Physicourses Online Courses

Effective Rehabilitation Approaches for Patients with Parkinson's Disease

Naseem Chatiwala, PT, DPT, MS, NCS

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the world with approximately 930,000 people living with it in the United States. Patients with Parkinson's present with a wide range of complexities that originate from direct consequences of the disease, but also from medicinal side effects and lack of activity. In addition to having motor impairments of dyskinesia, postural instability, imbalance, rigidity, tremors, gait impairments, patients with PD also have difficulty in other areas of personal and contextual factors like coping strategies, attitudes, as well as social and societal interactions. One of the most serious disability symptoms of patients with Parkinson's is freezing of gait (FOG) with almost 80% of patients experiencing it. Medication has been the traditional go to for management of Parkinson's. However, the patient still poses risk of deterioration on physical function, activities of daily living, and participation in social interactions. This can lead to inactivity, social isolation and reduced quality of life. Therefore a wide variety of health professionals need to work collaboratively and be educated on the latest rehabilitation strategies to effectively and efficiently address patient goals and function in this unique population.Highlights Physiology of typical and atypical presentation of Parkinson's disease Review assessment tools validated to assess function in patients with Parkinson's disease Effective techniques to he...

Online Course

Includes all course content in digital format

2 hours - Provided by Summit Professional Education

Parkinson's Disease: Causes, Symptoms, Assessment, and Treatment

Anysia Ensslen-Boggs, Ed.D., M.S., CCC-SLP

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects neurons in a specific area of the brain called the substantia nigra. Symptoms generally develop slowly over several years. The progression of symptoms is often quite different from one person to another due to the diversity of the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rated complications from PD as the 14th cause of death in the United States. Although there is no cure, treatment options can include medications, surgeries, physical, occupational, and/or speech therapy. While Parkinson's itself is not fatal, disease complications can be serious. It is possible to have a good to great quality of life while living with PD. The first step to living well with Parkinson's disease is to understand the nature of the disease and its progression. As rehabilitation professionals, it is important for us to understand the causes of PD, early signs of PD, movement and non-movement symptoms, and the various diagnosis and treatment options for those living with PD.Highlights Causes and symptoms of Parkinson's disease and how they can affect aspects of diagnosis and treatment within your specific discipline Diagnostic and therapeutic options when designing functional treatment plans for patients with Parkinson's disease

Online Course

Includes all course content in digital format

2 hours - Provided by Summit Professional Education

Vestibular Rehab

Anysia Ensslen-Boggs, Ed.D., M.S., CCC-SLP

Dizziness accounts for up to 11% of Emergency Department visits each year in the United States, approximately 40% of these patients have peripheral vestibular dysfunction. The key to recognizing dizziness caused by peripheral vestibular dysfunction is recognizing nystagmus, involuntary jumping of the eyes. Physical and occupational therapists can play an important role in helping to identify the presence of a peripheral vestibular disorder, thus potentially saving money on unnecessary testing and lengthy hospital stays. This presentation will provide an overview of the anatomy of the vestibular system as well as the pathophysiology of common etiologies that can cause dizziness. Participants will learn evidence-based oculomotor examinations aimed at identifying abnormal eye movements and nystagmus patterns to help identify potential causes of dizziness and lead to an appropriate differential diagnosis.Highlights Practice and review evidence-based bedside oculomotor assessments to help identify central and peripheral sources of vertigo Integrate learning to immediately apply to your PT/OT practice through video and case study-based examples

Online Course

Includes all course content in digital format

2 hours - Provided by Summit Professional Education

Implementing an Exercise-Based Approach to Treat Progressive Neurological Diagnoses

