Full Course Description

Module 1 - The Clinician’s Guide to Reducing Falls: Evidence-Based Strategies that Work

Program Information

Target Audience

  • Occupational Therapists
  • Occupational Therapy Assistants
  • Physical Therapists
  • Physical Therapist Assistants
  • Long-Term Care Staff
  • Nursing Home Administrators

Objectives

  1. List the major contributors to falls and the most common environments where falls occur for the adult and geriatric population
  2. Describe the role that medications play in falls, and what steps can be taken to reduce the likelihood of medication-related falls
  3. Assess the role of clinicians in fall prevention in various rehab facilities, in the home, and in the community at large
  4. Identify the common principles in a fall reduction program that lead to the best outcomes
  5. Develop a practical understanding of learned exercises and assessments during labs to ensure immediate carryover into clinical settings
  6. Apply documentation strategies and language based on information to justify skilled clinical services and reimbursement to all payer sources

Outline

THE COST OF FALLS

  • Frequency of falls – a breakdown in the US
  • Results of falls
  • Cost and future projections
  • Environments where falls occur

CAUSES OF FALLS AND WAYS TO REDUCE THEM

  • Specific causes
    • Medication
    • Ageism
    • Diagnosis
    • Contracture
    • Weakness
    • Compensatory gait patterns
  • Common associations leading to falls
    • Fear of falling (stiffening strategy)
    • Genomic hypovitaminosis
    • Gender
    • UE weakness
  • Visual space relation and fixation duration
    • Soleustretch and Visual Stance demonstration
    • LAB
  • PNF functional strengthening techniques (CR vs HR vs CRAC)
    • GRAC Rowing (Modified D1, D2)
    • Gastroclock with CRAC technique
    • LAB
  • Medication and mechanism
  • Type I iliopsoas contracture and anterior pelvic tilt vs. posterior pelvic tilt
    • Male vs. female
    • Lengthen and shorten demonstration
    • LAB

CLINICAL AND EDUCATIONAL ROLE IN REDUCING FALLS

  • Education
    • Sleep, adaptive equipment, home environment
    • Fall reduction in the home
    • Otago and other “fall reduction” programs
  • 4-Test Balance Scale (LAB)
  • Chair Stand Test

BEST PRACTICE: ASSESSMENTS, ACTIVITIES, AND EXERCISES

  • Fall risk evaluations
    • Functional reach (FRT), TUG, Fall Algorithm
    • LAB
  • Hip/frontal plane stabilizers
    • Reducing circumduction, shuffle, or Trendelenburg gait
    • Trochanter Tension
    • LAB
  • Hip mobilizers
    • Seated and standing mobilization technique
    • Dynamic PNF chops
    • Quad sit-up (LAB)
    • Log roll
  • Determinants of gait
  • Exercise/activity dose and frequency

DOCUMENTATION AND CASE STUDY

  • 5 platforms of successful documentation
  • Documentation examples
  • Case study

Copyright : 05/11/2018

Module 2 - Comprehensive Approach to Aging Confidently: Geriatric Posture, Core and Balance

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Evaluate the effects of degenerative spinal conditions associated with aging
  2. Identify controllable and uncontrollable risk factors for osteoporosis
  3. Discuss the goals of strength training for clients with spinal and postural degeneration
  4. Identify risk for falls and balance concerns
  5. Incorporate healthy balance and fall activities into their current exercise program
  6. Develop and instruct older adults on self-assessments following a fall

Outline

THE SPINE

  • Degenerative spine conditions associated with aging
    • Stenosis
    • Spondylosis
    • Spondylolisthesis
    • Osteoporosis
  • Definition of each
  • Risk factors for osteoporosis
    • Uncontrollable
    • Controllable

GUIDELINES FOR EXERCISE

  • Goals for the aging adult
  • Evaluation and prioritizing types of exercises for the aging adult
  • Modifications for exercises

POSTURAL RE-EDUCATION EXERCISE

  • Modifications
  • Priority of extension exercises

TRUNK, CORE (ABDOMINALS & SPINAL)

  • Guidelines
  • Neutral spine
  • Core stability exercises

BALANCE & FALLS

  • Risk factors for falls
  • Preventing falls
  • Balance assessments
    • 11 assessments of balance and fall risk
      • Flexibility
      • Strength and endurance         
      • Agility and balance
  • I’ve fallen, now what?
    • Skills following a fall
    • Floor mobility
      • Exercises
    • Arthritic modifications
  • Cognitive components of exercises
    • Counting
    • Multi-planer exercises

Target Audience

  • Physical Therapists
  • Physical Therapist Assistants
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Occupational Therapy Assistants
  • Nurses
  • Exercise Physiologists
  • Strength and Conditioning Specialists
  • Personal Trainers

Copyright : 10/11/2017

Module 3 - Proven Fall Prevention Strategies: Exercise, Meds Management, & Home Modification

Program Information

Target Audience

  • Occupational Therapists
  • Occupational Therapy Assistants
  • Physical Therapists
  • Physical Therapy Assistants
  • Nurses
  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Nursing Home Administrators

Objectives

  1. Identify the major contributors to falls and the most common environments where falls occur for the adult and geriatric population.
  2.  Assess the role clinicians have for fall prevention in facilities, the community, and the patient’s home.
  3. Discuss programs, exercises, assessments, and educational resources used in treatment to reduce falls.

Outline

Identify Demographics of Falls

  • Cost of falls
  • Cause of falls (medication, aging, diagnosis, weakness, gait, etc.)
  • Environment

Clinical Role of Reducing Falls

  • Education (medication management, sleep, AE use, etc.)
  • Fall reduction in the home
  • Otago Exercise Program

Best Practice

  • Fall risk assessment and evaluation (functional reach, chair-stand, etc.)
  • Additional fall reduction exercises and activities (static/isometric, dynamic, etc.)
  • Exercise dose -documentation

Copyright : 08/03/2017

BONUS - Restoring Balance Through Tai Chi

Program Information

Target Audience

  • Physical Therapists
  • Physical Therapy Assistants
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Occupational Therapy Assistants
  • Athletic Trainers
  • Exercise Physiologists
  • Personal Trainers

Outline

What is Tai Chi?

  • Brief History
  • Internal martial art
  • Competitive sport
  • Health care practice
  • Many styles and Modified styles

Tai Chi for Fall Prevention and Balance

  • Evidence to support
  • Potential risks
  • Tai Chi adaptations
  • Tai Chi for arthritis and other populations

Benefits of Tai Chi Therapy

  • Increases muscle strength which supports and protects joints 
  • Increases stamina
  •  Increases flexibility (R.O.M.)
  • Helps balance thereby reducing falls
  • Improves posture/memory/relaxation
  • Deeper understanding of how it works

Put it to Practice- Tai Chi Demonstration

Objectives

  1. Analyze the history of Tai Chi & its relevancy in the rehab clinical setting.
  2. Identify the link between chronic arthritis pain & fall risk as it relates to treatment planning.
  3. Discuss various research and statistics supporting the evidence related to Tai Chi improving clinical outcomes.
  4. Utilize the basic styles of Tai Chi by the end of the course to help strengthen patients’ flexibility, core, & balance.

Copyright : 08/02/2017