Stroke Rehabilitation, An Integrated Functional Movement Approach

At least this course hints at the problem of treating deficits rather than looking at the underlying diagnosis. But I'm afraid that getting this to be the standard is pushing a huge rock up the mountain with an al dente noodle. The first line is good but there is no reference to looking at the MRI or CT scan to determine how to treat penumbra damage vs.dead brain damage.
http://www.jhsmh.org/About-Us/Events/Event-Details/ID/159/begin/12-3-2011/Stroke-Rehabilitation-An-Integrated-Functional-Movement-Approach.aspx

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(assuming that proprioception works)), 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: Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
• 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.(This would be wonderful because right now there is no basis)
• 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.
• Learn how to 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.
• Understand 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.

About the Educator - John Wilson, PT, DPT, MA, CSCS,
earned his Masters degree in Physical Therapy from Loma Linda University in 1998. He has been
an exercise physiologist for the past 19 years, earning a Masters degree in Applied Exercise
Physiology from San Diego State University in 1993. John completed his Post Professional
Clinical Doctorate of Physical Therapy program at Western University of Health Sciences in
2005. Dr. Wilson is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National
Strength and Conditioning Association. Early in his career John focused
on outpatient orthopedics and performance training. He spent two years as a research
assistant at The Kasch Exercise Physiology Laboratory conducting performance testing/
training of professional athletes (including the NFL Chargers) and exercise prescription of
seniors in a community wellness program. His research at the lab with cyclists was subsequently
published entitled “Thermoregulatory Effects of Cycling in a Hyperconvective Environment”.
Though still actively working with athletes, John’s emphasis the past decade has focused on
geriatric orthopedics and neurological movement disorders. Working with geriatrics in the LTC/
SNF and outpatient setting has been rewarding. Having completed advanced coursework in
neurological rehabilitation and gait, he noted an immediate improvement in his neuro, orthopedic
and sports medicine outcomes. John has been providing geriatric strength training, mobility and
movement patterns courses nationally since 2004.

His current working environment is as an Outcomes Manager for a large medical system.
He utilizes outcomes research, evidence-based practice and professional experience to ensure
effi cient and effective outcomes for rehabilitation patients. Utilizing dynamic movement analysis,
progressive resistive strength training, manual therapy and prescribed corrective exercises; Dr.
Wilson has brought his performance approach to the geriatric population.