Meredith Roberts Lo, PT, DPT

Over 1.2 million people in the US are diagnosed withParkinson's and this is expected to double by 2030. There is no cure for Parkinson's and other chronic progressive neurological diseases currently. However, our research has been demonstrating the effectiveness of exercise on slowing down disease progression and improving motor control recovery for our neurological population. As physical and occupational therapists, our expertise is in applying exercise physiology to pathology. We are the experts in pairing these two components and teaching our patients how to utilize them for their highest possible quality of life and functional status. If you want to do more than just help your patient compensate and give them the tools to target the disease itself, this class is for you. Learn how to take our exciting growing body of research and impact not only your client's quality of life, but your own. This workshop will bring you up to date on current research that demonstrates the effectiveness of exercise as a tool for modifying disease progression in neurological diagnoses. Participants will leave with a variety of treatment ideas and the tools to modify or progress these for any setting or impairment level. Didactic lab-based activities using case studies will allow the participants to enhance their skill in designing interventions that utilize the research presented. On returning to your patients you will be able to immediately put into place the treatment ideas and progression...

Online Course

Includes all course content in digital format

2 hours - Provided by Summit Professional Education

Dyskinesia and Dystonia

Meredith Roberts Lo, PT, DPT

Dyskinesia and dystonia are two motor control impairments that are challenging to identify and treat effectively. They both can play a large role in the risk for falls in our neurological patient population. In this course,interventions will be covered that restore the patient to their prior level of function and reduce their risk for falls. Participants will review medication management to provide the patient with specific and intense interventions that will restore the patient to their prior level of function and allow them to perform their ADLs, IADLs and leisure activities safely. This course aims to clarify the difference between the two and provide you with effective treatment strategies you can use immediately.HighlightsImmediately improve your clients' fall risk by appropriately addressing dystonia and dyskinesia and their impact on balance using practical treatment techniquesReview medication management to provide the patient with specific and intense interventions that will restore the patient to their prior level of functionVideo case examples to enhance understanding of key concepts and to spark intervention creativity

Online Course

Includes all course content in digital format

2 hours - Provided by Summit Professional Education

Assessment of the Dizzy Patient in the Acute Care Setting

Kara Rawlings PT, DPT, NCS

Dizziness accounts for up to 11% of emergency department visits each year in the United States. Approximately 40% of these patients have peripheral vestibular dysfunction. Physical and occupational therapists can play an important role in the acute care setting by helping to identify the presence of a peripheral vestibular disorder, thus potentially saving money on unnecessary testing and lengthy hospital stays. This course will outline evidence- based bedside assessment strategies, that the therapist is uniquely trained to perform, to help in the evaluation and management of patients presenting with vertigo and dizziness. The therapist will also learn basic treatment interventions for vestibular hypofunction and BPPV and when to refer their patients for continued treatment.HighlightsEvidence-based bedside assessments to help identify central and peripheral sources of vertigoImmediately improve your patients symptoms with evidence-based treatment interventions aimed at resolving BPPV

Online Course

Includes all course content in digital format

2 hours - Provided by Summit Professional Education

Nutrition Management for Dementia Patients

Jennifer Darby, PT, DPT, GCS, CCN, CPAHA, CEEAA

Worldwide, 50 million individuals have dementia, with 10 million new cases each year. In the older adult population, dementia is a major cause of dependence and disability. Roughly 50% of caregivers in the United States who care for older adults are providing for individuals with dementia. Nutrition is not what typically comes to mind when people think about dementia. However, nutrition is central to caring for those with dementia. A nutrition program for dementia that considers health, independence, and quality of life can profoundly enhance the lives of those living with dementia. This course will explore nutritional considerations for patients with dementia and other cognitive challenges and present the practitioner ideas that they will be able to incorporate into a comprehensive treatment program.HighlightsConfidently address nutrition and general nutritional recommendations set forth by the FDAEnhance your patient's treatment and recovery by adding a nutritional component to your overall plan of care

