This two-day advanced course is designed to provide progressive concepts to the medical professional involved in the rehabilitation management of the spinal cord-injured patient. In todays rehabilitation environment, therapists are being driven to be more aggressive toward utilizing a recovery model approach when treating a patient following a spinal cord injury. The basic skills learned in therapy schools are no longer enough to promote a higher level of recovery. Todays research-based approaches, enable therapists to offer aggressive treatment with the focus on regaining the function that has been lost. Expecting a higher level of functional outcome requires a paradigm shift in our traditional thought process. The focus of discussion in this course will be on current treatment approaches related to SCI rehabilitation. Special emphasis will be placed on specific evaluation skills using ASIA standards and more specific evaluation procedures for setting long term functional expectations. A review of precautions and secondary injury mechanisms will be discussed with a deeper focus on spasticity management including assessment tools, identifying neural vs. non-neural origins of spasticity, and advances in local and systemic medical intervention. Participants will also be exposed to state of the art information to enhance their understanding of the treatment environment for the spinal cord injured population including the use of static and dynamic standing programs augmentative movement therapies; and assistive gait intervention stimulating central generating processors. This course will explore both conventional and high-tech methods of achieving the best possible outcome and will assist the clinician in facilitating critical thinking when assisting their clients in achieving independent living and long term self management. Clinicians will be able to immediately apply the information from this course in the clinical setting and will be able to significantly impact the care of their patients by understanding the availability of current resources for the spinal cord injured patient.

Category: Spinal Injury Course, physical therapy continuing education course, occupational therapy continuing education course

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Advancements in the Management and Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury