Occupational | Physical Therapy Continuing Education - Stroke

Why take this course?

Physical and Occupational Therapists and Assistants treat patients and their impairments, not the diagnosis. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of a stroke diagnosis will enhance the therapists ability to determine specific rehab needs of the patient. This course, with applications for patients in all therapy settings, will focus on the movement re-education needs required for basic daily function of the patient from an integrated approach based on neurologic science and orthopedics. This intermediate level course combines lecture and extensive lab time designed for participants to practice motor skills covered in lecture that will immediately enhance a clinician’s ability to treat this population. Historic and modern approaches to stroke rehab such as: motor control theory, PNF, NDT, strength training, forced use paradigm, mobility and gait unloading and training will all be integrated into this movement training approach. Orthopedic concerns of the neurological patient and the hemiplegic shoulder will also be addressed.

This course provides a systematic movement re-education treatment approach. Concepts presented will teach you how to utilize the fundamental movement patterns of the neurodevelopmental sequence to view mobility and static/dynamic stability problems in a more isolated setting. You will learn how to identify a patient’s most dysfunctional movement pattern following stroke, or any other movement disorder, and reduce that pattern into its many underlying mobilizing and stabilizing actions and reactions that constitute function. As demonstrated in the labs, movement patterns can be assisted and facilitated, corrected (with manual therapy and prescribed proprioceptively enriched therapeutic exercise), and progressed. After completion of this course, the participant will have the information needed to evaluate and treat movement dysfunction. Participants will leave this course with a safe, progressive and evidence-based approach to allow for strong therapy outcomes regardless of therapy background or treatment setting.

Course Objectives

• Identify how to analyze, correct and progress movement patterns.
• Develop and perform a complete evaluation approach linking movement assessment findings to functional patterns.
• Discuss evidence-based practice for strength training, forced use, body weight supported therapies and virtual reality and how they relate to the stroke patient population.
• Describe the scientific and clinical rationale behind the development of an exercise program for the treatment of functional mobility in the stroke population.
• Demonstrate the proper utilization of the fundamental movement patterns of the neurodevelopmental sequence to view mobility and static/dynamic stability problems in a more isolated setting.
• Identify a patient’s most dysfunctional movement pattern following stroke, reduce that pattern into its many underlying mobilizing and stabilizing actions and reactions that constitute function.
• Describe how neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction can lead to impaired motor control and movement patterns.
• Recognize how to utilize neuromuscular inhibition and facilitation techniques and how to sequence them in therapy prescriptions for maximum functional outcomes.
• Develop home exercise programs of prescribed fundamental movement patterns to maintain functional results.

Download a Brochure

Instructed by: John Wilson, PT, DPT, MA, CSCS

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