Occupational | Physical Therapy Continuing Education - Geriatric

Why take this course?

This advanced course is designed to enhance the clinician’s knowledge of the aging process, the physiological effects of chronic pain on the aging body, and the role that the nervous system and graded exercise play in reducing pain and improving mobility and physical performance. The strategies presented in this course are essential for treating geriatric patients with pain, orthopedic dysfunctions, balance deficits, and general debility.

Pain is a neural inhibiting phenomenon. It prevents the normal firing of musculature and often creates a protective, guarded movement pattern. Over long periods of time this can result in multiple changes in the body including tissue shortening, postural adaptations, muscle weakness, loss of function, injury and falls. Understanding the processes that occur in the body and what treatments have been shown to assist in the reversal of these debilitating phenomenon will help the clinician choose efficient and successful treatment parameters resulting in more timely and significant functional gains for their patients. Furthermore, advancements in research in the areas of pain and functional performance are leading us to incorporate neurologically based techniques into traditional geriatric rehabilitative programs. Evidence shows that neuroplastic properties and the ability to create changes in neuromuscular habits are key to producing enhanced physical performance. Neuromuscular training techniques play an integral part in reducing pain, and improving mobility, motor coordination, speed, and agility needed for progressing to higher levels of functional activity.

Lecture combined with ample hands on lab sessions will take the clinician through a graded treatment progression addressing the affects of chronic pain, improving mobility, building a stable core, and progressing to dynamic functional mobility programs for the aging client. Improving functional outcomes in all specific G-coding categories will be reviewed and will include examples of documentation and coding of skilled services.

Course Objectives

• Describe the normal aging process, common functional challenges that affect the aging client, and physiological changes that can be slowed or prevented using therapeutic approaches.
• dentify functional limitations using normative data comparisons and choose treatment options that can best address the aging individual’s needs.
• Explain the neuro-physiological effects of long-term pain, its affect on function over time, and how neurological principles can be applied to help reverse these processes.
• Demonstrate enhanced manual skills and treatment approaches to enhance neuroplastic changes, pain-free movement patterns, and allow for progression of functional improvement.
• Perform hands-on treatment techniques to address soft tissue changes limiting function and improve freedom of ROM to allow for more efficient functional movement.
• Design and apply progressive exercise protocols to enhance core stability, gait dynamics, and UE function to achieve improved functional outcomes in the 4 specific PT/OT G coding categories.
• Explain the coding and documentation supporting justification and treatment choices for the aging client

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Instructed by: Jennifer Goff, MSPT, NCS, CLT, CMT

Course Dates

State Continuing Education Course Approvals

All courses are pre-approved by the state licensing boards for physical therapists, physical therapy assistants and occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants and athletic trainers for license renewal in the state the course is offered.

Courses provided by AOTA providers are accepted by NBCOT. 1 hour = 1.25 PDU. North American Seminars is an AOTA provider, provider #4487

North American Seminars, Inc. (BOC provider #P2047) is approved by the Board of Certification, Inc. to provide continuing education to Athletic Trainers. This program is eligible for the maximum stated hours of Category A hours/CEUs. Athletic Trainers should claim only those hours actually spent in the education program.

Special Need Request - Please submit a help ticket if you require any special needs in regards to registering or attending a course.

Private - Sponsorship or Custom Version of this Course for your Team