Why Take This Course?

This online course offers a comprehensive foundational review for medical professionals preparing for advanced neurorehabilitation studies, serving as an ideal precursor to more in-depth subscription courses. It thoroughly covers essential neurological examination techniques, beginning with a detailed exploration of the gait exam, differentiating various dysfunctional gait patterns.

The course then delves into the cranial nerve exam, explaining the functions and associated dysfunctions of each nerve. Participants will also learn about the motor exam, including normal and abnormal strength, tone, coordination, and reflexes, encompassing both hypo- and hyper-reactive responses. Furthermore, it provides in-depth instruction on sensory examination, including the interpretation of normal and abnormal results and their underlying causes. Finally, the course addresses psychiatric disorders, with a specific focus on understanding psychogenic movements. Crucially, it emphasizes the vital importance of not prematurely ruling out underlying physical dysfunction simply because a patient presents with psychological attributes or psychogenic symptoms. Many physical conditions can mimic or exacerbate psychiatric symptoms, and a comprehensive understanding of both physical and mental health is essential for accurate diagnosis and effective patient care. This course applies to PT, PTA, MD, OT, AT, LPN, RN, NP, and medical students.

Upon successful completion of this course, the rehab professional will be able to:

• Identify and differentiate various dysfunctional gait patterns through a comprehensive understanding of the gait examination.
• Perform and interpret the cranial nerve examination, recognizing the functions and associated dysfunctions of each cranial nerve.
• Assess and describe normal and abnormal findings during the motor examination, including strength, tone, coordination, and reflexes (hypo- and hyper-reactive).
• Conduct a thorough sensory examination, accurately interpreting results and identifying potential underlying causes of abnormal findings.
• Recognize and understand psychogenic movements in the context of psychiatric disorders, while also prioritizing the thorough investigation of potential underlying physical dysfunction.

Personal Note from the Content Creator

It was through my personal journey of over three decades in physical therapy, working across diverse clinical settings and treating countless diagnoses, that one insight was consistently reinforced: true clinical excellence isn't achieved by rote memorization of protocols. To provide the best, most individualized care, I realized I needed a deep command of the underlying mechanisms of dysfunction, allowing me to be flexible and progressive enough to adapt immediately to every patient's unique and changing needs.

This fundamental philosophy is the foundation of our courses; we build these educational programs to move beyond simple learning by providing the essential reasoning, functional anatomy, and practical application through case studies and real-life examples, anchoring the knowledge you gain directly to the standard of care. We believe this focus on deep understanding is the most valuable path to growth, a belief we back up by dedicating a portion of our efforts to support the therapists and associations who help us develop this specialized education for our peers. My ultimate hope is that our courses will empower you to become a better therapist by applying this fundamental understanding of anatomical dysfunction directly to the development of highly adaptable, patient-specific rehabilitation programs.

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