Course Description:

Health care providers are facing greater time restrictions to render services to the individual with neurological dysfunction.  However, the scientific community has recognized that the dynamic capacity of the central nervous system (CNS) is far greater than previously thought. The tremendous potential for CNS reorganization and recovery is being realized.  Intervention strategies designed to both help patients access this potential for recovery as well as involve the patient in task specific training would help in meeting these two opposing challenges.  Reach and Grasp, Locomotion and Postural Control are three key areas of research in the field of motor control.  These are also functions that are severely affected in a variety of neurological disorders. This continuing education series will explore research in neuroplasticity and motor control for each of these critical functions.  A variety of treatment strategies and techniques for improving function will be presented.  Participants will have the opportunity to practice these skills on patient volunteers.

Limitations in the use of the upper extremity represent a profoundly disabling problem for individuals with neurological disorders.  Effective intervention can be developed through an understanding of guiding principles derived from research in neuroplasticity and motor control. Through lecture, laboratory experience, videotape and live patient case examples, hypotheses with respect to clinical intervention that will promote recovery and/or improved function of the upper extremity in a variety of diagnoses will be developed.

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• To review scientific and clinical literature related to recovery of function after neurologic insult due to traumatic, vascular, immunologic, and degenerative processes.
• To identify and discuss the relevance of motor control research in reach and grasp to physical therapy practice.
• To discuss the issues related to compensation versus movement reeducation.
• To discuss how treatment can be designed to promote recovery while patients engage in functional tasks.
• Identify how biomechanical constraints limit upper extremity movement options and functional outcomes.
• Learn how to apply soft tissue mobilization techniques in order to minimize the biomechanical constraints.
• Learn how to manipulate practice and the environment in order to minimize the impact of biomechanical constraints.
• Learn how to incorporate practice variables from the field of motor learning to improve long term retention of new movement strategies in individuals with neurological disorders.