Do you know how a dysfunctional 4th thoracic ring can cause groin pain, pelvic girdle pain, neck pain or Achilles tendinopathy? Do you know how to determine when “core stability” exercises will make low back pain worse and when they are the key to recovery? When should you treat the foot/ankle complex to optimize ACL rehab or not, and what is the best way to treat the foot/ankle? 

If you don’t know the answer to these questions, you will by the time you’ve finished taking The ConnectTherapy Series with LJ.

New in 2026 – LJ has restructured the ConnectTherapy Series content into 7 short courses that you can take at your own pace and at any location in the world that LJ is teaching – all you have to do is start by completing the ConnectTherapy & the Thorax course and you have started your own flexible Series journey. Complete these 7 courses and you earn the designation of “ConnectTherapy Series Graduate“. 

Why have we changed the format of the Series?

Previously, the Series was a 16-day, 3 Part learning experience – which meant you had to commit to the specific dates/ weekends that LJ was teaching and attend all 3 Parts in one location. Over time, it became clear that there were many physiotherapists who wanted to take the ConnectTherapy Series course but were not available for one of the weekends – or they wanted to travel to another part of the world to take their course content. 

We recognized the need for more flexibility to make the courses and innovative content accessible to more people. 

As well, LJ has developed new content and new techniques since the inception of the 3-Part ConnectTherapy Series, which required adding this content to the “Part 4 Series” course, which could only be offered limited dates and locations. 

Now, with the new format, physiotherapists can take different content from the Series in an order that fits their clinical interests and on their own timeline – this new format is more flexible AND covers the content of the previously “4 parts” of the Series in more depth – making completion of the 7 courses in the ConnectTherapy Series the pathway to applying for Practitioner Certification. 

Yes, this means there is no longer a “Part 4 Series” course.  

And, if you’re a past Series Graduate and it’s been a while since you’ve been on course with LJ, you can take any of these short courses to revisit the material and get updated on all things new in ConnectTherapy – it’s a great way to prepare for applying for ConnectTherapy Practitioner Certification as well!

As before, taking the course work of the ConnectTherapy Series provides in-depth hands-on and clinical reasoning skills in The Thoracic Ring Approach™ and ConnectTherapy™ models. These models illuminate the connections between all regions and systems of the body and integrate psychosocial features to treat the whole person by “Finding the Drivers” for the person’s problem. The ConnectTherapy Series replaces the Discover Physio Series and incorporates significant advances and changes made by LJ, to the previously taught Integrated Systems Model for Disability & Pain (Lee LJ, Lee DG 2010). This includes LJ’s ConnectTherapy Drivers Diagnostic Chart™ (DDC) and clinical reasoning algorithm to diagnose Primary, Secondary, Tertiary and Co-Drivers with a comprehensive and logical process. The DDC also links with the innovative ConnectTherapy Treatment Principles and Exercise Prescription Framework, used to not only rehab acute and chronic problems, but to train for injury prevention and optimal performance. 

Learn how to assess & treat Thoracic Ring Co-Drivers from the creator of the Thoracic Ring Approach, along with all of LJ’s newest techniques for assessment & treatment of Knee Drivers, Foot/Ankle Drivers, Pelvis Drivers, Hip Drivers, Neck Drivers and Co-Drivers for the Rings and Shoulders and CoDrivers between the feet and knees. 

Identifying Drivers and changing the patient’s negative experience of their body to a positive experience during Meaningful Task Analysis (Lee LJ 2008) is a powerful vehicle for change. This “Wow” factor has neurophysiological implications. Therapists can then confidently design treatment programs that target the true source of the problem and expect positive change. The innovative Thoracic Ring Approach™ (Lee LJ) is covered in depth, based on LJ’s personal, clinical and research journey on how the thorax affects the function of the whole body. This includes how to assess and treat thoracic Co-Drivers, new advanced thoracic ring exercises and concepts in program design. In every area of the body, from the neck to the foot, unique assessment and treatment techniques are related to how they support optimal function & performance of the whole body and whole person.

The new ConnectTherapy Series includes new courses such as:

• “Treatment Skills & Exercise Prescription for Thoracic Ring Drivers”
• ” ConnectTherapy & the Core: Integrating the Thorax, Lumbar Spine & Pelvis” and
• “ConnectTherapy & the Hip, Knee & Co-Knee/Foot Drivers”

The ConnectTherapy Series empowers you with new ways to assess and treat your patients, integrates the science from multiple fields with clinical expertise to figure out how to most efficiently and effectively treat your patients. It is a course journey that will illuminate new possibilities for growth and change.  

New ConnectTherapy Series Structure: The new format breaks up the content of the 3 Parts of the Series into seven (7) different courses. Each course has a Virtual component so you have time to process and think about the foundational concepts and learn about the exercise progression and home program framework in ConnectTherapy that makes patients compliant with their exercises because they work!  

Each course has extensive online support and directed course preparation:

• Online videos covering practical demonstrations, lectures and case studies
• Book and journal article recommended readings, directed anatomy & biomechanics review 
• 12 months access to the online Virtual content (lectures & demos) and Resource libraries for each course 

There is a high Instructor/Assistant to Student Ratio (at least 1:6) to ensure a high level of quality feedback for skill acquisition and development of clinical reasoning skills. Let the ConnectTherapy Series Challenge your Mind and Change your World, and the worlds of your patients.

References:

Lee LJ. The Essential Role of the Thorax in Restoring Optimal Function. Keynote presentation at the 2008 Orthopaedic Symposium of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association, Montreal, Canada, October 2008.

Lee LJ, Lee DG. Chapter 7: Clinical Practice – The Reality for Clinicians. 2010. In Lee, DG: The Pelvic Girdle. Elsevier, pgs. 255-282.

Lee LJ: The essential role of the thorax in whole body function and the “Thoracic Ring Approach”, Assessment & Treatment Videos. Linda-Joy Lee Physiotherapist Corp (www.ljlee.ca); 2012.