Foot & Ankle Foundations: Assessment and Treatment for the Lower Kinetic Chain
Feb 3, 2026 11:18 AM - Sep 18, 2026 12:00 AM
Continuing Education
Foot & Ankle Foundations:
Assessment and Treatment for the Lower Kinetic Chain
Instructors:
MARK BEATTY, BMR(PT), MCISC
RUSS HORBAL BMR. PT, BPE., ED (CERT.), CAT (RET.)
DIPLOMASPORT PHYSIOTHERAPY
Date: October 4, 2026
Course Hours: 8:00am-4:30pm, CST
Location: Pan Am Rehabilitation Servies - 75 Poseidon Bay
COURSE OVERVIEW:
This one-day clinical skills course provides physiotherapists with a practical, evidence-informed framework for assessing and treating foot and ankle dysfunction within the broader lower-limb kinetic chain. The course begins with a review of functional biomechanics in weightbearing, highlighting expected movement patterns and how hypo- or hypermobility can alter load distribution and contribute to tissue stress beyond adaptive capacity.
Participants will observe and practice key assessment strategies, with emphasis on high-value clinical “pearls” for common foot and ankle presentations. Treatment approaches will be explored through case-based discussions, including practical interventions accessible to all clinicians—such as footwear considerations and effective over-the-counter support options.
OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this course, attendees will leave with:
• Sharpened assessment skills.
• Practical intervention strategies.
• A clearer understanding of how to integrate foot and ankle biomechanics into comprehensive, kinetic chair rehabilitation.
TARGET AUDIENCE:
This course in intended for any physiotherapists who wish to review and better understand foot and ankle biomechanics, as well as common conditions and simple treatment options for foot and ankle impairments. This material will be relevant for physiotherapists with varying levels of experience.
INSTRUCTORS:
MARK BEATTY, BMR(PT), MCISC
Mark graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1997 with a Bachelor in Medical Rehabilitation in Physical Therapy. After working in Fort Frances Ontario Mark returned to work at the Sports Physiotherapy Centre in the Pan Am Clinic in Winnipeg in the year 2000.
He obtained his Diploma of Advanced Manual and Manipulative Physiotherapy (with credit) in 2004. In October 2017 Mark received his Clinical Masters in Manipulative Physical Therapy (MClSc) from Western University. While at Western University his research project was a narrative literature review entitled: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using a hamstrings tendon autograft versus quadriceps tendon autograft and implications for postoperative rehabilitation.
Mark works as a physiotherapist and is the clinical manager at Pan Am Rehabilitation Services, a physiotherapy practice located within the Pan Am Clinic. His caseload includes clients with foot and ankle conditions as well as lower extremity post-surgical rehabilitation. He enjoys the interaction with his physiotherapy colleagues, and with the sports medicine physicians and orthopaedic surgeons at Pan Am.
He has been involved as lab assistant and co-instructor with the Manitoba section of the Orthopaedic Division of CPA. He has served as chair of the Manitoba Section of the Orthopaedic Division, and has volunteered his time as a council member of the College of Physiotherapists of Manitoba, and as a Board Member for the Manitoba Physiotherapy Association.
Mark enjoys spending time with his family at his cottage in Minaki Ontario, and cross-country skiing and stand up paddle boarding.
RUSS HORBAL BMR. PT, BPE., ED (CERT.), CAT (RET.)
DIPLOMASPORT PHYSIOTHERAPY
Russ believes strongly in the importance of continuing education and provides educational opportunities to fellow therapists through professional development events, conferences and workshops.
Russ greatly values giving back to the amateur sports community and has spent his life volunteering at local, provincial, national and international levels. (He can’t forget high school sports, junior football and hockey and university athletics – the places he planted his volunteering roots!) Lifetime highlights include being part of the Canadian Medical Team for three Olympic Games and numerous Pan American and World University Games. Russ served as Medical Services Coordinator for many local international-scale events like the ’99 Pan Am Games, ’99 World Junior Hockey Championships, Briers and World Curling Championships, Manitoba Marathons and PGA Tour Canada Players Cup.
In addition to his volunteerism, Russ has been involved in professional sports – first as an assistant trainer for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and later as head trainer for the Winnipeg Jets. He is presently the Physiotherapy Consultant for the Winnipeg Goldeyes Baseball Club and the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club.
Russ actively gives back to his profession. He has sat on various physiotherapy and sports medicine related committees and boards locally, provincially and nationally. He is also the Past President of the Sports Medicine Council of Manitoba. Russ presently sits on the Sport Manitoba Concussion Steering Committee. Russ has been a mentor and national examiner in the Education Committee of the Sport Physiotherapy Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association.
For his lifelong commitment to the profession, Russ was recognized by the Manitoba Physiotherapy Association by being awarded the Susan A. Macdonald Memorial Award in recognition of outstanding contributions, perpetuating excellence and positively influencing others towards higher levels of achievement in the physiotherapy profession. He was also awarded the Sport Physiotherapy Canada – Manitoba Membership Award that acknowledges contributions to the Sport Physiotherapy Community. Similarly, Russ received the Manitoba Athletic Therapy Association – Chuck Badcock Special Recognition Award in for outstanding contribution to the profession of Athletic Therapy. In 2024, Russ was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame as a Sports Medicine Builder.
Registration deadline is September 18, 2026
CPA Member: $225.00 (plus 5% GST)
Non-CPA Member: $275.00 (plus 5% GST)
New Grad 1, working less than one year after graduating: $115.00 (plus 5% GST)
Limited spots available.