Who's This Course For?
Physiotherapist, Educator
Martina Ježková, MPT
Martina Ježková earned her Master’s degree in Physiotherapy from Charles University in 2001, where she trained under esteemed professors Janda and Lewit. Following a distinguished 17-year tenure at the University Hospital Motol in Prague, she established her private practice in 2018.
Her clinical expertise is broad, ranging from pediatric neurology and scoliosis to pelvic health, sports performance, and movement optimization. Martina integrates a diverse range of advanced therapeutic modalities, including Vojta Reflex Locomotion, Stecco Fascial Manipulation, and the Mojžíšová method. A certified Iyengar Yoga instructor, she uniquely bridges clinical physiotherapy with yogic principles to enhance patient rehabilitation and functional recovery.
A dedicated educator, Martina has taught at the 2nd Faculty of Medicine at Charles University since 2002. She serves as an international instructor in Musculoskeletal Techniques (Lewit) and Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS), having developed specialized DNS curricula in Women’s Health and Yoga for Rehabilitation.
Course Description
DNS C applies the foundational knowledge and skills learned in the A and B courses and provides advanced integration of developmental positions and active exercise, and applies DNS principles and exercises to common clinical conditions, including assessment and DNS exercise applications for shoulder pain, hip pain, pelvic pain, and scoliosis.
Course Objectives
1. Advanced DNS assessment methods
- Deepen assessment of the sagittal stabilization patterns, locomotor stereotypes, and respiratory patterns.
- Apply DNS functional tests in more complex clinical contexts.
2. Muscle chain function in locomotion
- Analyze kinesiology of muscle chains in stepping forward, supporting function, contralateral and ipsilateral locomotor patterns.
- Integrate findings into clinical assessment and exercise prescription.
- Introduce high developmental positions in treatment.
3. Pelvic girdle and hip joint
- Understand phylogenetic and ontogenetic aspects of pelvic and hip development.
- Recognize anatomical parameters from a developmental perspective.
- Apply DNS assessment and treatment to common conditions: femoral-acetabular impingement (FAI), arthrosis and postural dysfunction.
4. Shoulder girdle
- Review phylogenetic and ontogenetic principles of shoulder function.
- Assess shoulder disorders (frozen shoulder, impingement syndrome, SLAP lesion, instability).
- Apply DNS-based strategies for both open- and closed-chain positions.
5. Spinal disorders
- Define ontogenetic aspects on spinal development.
- Identify most frequent spinal disorders (disc herniation, spondylarthrosis, spondylolisthesis, spinal instability), introduce assessment and treatment strategies.
6. Clinical reasoning and integration
- Develop advanced clinical reasoning to select and progress DNS treatment strategies.
- ntegrate DNS into everyday clinical practice, including multidisciplinary collaboration and patient education.
7. Progression in DNS education
- Prepare participants for the next level of DNS training – Course D (Prague)
Course Outline
Day 1:
1.block: Developmental aspects of the shoulder girdle: influence of the thorax and scapula on shoulder function, basic mechanisms of the scapulohumeral rhythm, overview of common dysfunctions.
Break
2. block: DNS assessment of the shoulder girdle: examination in open and closed kinetic chains, quality of upper limb support, relationship between the shoulder and trunk stabilization.
Lunch
3.block: DNS therapy – principles and position selection: the 3 steps of therapy (position – activation – movement), management of clinical problems (soft tissues, joint play, stability, upper limb support).
Break
4.block: DNS active exercise – application: training shoulder and scapular centration in developmental positions, progressive loading (kneeling → bear → tripod → standing), dynamics, transitions, working with models/patients.
Day 2:
1.block: Developmental aspects of the pelvis and hip joint: pelvic function in relation to the trunk, basic pathologies, influence of thoracic and pelvic alignment on lower limb function.
Break
2.block: DNS assessment of the pelvis and lower limbs: specific tests (e.g., for FAI), DNS lower limb tests, morphological and functional parameters influencing segment centration and quality of support.
Lunch
3.block: DNS therapy – principles and patterns: position setup, activation, controlled movement; exercises in ipsilateral and contralateral patterns; modifications in developmental positions.
Break
4.block: DNS active exercise – application: training pelvic and hip centration, working with progressive load, integration into higher positions. Group exercise – “flow” through the developmental sequence.
Day 3:
1.block: ADevelopmental aspects of the spine and basic kinesiology: formation of spinal curves, importance of thoracic, pelvic, and hip positioning, overview of spinal dysfunctions.
Break
2.block: DNS spinal assessment and differential diagnosis: discogenic pain, facet syndrome, segmental instability, nerve root irritation, stenosis, radicular pain.
Lunch
3.block: DNS therapy – stabilization and clinical application: stabilization in various developmental positions, relief positions, traction, trunk activation, integration with hip function. Practical examples (3-month, 6-month, squat, lunge/ “knight position,” tripod, high kneeling). Discussion, Q&A