Full Course Description

Improving Functional Mobility & Gait Patterns Following Injury, Surgery & Aging

Rehab professionals are well versed in the phases of gait and recognize how consuming seeking to identify the slightest of abnormalities can be. After documenting these observations, what’s next? How do we draw meaningful and impactful conclusions to discover the origin of the identified abnormalities and further translate these findings to objective treatment goals and strategies?

Functional mobility and gait are some of the most widely addressed therapeutic activities. For decades, we have primarily relied on study of the “phases of gait” to address gait and mobility abnormalities with injury, surgery, or general aging. Although impactful, the phases of gait often neglect areas critical for safe mobility and energy conservation. This course will address the six determinants of gait and allow you to drastically add to your understanding of mobility beyond the mechanics. You will learn evidence-based exercises, activities, and treatment strategies that can directly impact not only gait, but everyday function, mobility, and safety for your patients.

Program Information

Objectives

Demonstrate the impact of the 6 Determinants of Gait and the resultant reduction of energy expenditure.
Analyze current evidence supporting the use of the 6 Determinants of Gait in the clinical setting.
Investigate therapeutic activities and treatment strategies that emphasize the 6 determinants of gait following injury or surgery.
Develop documentation strategies and language based on information provided to justify mobility intervention to payer sources.

Outline

The 6 Determinants of Gait

Definition of Gait/Mobility
Original Determinants of Gait
Curtate vs prolate cycloid vs cycloid

Evidence supporting the use of the 6 Determinants of Gait

Phases of Gait review
What the phases neglect
Functions & systems
Parameters for mobility

Therapeutic activities and treatment strategies

Application after injury or surgery
Sit-stand (anterior pelvic tilt)
Pelvic Teeter Totter
Lateral pelvic tilt
Knee flexion at midstance
Knee/ankle/foot interactions
Pelvic rotation with hip flexion
Reciprocal arm swing

Documentation strategies

Justify mobility intervention to payer sources
Documentation platforms
Gait/Mobility example

Target Audience

Physical Therapists
Physical Therapy Assistants
Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Athletic Trainers
Chiropractors

Copyright : 09/13/2021

Movement Pattern Restoration: Energy, Flow and Symmetry of Gait

When you have a patient that is just not responding to treatment, it can make you feel hopeless.

And when those patients are in a state of disuse combined with their sedentary lifestyle, the CNS adapts and they lose even more mobility.

With the boomers getting older, you’re only going to see an increase over the next few years which is why CMS has pushed so hard on fall reduction programs. Gait deviations lead to issues throughout all aspects of life.

With this simple and effective method, you will have the ability to treat your patients in ways you couldn’t before - strategies for all of the common issues that you treat with gait impairment including: TBI, stroke, MS, Parkinson’s and chronic pain. You’ll learn strategies to:

Quickly pinpoint asymmetries
Correct gait compensations
Combine proprioception and neuroplasticity for improved outcomes

We’ll also incorporate a new therapeutic tool that effectively works to “remap the brain” – restoring movement patterns and creating a sensory-motor feedback loop. When you can quickly make improvements to gait – you can spend more time doing functional training!

Imagine the gratification you’ll feel after you have restored mobility and independence! Purchase now to forever change your patients’ lives.

Program Information

Objectives

Analyze gait from the perspective of its’ energy, flow and symmetry.
Inspect how proprioception affects movement and movement pattern restoration.
Integrate multiple approaches for better outcomes, including balance and gait training, and neuromuscular re-education.
Appraise using therapeutics that enhance proprioception, resistance, assistance and a combination of all of these to address patients with gait, balance, mobility and chronic pain issues.
Determine the influence of the VOR (Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex) on gait, movement and balance.
Assess integrating Amy Cuddy’s power poses as an effective intervention in the treatment of gait, balance and pain disorders.

