Functional examination and treatment of pelvic dysfunction using mobilisation with movement 


This two-day practical workshop is an advanced course for clinicians (physical therapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, medical practitioners, athletic trainers) who have completed a basic Mulligan course or have practical working knowledge of MWM.  


Mark has developed an innovative examination process to detect failed load transfer through the pelvis and demonstrate associated detrimental effects on the pelvis and other regions of the body. Mark has also developed a new generation of pelvis MWM treatment techniques that can demonstrably address and change failed load transfer presentations in real-time. 


Learning outcomes

After this course, participants should:

Expert Reviews


Pelvis MWMs requires accurate placement of the hands 

Jillian McDowell (closely watched by Brian) is demonstrating the method taught to us by Andry Vleeming on his course to map the bony landmarks of the pelvis accurately. Highly recommend that you do Andry’s program. I have done it twice!

Pelvis MWM in standing for painful limitation of trunk extension/pelvis posterior tilt  

Forces that ease pain on movement are applied to the pelvis by the clinician and the patient.

Brian Mulligan 2013

“Last weekend I sat, listened, learned and was amazed and delighted with what I heard and saw.
Where? In Tauranga NZ. Who did I listen to? Mark Oliver who was running a course on pelvic musculoskeletal problems. Ably assisting him was Jill McDowell and in attendance was Barbara Hetherington. What Mark has done with our concepts has added a new dimension to what we do and teach in this area and at some stage you must all know what he teaches. Not to do so would be denying our patients what may well be their best treatment option and that is what our concepts are all about - the patient. He treated patients successfully with problems of many years standing (one 26 years). 9 participants had symphysis/pubic problems!


When I finish lecturing and successfully treating patients before large audiences, I always finish up with three words. Would, could and should. I reflected on these three words after Mark’s presentations.

Would I have done that? In most cases NO

Could I have done that? In most cases NO until he showed me

Should I have done that. YES, after what I had witnessed.


It took Mark all of two days to teach what he knows and can do. His clinical reasoning is impossible to fault when you see the outcomes from this. You should all learn from him and at this stage you would be wise to sponsor his courses. Participants, like me, will be amazed and happy to have attended”. 

Felicity Kermode Sports and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist 2015

“Mark Oliver is an extremely experienced Manipulative Physiotherapist who has been teaching Mulligan Concept courses internationally for many years. He has developed and progressed these techniques to a more advanced stage, and I have just attended his two-day ‘Mulligan Concept Assessment and Functional Treatment of the Pelvis’ course. The course is wonderful and can be implemented clinically first day back at work.

I believe that Mark’s expertise is the missing link in the Andry Vleeming (and friends) work with pelvic girdle pain. As an expert manual therapist, his course is practical and logical and gives the therapist assessment and treatment options that work immediately in the clinical setting”. 

This is what failed load transfer (dysfunction) through the pelvis looks like! 

Pelvis course, Lund, Sweden - Inge Dahlburg, Mark Oliver, Dr Bengt Sturesson, Andreas Blom.

Inge and Andreas assisted on the course. Dr Sturesson generously gave a presentation on his research into patients with severe pelvic girdle pain. Andreas is researching some of the pelvis load transfer examination procedures  used by Dr Sturesson to evaluate subjects in the study included several developed by Mark. 

APHAL re-test after course participant performed an appropriate pelvis MWM technique.  

Eliminated long standing right sided cervical pain and headache.  Participants attended another course 2 years later and reported that the response had been long lasting. Interestingly, slight disequilibrium for a few days after the technique, then was OK. 

Modified Load Transfer Test

A modification of the load transfer test (stork test) and a re-interpretation of the findings. No, we’re not palpating anything! Alteration in response can be OBSERVED in this low-resolution video! NOT AN SIJ TEST - a proposed test for failed load transfer involving multiple systems and structures. The thumbs are used only as markers to observe relative movement. If the patient is asked to add conscious motor intention (Zschorlich & Kohling 2013), the direction of relative motion between the thumbs reverses. The response can improve or deteriorate with repeated movement. Performed appropriately as part of a cluster of dysfunction and pain provocation tests, very useful to gain insight into the nature of the problem and help determine appropriate treatment strategies.

Want to treat a big guy with severely failed load transfer (excessive force closure) confirmed by a cluster of 8 failed pelvis load transfer tests? 

Try a pelvis MWM in sitting to lessen active motor responses. If you are applying an appropriate technique correctly, expect an immediate significant improvement in many or all of the load transfer tests and the clinical presentation.

Practising pelvis MWM for painful restriction of hip flexion 

Relevant techniques are determined by using a cluster of pelvis load transfer tests

Gentle pain-free pelvis MWM for PGP in advanced pregnancy

Don’t apply a belt when PGP is present and severe!   Eliminate the pain and restore function with an MWM, THEN use the pelvic belt.