This one and a half day seminar (11 contact hours) will focus on evidence-based examination of the shoulder complex.This course is unique in that it does not approach the patient from an injury-specific perspective. Rather, it will focus on the evaluation and treatment of the physical therapy diagnosis. Special emphasis will be placed on manual techniques aimed at enhancing dynamic joint stability, muscular strength and return to pre-activity. This course is appropriate for clinicians who treat active patients with orthopedic shoulder injuries.

Rate: $375 per person.    APTA Member Rate: $275 per person  Discounts available for 3 or more registrants from the same facility.

Request a brochure from Jeff O'Laughlin at jefffo@gmail.com or  Rob Reimer at rcrnov17@gmail.com . Questions? Call John Mayer at (302) 831-8910.  After March 31st please call for availability.

The University of Delaware Physical Therapy students began facilitating Continuing Education courses in an effort to support the Foundation for Physical Therapy while providing quality, evidence-based courses for the physical therapy community. All funds raised fromthis program will be donated to the Foundation for Physical Therapy for the Marquette Challenge, which provides funding for critically important physical therapy research.

Instructional level: Basic/Intermediate/Advanced
Target Audience: Licensed PT/PTA

The pelvic girdle and perineum are an integral force behind most human functioning. By promoting awareness, strength, and suppleness to the pelvic floor musculature, therapists can address client incontinence, sexual function and childbirth concerns and also alleviate pain in the pelvis, hips, knees, and back, improve respiration, and facilitate functional activities like lifting heavy objects and rising from a chair. This workshop will highlight low-tech, noninvasive techniques that draw from yoga, tai chi, qigong, Feldenkrais, and conventional physical therapy to guide people toward improved health and function. This program will also familiarize you with the anatomy, pathology, pain mechanisms, physiology, kinesiology, mind-body energetics, and psycho-emotional aspects of pelvic floor concerns.

At the conclusion of this program the participant will earn 4 CE credits and will be able to:

• list the muscles that comprise the pelvic floor;
• explain the various functions of the pelvic floor;
• describe how pelvic floor strength, suppleness and awareness can address incontinence, spinal conditions and respiratory function;
• differentiate between conditions that involve excessive pelvic floor tone and those that are caused by weakness;
• design a treatment plan that integrates pelvic floor work with other core stability, flexibility and awareness building therapies;
• teach selected pelvic floor exercise treatment;
• select the most appropriate pelvic floor exercise based on patient history and symptoms.

Bill Gallagher PT, CMT, CYT is Director of the East West Rehabilitation Institute and Master clinician in Integrative Rehabilitation at Mount Sinai Medical Center. He has developed a uniquely integrative approach to optimize spinal health. By integrating the Physical Therapy traditions of the East with therapies of the West he helps his clients maximize function and minimize pain. Mr. Gallagher sees a broad spectrum of clients with spinal concerns in his practice including people with severe disabilities and elite performers. He is recognized as an authority on Integrative/Mind-Body/Complementary rehabilitation and teaches his visionary synthesis to practicing rehab clinicians and at several Physical Therapy doctoral programs including Columbia University.

Richard Sabel MA, MPH, OTR, GCFP is Clinical Assistant Professor at State University of New York Downstate’s Program of Occupational Therapy and Educational Director at East West Rehab Institute. He is a Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner who has successfully integrated Western therapeutic practices with Eastern philosophy into a distinctive therapeutic approach to help clients with diverse needs reengage in meaningful activities that have been limited by pain and disability. Mr. Sabel teaches his integrative approach at several occupational and physical therapy professional degree programs. At Beth Israel’s Karpas Community Health Center, he regularly leads programs on mindfulness, pain management, pelvic health, breath, moving with ease, and fall prevention. Richard’s insightful understanding of integrative rehabilitation make him a sought after teacher and clinician.

Instructional level: Intermediate
Target Audience: Licensed PT/PTA

This program will briefly review HIV disease pathophysiology and the current status of medical management of this chronic disease.  The role of physical therapy across the stages of the disease will be described including optimal exercise programming from an evidence-based perspective.  Strategies for management of frequently seen comorbidities, including lipodystrophy (fat redistribution syndrome) and peripheral neuropathy will be described.  Case examples will be utilized to help illustrate key points.  There will be a brief discussion of social / practice issues such as: working with HIV+ athletes, effective communication with HIV+ clients/patients and HIV+ therapists .  Time for questions and answers will be included prior to the break and near the end of the program.