Outline

The Gait Cycle & Biomechanics

Dynamic motor control
Drivers of gait
Quick, natural gait data collection
Best practices in assessment
Gait & Fall risk assessments

Movement Gone Astray: Gait Challenges

Proprioception’s role in gait and movement
Pain with movement and gait
No fluidity
Foot drop
Antalgic gait
Trendelenburg gait
Spasticity and ataxia issues
Stair and curb negotiation
Inconsistent stride length, cadence or path of travel
Decreased proprioceptive feedback post-op or post-injury
Fear of falling
Peripheral neuropathy
Muscle weakness

System Framework for Postural Control

Balance strategies for ankle, hip and stepping
Restore somatosensory input
Remapping the brain – neuroplasticity
Incorporate the vestibular system
Clinical symptoms of fatigue
Amy Cuddy’s power poses & posture

In Action: Common Conditions and Diagnoses with Gait Challenges

TBI
Stroke
Chronic pain
MS
Lower extremity amputations and prosthetics
Parkinson’s disease
Spinal cord injury
Amputees

Functional Exercise and Gait Training and Tactical Interventions

Perturbation based training
Footwear selection
Orthotics
NewGait harness
Proprioceptive interventions

Target Audience

SPTs
PTAs
OTs
COTAs
Exercise Specialists / ATCs
Orthotists / Prosthetists
Physician Assistants
Nurses
Rehab Nurses
Nurse Practitioners
Senior Center Staff and Administrators
Private Practice Owners

Copyright : 03/09/2021

Effective Fall Prevention in the Geriatric Population: Strategies from the CDC’s Dynamic Trio

The CDC has dedicated itself to address fall prevention in the geriatric population through the STEADI Initiative (Stop Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries). Analyze the algorithms that address each area that impact fall risk. STEADI will be covered comprehensively, including balance, medications, home environments, medical conditions and fear of falling. Key takeaways from the latest research will offer new patient fall prevention solutions.

Program Information

Objectives

Analyze the latest advances in fall prevention from the CDC – STEADI Initiative for Fall Prevention into your practice.
Distinguish between comprehensive screening tools and assessments to identify issues with balance, visual-spatial functioning, proprioception and other root causes of fall risk.
Select the most appropriate intervention to safely restore balance, mobility and function in your patients.
Determine how home-based risk factors that contribute to falls can be mitigated.

Outline

Integrate the Latest Advances in Fall Prevention

CDC’s STEADI Initiative
- Screen, assess and intervene
- 3 key questions to ask your patients
- Case Study: RBG

Comprehensive Assessments

Identify issues with balance, visual-spatial functioning, and proprioception
Stay Independent Brochure
Evidence-based gait and balance tests
Home hazards, BP, Visual Test
Feet and footwear issues
Comorbidities to consider

Impact of Medications on Fall Risk

Beers criteria for medications
Interventions for optimizing the medication list

Safely Restore Balance, Mobility and Function

Assess available interventions
Evidence-based exercise program details
Treatments for BP issues
Referrals for vision impairment
Appropriate exercise RX for older adults

Home Based Risk Factors

Evaluation and intervention for:
- Home hazards
- Foot and footwear issues
Referrals for home and community based exercise and fall prevention programs

Target Audience

Nurses
Physical Therapists
Physical Therapy Assistants
Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Athletic Trainers
Exercise Physiologists

Tai Chi to Improve Function & Prevent Falls

Due to the high risks of falls in the elderly, rehab professions must explore effective, proven methods that decrease the risk for falls. Tai Chi combines low-impact exercises you can easily use safely with patients. The practice puts profound emphasis on breathing, relaxing, and focusing the mind in specific postures. Benefits include improving flexibility/balance to prevent falls, reducing stress/anxiety, strengthening the cardiovascular system, decreasing chronic pain and recovering from injuries/surgeries faster.

Using a combination of clinical therapy skills, personal training experience, and expertise in Tai Chi, Ralph will equip you with the relevant tools and techniques to incorporate into your patients’ treatment plans. Adding this reimbursable therapy to your toolbox will immediately enable you to provide an additional modality to enhance patients’ stability, flexibility, core strength, posture, balance, and coordination.

This training opportunity is a MUST if you work with patients who need easily adaptable and non-invasive exercises—and an opportunity to practice Tai Chi.

Program Information

Objectives

Analyze the history of Tai Chi and its relevancy in the rehab clinical setting.
Articulate the link between chronic arthritis pain and fall risk.
Define the international fall reduction statistics directly related to Tai Chi programs.
Apply the basic styles of Sun style of Tai Chi by the end of the course to strengthen clients’ flexibility, core, and balance.

Outline

Relevancy of Tai Chi in the Clinical Setting

History of Tai Chi
Different styles
Clinical applications

Fall Reduction

Link between chronic arthritis pain and fall risk
International fall reduction directly related to Tai Chi programs

Applying the Movements

Sun, Yang, and Chen styles of Tai Chi
Strengthen flexibility, core and balance
Therapeutic benefits

Target Audience

Physical Therapists
Physical Therapy Assistants
Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Athletic Trainers