Online Course

Includes all course content in digital format

2 hours - Provided by Summit Professional Education

Managing the Complex Presentations of Parkinson's Disease

Meredith Roberts Lo, PT, DPT

Close to 1 million people have Parkinson's in the U.S. This results in over $52 billion spent on health care and lost wages according to the Parkinson's Foundation's recent study. As therapists we are seeing more and more individuals not only with typical Parkinson's but more complex movement disorders. Are your treatment strategies effective enough or are you throwing darts at the wall? Our interventions must be specific and intense to reduce the risk of falls and return patients to their ADLs effectively and quickly. With the right understanding of complex motor control impairments and treatment tools you can optimize your outcomes and continue to be reimbursed for therapy. Avoid banging your head against the wall and get the treatment techniques you need to help optimize your patients' outcomes in Parkinson's. Go beyond the basics.This workshop will enhance your basic understanding of Parkinson's disease and allow you to optimize your patient outcomes in this complex movement disorder. No two patients are alike, and atypical Parkinson's disease often shows up in our patient presentations along with difficult to manage motor and non-motor impairments. These symptoms can often limit the effectiveness of our interventions.Throughout this course we will examine key components of complex movement disorders to understand them more fully. Through case and video examples we will apply treatment strategies that are effective, and evidence based. At the end of this course, you will ...

Online Course

Includes all course content in digital format

2 hours - Provided by Summit Professional Education

Effective Strategies for Integrating Visual & Motor Learning

Jacqueline Schafer-Clay, OTD, OTR/L, C-SIPT

In today's practice more and more clients are being referred for visual, motor, sensory processing, and coordination deficits related to poor self-regulation, motor, visual processing, apraxia/discoordination, and fine motor abilities. Many of these underlying deficits go undetected and thus children are slow to progress and master visual & motor goals.This course will teach you how to recognize and help clients overcome these weaknesses, which can be difficult to address due to the complexity of the underlying limits. This workshop will improve your confidence and abilities in observation, analysis, treatment planning, and interventions to improve visual motor outcomes. Upon completion, you will understand the hidden but essential link between treatment of underlying deficits and improving visual and motor outcomes.HighlightsInnovative techniques to improve your clients functional visual motor integration and outcomesSensory integration feedback process and how it impacts motor output and coordination

Online Course

Includes all course content in digital format

2 hours - Provided by Summit Professional Education

Impact of Visual Deficits on Motor and Cognitive Development In Infants and Toddlers

Subah Gupta MHS, OTR/L, SCLV, CBIS

Visual deficits often get masked as cognitive deficits where lack of engagement is blamed on lack of motivation and attention. It is a known fact that sub-optimal visuo-sensory abilities affect performance of non-verbal tasks. This course will teach healthcare professionals how to improve infant and toddler engagement in the appropriate developmental activity using practical treatment techniques that lead with vision. The attendee will receive tools to identify visual deficits and improve their ability in analyzing and planning interventions towards treatment outcomes. Addressing vision is the missing piece of the puzzle which when addressed with sensory, motor and cognitive deficits allows healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care.HighlightsClinical observations, standardized tests and practical interventions for functional deficits, underlying conditions, and co-morbidities you can use the next day through case examples and videosIdentify treatment resources and strategies to improve visual perceptual and visuo-motor skills in infants and toddlers

Online Course

Includes all course content in digital format

2 hours - Provided by Summit Professional Education

Physicourses Neurology

Naseem Chatiwala, PT, DPT, MS, NCS

Anysia Ensslen-Boggs, Ed.D., M.S., CCC-SLP

Anysia Ensslen-Boggs, Ed.D., M.S., CCC-SLP

Meredith Roberts Lo, PT, DPT

Meredith Roberts Lo, PT, DPT

Kara Rawlings PT, DPT, NCS

Jennifer Darby, PT, DPT, GCS, CCN, CPAHA, CEEAA

Meredith Roberts Lo, PT, DPT

Jacqueline Schafer-Clay, OTD, OTR/L, C-SIPT

Subah Gupta MHS, OTR/L, SCLV, CBIS