Course Outline

This two-day interactive course is designed to improve the skills of the clinician treating neurologically involved patients presenting with balance problems. This course integrates balance disorder research findings into the examination and treatment of individuals with neurological deficits. In-depth discussion of stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, head trauma and multiple sclerosis are covered to assist the clinician in developing a thorough understanding of the interrelationship of preexisting neurological impairments and balance disorders. The balance treatment lab will allow participants the opportunity to practice many of the techniques discussed in this course.

This course will cover: concepts of balance, postural control and motor learning, a systematic approach to evaluating balance in patients with neurological disorders, outcome measures, case study presentations, recent research correlations between balance disorders and the neurologically impaired and treatment development for increasing functional abilities. Therapists are presented with the tools necessary to apply the information immediately in the clinical setting and to develop a comprehensive evaluation process and treatment programs for increasing functional outcomes.

This course is offered to physical therapists, physical therapy assistants, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants.

Course Objectives

• Apply current concepts of motor learning, balance and postural control with neurological diseases such as: stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, head trauma, and multiple sclerosis.
• Understand the relationship between comorbidities and specific neurological diseases.
• Develop a thorough evaluation process to determine the functional impact of the underlying neurological deficits with balance disorders.
• Utilize appropriate outcome measures while incorporating treatment techniques supported by research into treatment plans for patients with specific neurological diseases.
• Incorporate examination of comorbidities with neurological examination.
• Incorporate treatment techniques to reduce the effects of comorbid impairments with the treatment of neurological impairments.
• Develop a balance training program to optimize motor learning for patients with underlying neurological disorders.

Schedule of instruction

	Day One		Day Two
8:00 8:30	Registration and Continental Breakfast	8:00 9:30	Interaction of Comorbidities
8:30 9:30	Concepts of Balance and Postural Control		• Including diabetes, orthostatic
	• Systems theory		hypotension, vestibular disorders,
	• Motor control/motor learning		vertigo/dizziness, osteoporosis,
	• Current concepts		peripheral neuropathy, vision
9:30 10:30	Evaluating Balance in Patients with Neurological Disorders		disorders (cataracts, glaucoma,
	• History		macular degeneration)
	• Strength, tone, ROM, and sensation		• Interpreting balance test results
10:30 10:45	Break		in the presence of comorbidity
10:45 12:00	Evaluation (continued)		• Treatment techniques
	• Coordination		• Case study
	• Functional mobility including gait	9:30 10:30	Balance Treatment Lab
	• Oculomotor exam		• Testing for balance deficits
12:00 1:00	Lunch (on your own)		• Treatment techniques practiced
1:00 3:30	Outcome Measures	10:30 10:45	Break
	• Berg Balance Scale	10:45 12:00	Stroke
	• Timed Up and Go		• Identification of balance
	• Tinetti		impairments and research
	• Fugl-Meyer, Barthel		• Treatment techniques and
	• Functional Reach		research
	• Walky Talky, and others		• Specific outcome measures
	• Dynamic Gait Index and other tests		• Case study
	• Demonstration of selected measures	12:00 1:00	Lunch (on your own)
3:30 3:45	Break	1:00 1:30	Stroke (continued)
3:45 5:00	Treating Balance Deficits: General Treatment Ideas	1:30 2:45	Parkinson’s Disease
5:00 5:30	Group Case Study		• Identification of balance
			impairments and research
			• Treatment techniques and
			research
			• Specific outcome measures
			• Case study
		2:45 3:00	Break
		3:00 3:45	Multiple Sclerosis
			• Identification of balance
			impairments and research
			• Treatment techniques and
			research
			• Specific outcome measures
			• Case study
		3:45 4:30	Head Trauma
			• Identification of balance
			impairments and research
			• Treatment techniques and
			research
			• Specific outcome measures
			• Evidence based practice
			• Case study
		4:30 5:00	Putting It All Together: Group Case Studies

Downloads

Course Brochures are in Adobe PDF format. Right click and choose "Save Target As" to download brochure. If you would like to open the brochure in your browser windows, select the link.

Course Brochure for Treating Balance Impairment in the Neurological Population

Scheduled Dates and Locations

Start Date	End Date	Location - **Click to Map It**	Tuition	Hrs	Hotel
Mar 07, 09	Mar 08, 09	Sunrise Hospital Medical Center, Las Vegas, NV	$399.00	15.00	View Hotels
Apr 25, 09	Apr 26, 09	Sharp Memorial Rehabilitation Center, San Diego, CA	$399.00	15.00	View Hotels
May 16, 09	May 17, 09	St. Anthony's Medical Center, St Louis, MO	$399.00	15.00	View Hotels
Jun 27, 09	Jun 28, 09	Clarian Health/Methodist Hospital, Indianpolis, IN	$399.00	15.00	View Hotels
Aug 22, 09	Aug 23, 09	St. Agnes Hospital, Baltimore, MD	$399.00	15.00	View Hotels
Nov 07, 09	Nov 08, 09	Elliot Hospital, Manchester, NH	$399.00	15.00	View Hotels