

After the 6-month probationary period, a $300 continuing education benefit from Pro-Motion Physical Therapy will be available per annum.

No additional monies are allocated for outside continuing education, travel or parking fees to any observations/outside facilities, living expenses, licensure fees, or professional dues.

Paid Time Off (PTO) Guidelines

Physical Therapy Residents are full time employees of Pro-Motion Physical Therapy. They will be eligible to take 10 days of paid time off per year, with the approval of the residency program coordinator. Six organizational holidays will also be paid; New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. PTO Requests must be submitted for review and approval at minimum 60 days in advance.

Because of the extensive education and curriculum structure of the residency positions, it is very challenging to provide the residents with extended time (more than 5 consecutive workdays) off throughout the duration of the residency program.

1. As a full-time employee, how is the resident compensated? Is there a separate resident rate during residency hours? Or is the resident on a "normal" salary with additional years of commitment after the residency ends? Is there tuition involved or is it waived by being a full time employee?

The residency position is a full time salaried position. The level of compensation is less than a full time treating therapist and the difference in pay is what it costs Pro-Motion Physical Therapy to educate the resident. There are will be the opportunity for a full time job position at Pro-Motion Physical Therapy upon completion of the program.

2. How many people will be accepted into the program each year?

2 residents

3. Are the 3 hours of didactic coursework each week in a classroom format? If so, is that during the working week or on the weekend?

This is generally presented during the work week, occasionally on a weekend if faculty schedule requires.

4. Who are the faculty of this program and who are the mentors?

Faculty and mentors are the same – they are employees Pro-Motion Physical Therapy, and for some modules, we have additional domestic and international faculty from outside clinics/universities. During each section the faculty who is teaching is also mentoring the resident for at least 2 hours/week.

5. Do residents work weekends?

Yes, residents work weekends as needed either to complete patient treatments or to participate in research projects.

6. How is each resident evaluated through the Residency?

Residents are evaluate through a number of written assignments, examinations, written, oral and practical, live patient examinations and a final project (written case study with oral presentation) Research paper / evidence based treatment approach for a body area.

Accreditation: Pro-Motion Physical Therapy Residency chose not to be accredited

The Residency Program at Pro-Motion Physical Therapy is not an accredited program. The reasoning behind this decision is accreditation would limit the scope of the program.

The Pro-Motion Physical Therapy residency program encompasses the evaluation and treatment of all musculoskeletal patients and as such will encompass spinal, and peripheral body parts to include orthopedic and sports patients.