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Digital Seminar

Functional Neurologic Disorders in Sport, Ortho and Neuro Across the Lifespan


Speaker:
Mike Studer, PT, DPT, MHS, NCS, CEEAA, CWT, CSST, CBFP, CSRP, FAPTA
Duration:
Approx. 6 Hours
Copyright:
Feb 20, 2025
Product Code:
POS065510
Media Type:
Digital Seminar - Also available: Live Webinar


Description

If you find that you're not encountering patients with functional neurological disorders (FND), it’s because you're not recognizing them.

FND are unfortunately very common yet poorly understood, representing a spectrum of conditions often hidden in plain sight. They manifest as movement disorders, seizures, and cognitive disruptions, but without visible causes or clear diagnostic markers, many patients feel misunderstood by the healthcare system.

This applications-based training equips you to overcome the inherent barriers in recognizing FND, enabling effective management of their diverse and variable manifestations.

Functional Movement Disorders (FMD) * Functional Seizures (non-epileptiform seizures)
Drop Attacks * Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD) * Functional Cognitive Disorders
“The Yips” * “The Twisties”

Bridge the gap between complex neurologic symptoms and effective, personalized treatment strategies as you deepen your expertise:

  • Gain an understanding of the underlying mechanisms, how FND develops and the neurological processes involved 
  • Assessment tips to effectively differentiate dystonia and FND 
  • Specific interventions that have proven efficacy in treating symptoms like functional seizures and PPPD 
  • Integrative approaches for all ages and settings 
  • Tools to manage psychological components such as performance anxiety or nervousness, which interfere with the execution of sport skills 
  • Soft skills for handling sensitive patient interactions, fostering trust with patients who feel passed over by the healthcare system

By the end of this course, you'll not only enhance your clinical acumen but also gain strategic approaches to treatment planning and patient communication that respect the complex nature of FND.

Transform your practice and become a leader in managing and understanding Functional Neurological Disorders, ensuring that no patient feels overlooked.

Credit

Planning Committee Disclosure - No relevant relationships

All members of the PESI, Inc. planning committee have provided disclosures of financial relationships with ineligible organizations and any relevant non-financial relationships prior to planning content for this activity. None of the committee members had relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies or other potentially biasing relationships to disclose to learners.  For speaker disclosures, please see the faculty biography.



* Credit Note - CE Information Coming Soon

Continuing education credit information is coming soon for this non-interactive self-study package.

CEs may be available for select professions, as listed in the target audience. Hours will be dependent on the actual recording time. Please check with your state licensing board or organization for specific requirements. 

There may be an additional fee for CE certificates. Please contact our Customer Service at 1-800-844-8260 for more details. 

**Materials that are included in this course may include interventions and modalities that are beyond the authorized practice of your profession. As a licensed professional, you are responsible for reviewing the scope of practice, including activities that are defined in law as beyond the boundaries of practice in accordance with and in compliance with your professions standards.



Speaker

Mike Studer, PT, DPT, MHS, NCS, CEEAA, CWT, CSST, CBFP, CSRP, FAPTA's Profile

Mike Studer, PT, DPT, MHS, NCS, CEEAA, CWT, CSST, CBFP, CSRP, FAPTA Related seminars and products