At the conclusion of this program the participant will earn 4 CE credits and will be able to:

•  describe the neuromusculoskeletal features of HIV disease and discuss their effects on function;
• design safe exercise programs based on the stage of disease for HIV+ individuals;
• describe the role of the PT or PTA in the management of common impairments associated with HIV disease and its comorbidities
•  integrate physical therapy interventions into a multidisciplinary model including effective medical management of the disease;
• apply recommendations for social issues such as working with HIV positive athletes and occupational exposure.

David M. Kietrys, PT, MS, OCS began his physical therapy education at University of Delaware and earned his advanced Master’s degree in Orthopaedic Physcial Therapy from Hahnemann University.  He completed his PhD at Temple University, where his research focused on pathophysiology of repetitive motion injury. He is an ABPTS certified specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy and is an Associate Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program jointly sponsored by Rutgers Graduate School at Camden and UMDNJ School of Health Related Professions.

For the past 11 years, Dr. Kietrys has provided pro bono PT services to underserved individuals with HIV disease at the Early Intervention Program of Garden State Infectious Disease Associates in Voorhees, NJ. He has co-authored a book chapter in Umphred’s Neurological Rehabilitation as well as two journal articles on rehabilitation of individuals with HIV disease. He lectures on the topic at several area universities.

Instructional level: Basic/Intermediate
Target Audience: Licensed PT

Due to the changing climate of healthcare, physical therapists must objectify physical therapy interventions. This lecture will describe current outcome measurement tools for physical therapists in acute, outpatient, rehab and home settings.

Using tools that provide evidence and have proven to be predictive of outcomes adds credibility and value to physical therapy examinations and interventions in all practice settings. This evidence may enable patients to receive the care recommended by their physical therapist when third party payers are reluctant to reimburse, assist in writing goals for patients, and provide objective data for patient’s and families to better understand functional limitations.

Some of the measurement tools that will be discussed include: Timed-Up-n-Go, Gait Speed, ABC Scale, Berg Balance test, Folstein Mini Mental, Stroke Impact Scale, Dynamic Gait Index, JFK Coma recovery scale, Functional Gait Assessment and the Step Test.  The appropriate patient populations for these tests along with their efficacy and proper administration will also be addressed. Finally, the practical use of these tests and measures including their use in goal writing and integration into the plan of care will be provided with specific case study examples.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the conclusion of this program the participant will earn 4 CE credits and will be able to:

• identify valid outcome measures for the practice of physical therapy;
• appreciate which tests are appropriate for specific patient populations and settings; 
• explain the rational for differentiating which outcome measures to select depending on their patient and clinical situation;
• appreciate the purpose of each test and what specifically the test is designed to measure;
• interpret the results of the outcome measures discussed and use the outcome data to shape the patients plan of care;
• identify the most appropriate outcome measurement tool and recognize when a different tool is needed. 

Instructional level: Intermediate
Target Audience: Licensed PTs & PTAs
 

Many older adults fall in their homes and sustain life-altering, even life-threatening injuries.  This course focuses on how PTs & PTAs in inpatient, outpatient & home care settings can increase the comprehensiveness and effectiveness of their falls prevention practices.

Persons who are “at risk” for falls often transition from one care setting to another, so clinicians in all settings need to understand the falls risks clients encounter in the home setting. We’ll look at what the literature says about various risk assessment and intervention strategies and share “from the field” practice tips.

We’ll use case scenarios from home care to “move forward” with clients who have fallen at home as they move from one physical therapy care setting to another. We’ll look back at what interventions a prior care setting might have used to prevent the fall – and look forward to what interventions might be needed in the next type of physical therapy care setting. We’ll address client and caregiver adherence to home programs and safety recommendations and risk management issues.

We’ll also explore how PTs & PTAs from all settings can also provide community outreach to increase public awareness of falls risks and prevention and to promote the practice of physical therapy.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the conclusion of this program the participant will earn 4 CE credits and will be able to:

• explain why falls prevention is a major public health concern;
• compare the falls predictive validity of four falls risk assessment tools commonly used in home care and other settings;
• develop falls prevention goals and plans for clients at risk for falls;
• explore strategies to improve clients’ adherence to home safety recommendations;
• discuss risk management strategies for clients with behavioral risks for falls;
• apply a falls prevention community outreach program model to your practice setting.

