The Big Idea:

Simplify first. Specify later.

One of the biggest traps in clinical practice is trying to jump straight to a specific diagnosis — "is this a rotator cuff tear? An AC sprain? A labral lesion?" — before establishing a clear categorical foundation.

This course teaches you to slow down and categorize broadly first. Once you know whether you're dealing with a mechanical, contractile, or nerve issue, the path to the specific diagnosis for that body part becomes much clearer. The CLEAR framework gives you a system to do this consistently, every time.

The CLEAR Framework:

A consistent process for every patient

C - Clarify the problem

L - Locate root causes

E - Explore solutions

A - Act on the best option

R - Reflect and iterate

Three broad categories. Infinite clarity.

Before you can name a diagnosis, you need to know what kind of tissue is involved. These three categories are your foundation.

  • Mechanical

    Bone, cartilage, ligament, and special tissues - driven by load, ROM, and compression testing

  • Contractile

    Muscle and tendon pathology - identified through AROM, resisted testing, and palpation

  • Nerve

    Neurogenic presentations - referral patterns, sensitization, and neurological screening

Course curriculum

    1. Before we begin...

    2. Introduction to Differential Diagnosis Course Notes

    1. Lesson 1.1 - Introduction to the Course

    2. Lesson 1.2 - Course Agenda

    3. Lesson 1.3 - Building a Critical Thinking Process

    4. Lesson 1.4 - Start With What You Know

    5. Lesson 1.5 - Reasoning Under Uncertainty

    6. Lesson 1.6 - When In Doubt...

    1. Lesson 2.1 - The CLEAR Process

    2. Lesson 2.2 - Clarify the Problem

    3. Lesson 2.3 - Locate the Root Causes

    4. Lesson 2.4 - Locate the Root Causes Pt. 2

    5. Lesson 2.5 - Explore Possible Solutions

    6. Lesson 2.6 - Act on the Best Solution

    7. Lesson 2.7 - Relfect and Make Iterative Changes

    1. Lesson 3.1 - Goals of the Subjective

    2. Lesson 3.2 - Tips to Getting Started

    3. Lesson 3.3 - General Differential Diagnosis Categorization

    1. Lesson 4.1 - Tissue Differential Diagnosis: Mechanical

    2. Lesson 4.2 - Mechanical Tissue Examples

    1. Lesson 5.1 - Tissue Differential Diagnosis: Muscle

    2. Lesson 5.2 - Contractile Examples

    3. Lesson 5.3 - Contractile Tissue Recovery Timelines

About this course

  • $79.99
  • 41 lessons
  • 2.5 hours of video content

Start thinking more clearly today

On-demand video · Lifetime access · The CLEAR framework · Real patient case included

Enroll today