Mike Studer, PT, DPT, MHS, NCS, CEEAA, CWT, CSST, CBFP, CSRP, FAPTA, has been a PT since 1991, a board certified in neurologic PT in 1995, and a private practice owner since 2005. Dr. Studer has been an invited speaker covering 50 states, 10 countries, and 4 continents speaking on topics ranging from cognition and psychology in rehabilitation, aging, stroke, motor learning, motivation in rehabilitation, balance, dizziness, neuropathy and Parkinson Disease. Dr. Studer is a co-founder and co-owner of Spark Rehabilitation and Wellness in Bend, OR. He is an adjunct professor at Touro University in Las Vegas, and in the recent past led Oregon State University’s DPT coursework on motor control. Mike serves in a guest-lecture capacity at several other DPT programs and assists the national network of neurologic PT residencies known as Neuroconsortium in their Parkinson Disease programming as well. In 2011, Mike was recognized as Clinician of the Year in the Neurologic and (in 2014) the Geriatric Academies of the APTA. He received the highest honor available in PT in 2020, being distinguished as a Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the APTA in 2020, joining a group of under 300 persons at the time for the history of the profession. Mike’s professional honors additionally reflect his service at the state and national level including service as the Vice President of the Academy of Neurologic PT and also the Mercedes Weiss award for service to the Oregon chapter of APTA. He holds a trademark in dual task rehabilitation and has a patent pending on the same. Over his career, Mike has presented courses in all 50 states, 4 continents and 10 countries. He has authored over 35 articles, 6 book chapters, and routinely has clinical research projects in affiliation with one of many universities. He is a consultant to Major League Baseball on the motor control of pitching and hitting. As a very fun and lighthearted note, Mike is the four time and current WR holder for the fastest underwater treadmill marathon, a mark that was set most recently in January 2022.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Mike Studer is the co-founding member and co-owner of Spark Rehabilitation and Wellness and has employment relationships with Touro University, the University of Nevada, and Post Acute Medical. He previously received a speaking honorarium from SMARTFit. Mike Studer receives a speaking honorarium, recording royalties, and a consulting fee from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Mike Studer is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, the Vestibular Disorders Association, and the Oregon Physical Therapy Association. He serves on the advisory board of Rehab Management and ADVANCE.


Additional Info

Access for Self-Study (Non-Interactive)

Access never expires for this product.


Questions?

Visit our FAQ page at www.pesi.com/faq or contact us at www.pesi.com/info


Objectives

  1. Differentiate movement errors that are functional in nature from those that are of primary musculoskeletal etiology.  
  2. Identify the forms of Functional Neurologic Disorders.
  3. Choose person-specific plans of care for persons with Functional Gait and Movement Disorders that are idiopathic and involve daily mobility/ADLs. 
  4. Determine person-specific, sport-specific, and condition-specific, plans of care for athletes with an FND.
  5. Develop multidisciplinary resourcefulness toward a comprehensive management of patients that present with an FND.
  6. Identify educational tools and condition-specific management using soft skills for persons with an FND.

Outline

The Umbrella of FNDs: What conditions are included?

  • Functional Movement Disorders (FMD)
  • Functional Seizures (non-epileptiform seizures)
  • Drop Attacks
  • Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD)
  • Functional Cognitive Disorders
  • “The Yips”
  • “The Twisties”

The Physiology of FNDs: How does an FND start, where does it 'live'?

  • Neural pathways involved in FND
  • Explore brain areas frequently associated with symptom manifestation
  • Do we “blame” the brain or the mind?
  • How is this different from a conversion disorder, psychosomatization

Functional Movement Disorders and Functional Gait Disorders

  • Identification and management of involuntary movements
  • Strategies for improving gait patterns and mobility

Functional Seizures (Non-Epileptiform Seizures or Psychogenic NES)

  • Differentiation from epileptic seizures
  • Effective communication strategies for crisis management

Drop Attacks

  • Recognizing triggers and patterns of sudden syncopal and drop attacks
  • Is exposure therapy an effective intervention?

Functional Cognitive Disorders

  • Understanding cognitive symptoms without neurological damage
  • Tailoring cognitive therapies to individual needs

The Origin and Presentations of FNDs in Performance Athletes

  • Link between high-performance stress and FND symptoms
  • The vicious cycle of an error

Examination and Confirming an FND: This is a rule-in condition

  • Tools and techniques for diagnosing FND
  • Importance of thorough clinical examination

The Soft Skills: Analogies, Autonomy, Education and Awareness

  • Including the patient in the diagnosis and treatment plan
  • The expectations: Progression/course for persons with FND
  • Who is to blame?
  • The need for an answer through imaging

Putting it into Action: Case Studies Across the Lifespan:

  • Case studies:
    • Performance Athletes
    • Post-Surgical
    • Spontaneous
    • Those presenting alongside another condition

Q&A

Target Audience

  • Athletic trainers
  • Chiropractors
  • Exercise Physiologists
  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Nurses
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Occupational Therapy Assistants
  • Physical Therapists
  • Physical Therapy Assistants
  • Physician Assistants
  • Physicians
  • Speech-language Pathologists
  • Other Rehabilitation and Healthcare Professionals

Reviews

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