MER Primary Care Conferences Orthopedic Medicine for Primary Care Neck & Spine Ortho Sports Med Jul 10-12, 2026

The Orthopedic Medicine for Primary Care: Neck & Spine/Orthopedics/Sports Medicine conference is an educational event organized by Medical Education Resources (MER), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing exceptional continuing medical education. The conference is scheduled for July 10-12, 2026, at Caesars Palace Las Vegas in Las Vegas, NV.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this program, participants should be better able to:

Discuss the components of a pre-participation sports physical.

Discuss signs, symptoms, significance and approach to mild traumatic brain injury as a consequence of athletic endeavors.

Identify risk factors for Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports and discuss the importance of nutrition and work out programs for athletes.

Identify appropriate exercise prescriptions for a variety of sports injuries.

Identify early treatment options for the management of lumbar spine disorders.

Evaluate abnormal gait patterns.

Utilize observation, palpation, range of motion and neurologic exams to diagnose cervical spine disorders.

Evaluate a patient’s cervical spine range of motion.

Diagnose and treat shoulder injuries.

Diagnose and treat wrist, hand, and finger injuries.

Describe the anatomy and function of the knee joint.

Recognize chronic injuries and pain syndromes to the foot and ankle.

Target Audience

This program is targeted to office-based primary care providers and other health professionals with updates in primary care medicine.
Best for Primary Care Physicians, Sports Medicine Physicians, Orthopedic Surgeons, and Spine Specialists.

Topics

Sports Med – The Pre-participation Sports Physical: The American Academy of Pediatrics, in conjunction with the American Academy of Family Physicians and American Medical Society for Sports Medicine published the 1st edition of the Preparticipation Sports Physical Examination monograph nearly 30 years ago; Currently in its 5th edition, the monograph contains the most recent evidence and consensus-based recommendations pertaining to the history, physical exam and clearance to play guidelines for practitioners caring for active youth; The presentation will review the contents of this monograph and will also review the latest recommendations for return-to-play for active youth who may have contracted COVID-19.

Sports Med – Concussion in Sports: Recognition, Office Evaluation and Management for Primary Care: Severity and consequences of concussion for those 18 and younger; Current definition, signs and symptoms, their significance; Up-to-date return to sport guidelines and decision making and provide concussion management tools; Discussion the 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sports in Amsterdam 2022 as well as CRT6, SCAT6, SCOAT6.

Sports Med – Nutritional Considerations for the Young Athlete: Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports (RED-S): The growing popularity of organized youth sports is well documented; Young men and women are now participating in organized sports at historic levels; However, many active young athletes are often either misinformed on the proper dietary habits necessary for optimal health or willingly undermine their performance in the short term and adversely impact their health in the long term through destructive eating and exercise behaviors.

Neck & Spine – Diagnosis and Treatment of Lumbar Spine Disorders: A practical approach to the diagnosis and early management of lumbar spine disorders will be presented; Anatomy, differential diagnosis, as well as physical examination concepts will be covered.

Neck & Spine – Physical Examination of the Lumbar Spine, Hip, and Sacroiliac Joint: Exam techniques will be demonstrated and discussed.

Neck & Spine – Diagnosis and Treatment of Cervical Spine and Select Upper Extremity Disorders: A practical approach to the diagnosis and early management of cervical spine and selected upper extremity disorders will be presented; Anatomy, differential diagnosis, as well as physical examination concepts will be covered.

Neck & Spine – Physical Examination of the Cervical Spine and UE Entrapment Neuropathies: Exam techniques will be demonstrated and discussed.

Sports Med – Exercise Prescriptions for Primary Care Practitioners: Discussion of the health risks of obesity and a sedimentary lifestyle; Up-to-date evidence for the health benefits of weight management and the risks and benefits of exercise; Exercise-related terminology used in the science of exercise physiology; Tools to confidently risk stratify the patient wishing to begin an exercise program; Basic components on an individual exercise prescription; Tips for becoming more proactive in prescribing exercise to their patents.

Orthopedics – The Shoulder: Anatomy, Common Injuries, and Exam Techniques: Discussion of the anatomy and function of the shoulder joint; Discussion of the clinical approaches to treating rotator cuff syndrome, shoulder impingement, frozen shoulder, subacromial bursitis, bicipital tendonitis, and A-C joint disease; The basics and common pitfalls of orthopedic x-ray interpretation; Discussion of how and when to utilize joint aspiration and injection for the shoulder joint.

Orthopedics – Wrist, Hand, and Fingers: Discussion of the anatomy and function of the wrist, hand, and finger joints; Discussion of clinical approaches to treating carpal tunnel, CMC arthritis of the thumb, ganglion cyst, trigger finger, de Quervains disease; The basics and common pitfalls of orthopedic x-ray interpretation; How and when to utilize joint aspiration and injection for the wrist, hand and finger joints.

Orthopedics – The Knee: Anatomy, Common Injuries, and Exam Techniques: Discussion of the anatomy and function of the knee joint; Discussion of clinical approaches to treating ACL injuries, meniscus, common sports injuries, osteoarthritis, knee bursitis, prepatellar and pes anserine bursitis, and Baker’s cyst; The basics and common pitfalls of orthopedic x-ray interpretation; How and when to utilize joint aspiration and injection for the knee joint.

Orthopedics – Ankle and Foot: This presentation will address a series of common acute and chronic injuries and pain syndromes to the foot and ankle as they would present in the primary care setting; The focus will be on developing a working differential diagnosis based on the historical mechanism of injury and exam findings.