Most of your patients and clients are taking prescription and/or over-the-counter medications. What should you know about clinical pharmacology to manage them effectively? You'll study the effect of drug actions on the major body systems, including mechanisms of therapeutic and adverse effects, problems of drug interaction, and variables that modify their effects. Dr Panus will focus on many of the drugs most commonly used in treating neuro-musculoskeletal and cardiovascular disorders and, using case reports, will discuss specific adverse effects that have a impact on the physical therapy management of patients and clients.

Upon completing this course you'll be able to:

• Describe the various methods of administering drugs and the different pharmacokinetic properties of each method.
• Identify the basic principles of pharmacodynamics and their specific applications.
• Recognize the importance of variables that modify drug effects, such as physiological, pathological, and genetic variables; medication errors; and drug interactions.
• Describe the concepts of psychological and physical dependence, tolerance, withdrawal, receptor sensitivity, and cross-tolerance.
• Identify general drug classes, and describe the mechanism of action for each.
• Discuss the specific adverse effects that have an impact on physical therapy treatments.
• Describe how the autonomic nervous system governs an organ or tissue and the effects of cardiovascular and respiratory drugs that mimic or antagonize these effects.

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL.

NJ Licensees NOTE: 1.3 CEU equals 13 contact hours or 13 CE credits.  Contact APTA for program description.

APTA Policy: Course content is not intended for use outside the scope of the learner's license or regulation. Clinical continuing education should not be taken by individuals who are not licensed or otherwise regulated except as they are involved in a specific plan of care.

Business casual is the suggested attire for this course. Please wear clothing that allows for the usual fluctuations in air/heat in commercial buildings.

APTA's live courses, face-to-face learning opportunities, focus on evidence-based approaches to patient/client management, with an emphasis on examination and selected interventions. Top instructors help you build on your knowledge and skills with practical information that you can put to use in your practice right away.

APTA's live courses, face-to-face learning opportunities, focus on evidence-based approaches to patient/client management, with an emphasis on examination and selected interventions. Top instructors help you build on your knowledge and skills with practical information that you can put to use in your practice right away.

This two day seminar focuses on changes specific to the aging process that lead to decreased function and loss of independence in the elderly. An evidence-based strategy is presented for assessing anatomic, physiologic and functional changes associated with aging and pathologies that result in infirmity, changes in postural control, balance and falls in the elderly. This coursewill examine the medically complex elderly providing the course participants with the most advanced and up to date information on the evaluation and treatment of the elderly individual with multi-system involvement. Practice in integrating evaluative information in medically complicated patients towards a comprehensive intervention program will follow the APTA guidelines of care. Recent research in strength and flexibility training using hands-on and videoguided exercise protocols will be presented. The complications of multi- and poly-pharmacy, poor nutrition, and consequences of dehydration will be discussed. The use of complementary therapies in improving function will be offered with substantiating research provided to establish efficacy. Rehabilitation for medically complex older adults will include discussions relevant to
all care settings from acute care, sub-acute, nursing home, outpatient, assisted living, home, senior, and community centers, to fitness facilities. Clinical decision making stratagem is presented for therapeutic involvement in the rehabilitation therapies across this spectrum of care. Reimbursement issues will be discussed and current legislative initiatives involving health maintenance and promotion will be covered. Preventive interventions and screening for problems to prevent disability, falls and identify risk factors leading to frailty is provided via practical tools for the implementation and ongoing reassessment of the elderly client. Exercise strategies for preventing falls, improving balance, and enhancing functional independence are reviewed, demonstrated and practiced. Each participant is asked to bring a write-up of a difficult case study for evaluation, discussion, and clinical decision making in small groups. The focus of this course will be an interdisciplinary approach to gaining strength, flexibility, and function in the inactive and medically complex elderly.

LEVEL : Intermediate

American Physical Therapy Association - Advanced Clinical Practice Series

APTA's live courses, face-to-face learning opportunities, focus on evidence-based approaches to patient/client management, with an emphasis on examination and selected interventions. Top instructors help you build on your knowledge and skills with practical information that you can put to use in your practice right away.