Exercise into Pain? Rethinking Shoulder Rehab for Chronic Rotator Cuff Pain

Course Overview:
This 15-minute, evidence-based microlearning course helps physical therapy professionals navigate one of the most common clinical dilemmas: should patients exercise into pain? Drawing from a 2023 feasibility study published in BMJ Open, this course offers insights into the clinical and logistical realities of implementing painful exercise protocols for chronic rotator cuff-related shoulder pain (RCRSP).

What You’ll Learn:

• The theory and evidence behind “exercising into pain”

• Clinical challenges related to patient adherence and protocol consistency

• Practical takeaways for adapting rehab plans to real-world constraints

• How to use tools like the SPADI and patient education techniques to improve outcomes

Course Format:

• Read-for-credit model featuring:

  • Article summary

  • Downloadable infographic and clinical handouts

  • Brief podcast summary of the research article

  • 5-question quiz

CEU Credit:
Earn .25 CEUs upon successful quiz completion, course survey submission, and certificate generation.

Who Should Enroll:
Licensed Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants looking for concise, clinically relevant education that can be immediately applied in practice.

Delivery Method:
Asynchronous, on-demand course via MasteryPathways.org and LearnDash LMS. Accessible anytime.