Access details: All necessary information will be sent from mokymai@empatija.lt 1–2 business days before the training.

Course Description:

For the first time, Dr. Donald A. Neumann and Mr. Rolandas Kesminas, both accomplished physiotherapists, will co-present a continuing education course featuring the foundation of anatomy and kinesiology of the axial skeleton, combined with treatment strategies aimed at improving pain-free movement. The course will focus on the craniocervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions.

This 12-hour online course will be presented in English via Zoom on three dates: February 2, 9, and 16, 2027. Participants will receive detailed PDF handouts of lecture materials. Lecture sessions will be held from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM (Vilnius time). Scheduled breaks, question-and-answer sessions, and open group discussions will be integrated into each class session.

This course combines the extensive experience of two respected experts in the field of physiotherapy. Dr. Neumann, Professor Emeritus at Marquette University in the United States, will share insights gained from more than 40 years of teaching and writing on the anatomy and kinesiology of the axial skeleton. Much of his presentation material and many of the images are derived from his internationally acclaimed textbook, Neumann’s Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System (4th ed.), published by Elsevier in 2025.

Mr. Kesminas, based in Kaunas, Lithuania, brings more than 20 years of clinical experience as a physiotherapist. He is highly regarded for his ability to integrate anatomy-based kinesiology with skilled manual therapy, particularly in the treatment of spinal disorders. Mr. Kesminas trained and studied in the United States under both Dr. Don Neumann and Dr. Guy Simoneau as part of a one-year Fulbright Fellowship.

This course will be beneficial for physical therapists, physicians, personal and athletic trainers, coaches, yoga and Pilate instructors, and other professionals who deal with movement and function of the axial skeleton.

Course Objectives :   

After the completion of this course, participants shall be able to:

1) Describe how the specific regional anatomy of the cervical through lumbar regions strongly influences the primary planes and extent of motion.
2) Cite the anatomy and function of ligaments and intervertebral discs of the spine.
3) Explain how the motions of the pelvis (and hip) alter the curvature, mechanics, and motions at the lumbar region, and ultimately across the entire spine.
4) Cite the primary muscular function and innervation of motions across the spine.
5) Apply principles of spinal kinesiology and arthrokinematics to the clinical assessment of posture, movement restrictions, and regional spinal dysfunction.
6) Explain the role of ligamentous, discal, muscular, and neural tissues in the generation and modulation of pain, muscle activity, and movement dysfunction.
7) Integrate spinal kinesiology principles when selecting and applying manual therapy techniques, movement-based interventions, and therapeutic exercises for spinal disorders.
8) Analyse the effects of posture, mechanical loading, muscle function, and motor control on spinal movement and utilize this knowledge to develop evidence-informed rehabilitation strategies.

Time Agenda: 

SESSION I
February, 2, 2027 Tuesday 5-9PM (Lithuania time)

– Osteology, Arthrology and Kinematics of the Spine (Part 1)
– Kinesiology in the Assessment of Spinal Posture and Movement
– 30 minutes Q & A and Discussion

SESSION II
February 9, 2027 Tuesday 5-9PM

– Osteology, Arthrology and Kinematics of the Spine (Part 2)
– Introduction to Muscle and Function
– Clinical Applications of Spinal Anatomy, Arthrokinematics, and Tissue Biomechanics
– 30 minutes Q & A and Discussion

SESSION III
February 16 2027 Tuesday 5-9PM

– Muscle and Joint Interactions across the Spine
– Application of Muscle Kinesiology to Exercise, Manual Therapy, and Rehabilitation of Spinal Disorders
– 30 minutes Q & A and Discussion

Donald A. Neumann, PhD, PT, FAPTA
Dr. Neumann received a B.S. in physical therapy from the University of Florida. After several years of practice and teaching in rehabilitation of people with spinal cord injury, he received a Ph.D. in Exercise Science from the University of Iowa. In 1986, he joined Marquette University where he is currently Professor Emeritus in the Department of Physical Therapy. His areas of teaching at the university include kinesiology and anatomy. Donald has received several of the highest awards offered by the American Physical Therapy Association for his teaching, writing, research, and international service. Dr. Neumann received a Teacher of the Year Award at Marquette University and was named Wisconsin’s College Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation. In 2007, Dr. Neumann received an Honorary Doctorate from Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education (LKKA), Kaunas, LT.

Dr. Neumann has received Fulbright Scholarships to teach kinesiology in Lithuania, Hungary, Japan, and Ireland. He is the author of Neumann’s Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System (4th ed), published by Elsevier, 2025. He has authored chapter on the Hip and Pelvis, published in the 41st, 42sd, and 43rd editions of Gray’s Anatomy (editor Standring).

Rolandas Kesminas, PT, MS
Mr. Kesminas received a B.S. in Physical Therapy from the Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education (now Lithuanian Sports University) in 2002 and a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation in 2004. During his graduate studies, he was awarded an Erasmus Scholarship and completed a European degree program in Adapted Physical Activity. In 2005, he received a Fulbright Scholarship to study physical therapy in the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at Marquette University (USA), with a specialization in orthopedic and sports physical therapy.

In 2006, Kesminas joined Lithuanian Sports University (LSU), where he currently serves as a Clinical Lecturer in the Master’s Degree Physiotherapy Program. His teaching focuses on evidence-based practice and musculoskeletal rehabilitation.

Kesminas is also a full-time clinician at Kuršių Klinika in Kaunas, Lithuania. He specializes in the assessment and treatment of spinal and extremity musculoskeletal disorders. In addition to his university teaching, he develops and delivers continuing education courses for rehabilitation professionals in Lithuania and is a speaker at national and international conferences on musculoskeletal rehabilitation, manual therapy, and pain science.