An Osteopathic Approach to School-Aged Kids

Full Curriculum

Session 1

Understanding Neurodivergence in Clinical Practice

Presenter: Lynsey Taylor

Learning Objectives:

  • Develop clarity around neurodivergent terminology

  • Understand appropriate referral pathway

  • Identify practical strategies to support neurodivergent children in clinical practice

  • Improve practitioner confidence in managing behavioural and sensory presentations

Topics Covered:

Neurodivergent Language & Definitions

  • What is neurodivergence?

  • Strength-based vs deficit-based language

  • Clinical implications

Conditions & Presentations

  • Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD)

  • Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)

  • ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder)

  • Time blindness

  • Interoception difficulties

  • Mood regulation challenges

Sensory & Processing Considerations

  • Visual processing differences

  • Auditory processing differences

  • Tactile defensiveness

  • Proprioceptive seeking and avoidance

  • Vestibular seeking and avoidance

Clinical Application

  • When and who to refer to

  • Practical strategies within scope of practice

  • Supporting families in clinic

Session 2

Primitive Reflexes & Neurodevelopment

Presenter: Lynsey Taylor

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand retained primitive reflexes in autism and ADHD

  • Learn practical assessment tools

  • Develop exercise-based intervention programs

Topics Covered:

Primitive Reflex Assessment Tool

  • Screening methods for clinical use

Reflexes Covered

  • MORO reflex

  • TLR (Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex)

  • ATNR (Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex)

  • Gallant reflex

Intervention Planning

  • Creating gross motor programs

  • Creating fine motor programs

  • Adapting exercises for neurodivergent children

  • Addressing motor delays within scope

Session 3

Concussion in Children

Presenter: Jamie Taylor

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand paediatric concussion definitions and research

  • Clarify the practitioner’s role within conservative medical management

  • Apply osteopathic techniques safely and appropriately

Topics Covered:

Foundations

  • What is concussion?

  • Current research in manual therapy

  • Role of the practitioner in collaborative care

Assessment

  • Simple clinical assessment tools

  • Red flags and referral pathways

Osteopathic Approaches

  • Upper cervical indirect technique

  • Vagal balancing via cervical spine

  • Upper rib complex indirect techniques

Session 4

Osteopathic Management of Chondritis & Lower Limb Dysfunction

Presenter: Jamie Taylor

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand onset and assessment of paediatric chondritis and common lower limb growth-related conditions

  • Apply indirect and fascial techniques in the management of thoracic and lower limb dysfunction

  • Identify compensatory patterns linking thoracic, rib, knee, fibular, ankle and foot mechanics

  • Develop safe, age-appropriate osteopathic treatment plans for growing and active children

  • Integrate regional and global biomechanical approaches in paediatric musculoskeletal presentations

Topics Covered:

1. Clinical Overview of Paediatric Chondritis & Lower Limb Conditions

  • Common mechanisms of onset

  • Growth-related biomechanical stressors

  • Paediatric chest wall pain including chondritis presentations

  • Common lower limb growth-related conditions (e.g. Sever’s disease, Osgood-Schlatter presentations, activity-related knee pain)

  • Differentiating inflammatory vs mechanical drivers

  • Red flags and referral considerations

2. Assessment Framework: Thoracic spine and rib cage assessment

  • Respiratory mechanics and rib motion

  • Knee, fibular head and ankle biomechanics

  • Foot posture and load transfer through the lower limb

  • Gait considerations in active children

  • Functional screening tools

3. Osteopathic Treatment Approaches

  • Thoracic, Rib & Lower Limb Techniques:

    • BLT decompression of the thoracic spine

    • Indirect rib release

    • A/P indirect release techniques

  • Lower Limb Techniques:

    • Indirect knee balancing

    • Fibular head release (indirect)

    • Ankle indirect techniques

    • Fascial release for lower limb chains

4. Integrating Thoracic–Lower Limb Connections

  • Fascial continuity from rib cage to lower limb

  • Managing load transfer in sport and growth phases

  • Addressing compensatory strategies

5. Clinical Application: Case-based discussion

  • Treatment sequencing

  • Home advice and load modification strategies

  • Return-to-activity considerations

Session 5

Osteopathic Management of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)

Presenter: Jamie Taylor

Learning Objectives:

  • Define Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) in paediatric populations

  • Understand current best-practice management approaches

  • Interpret current research and evidence frameworks

  • Apply the biopsychosocial triggering model clinically

  • Recognise the role of concussion, viral load, and allostatic overload in symptom presentation

  • Identify appropriate referral pathways and collaborative care models

  • Develop supportive, regulation-based management strategies for children and families

Topics Covered:

1. Understanding FND in Children

  • What is FND?

  • Diagnostic clarity vs exclusion models

  • Common paediatric presentations

  • Management framework: management not cure

2. Research & Theoretical Models

  • Current research overview

  • Evidence supporting a biopsychosocial triggering model

  • Decompensated allostatic load

  • Viral load and concussion connection

  • Why traditional behavioural models are failing DFND children

3. Clinical Assessment

  • Simple clinical assessment tools

  • Recognising stress physiology patterns

  • Identifying co-existing neurodivergence

  • Screening for concussion history

  • Red flags and when to refer

4. Osteopathic Approach

  • Regulation-focused care

  • Cranial base: common findings and treatment considerations

  • Autonomic balancing approaches

  • Gentle indirect techniques

  • Supporting vagal tone

5. Management Strategies

  • Developmental exercises to support symptom regulation

  • Home-based activities for parents

  • Co-regulation strategies for chronic stress states

  • Communication frameworks for families

  • Interdisciplinary collaboration

6. Case-Based Application

  • Treatment planning examples

  • Setting realistic expectations

  • Monitoring progress and flare management

Session 6

Integrated Paediatric Clinical Application & Case Workshops

Presenters: Lynsey Taylor & Jamie Taylor

Learning Objectives:

  • Integrate neurodivergence, retained reflexes, concussion, chondritis, and FND into cohesive clinical reasoning

  • Develop structured paediatric treatment plans

  • Strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration skills

  • Apply regulation-based and developmental models in practice

Topics Covered:

1. Case Integration Workshops

  • Neurodivergent child with retained reflexes

  • Post-concussion child with autonomic dysregulation

  • Lower limb dysfunction in active child

  • FND presentation with overlapping concussion history

2. Clinical Reasoning Framework

  • Identifying primary driver vs compensatory patterns

  • Load vs regulation lens

  • Structural vs autonomic contributors

  • Developmental considerations in ages 6–12

3. Treatment Planning

  • Prioritising treatment targets

  • Session sequencing

  • When to treat locally vs globally

  • Determining frequency and duration of care

4. Collaborative Practice

  • Referral pathways

  • Working with GPs, paediatricians, psychologists, physiotherapists, and schools

  • Communicating with parents in a strengths-based model

5. Practical Application & Q&A

  • Technique refinement

  • Troubleshooting challenging presentations

  • Open discussion and clinical pearls

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