Rehabilitation professionals have long known that factors such as practice and feedback can impact motor learning in our patients and that how we manipulate these factors can either facilitate or obstruct motor learning and neuroplasticity. More recent research has elucidated the influence of psychological contribution to the optimization of motor learning, and this course will focus on cognitive, motivational and attentional variables, and how these may be utilized in the traditional motor learning paradigm to improve outcomes in rehabilitation. This course is directly related to the practice of physical therapy and is therefore appropriate for the PT/PTA.

Background on ALS (i.e., pathophysiology, diagnosis, and signs), functional and cognitive impairments associated with the disease, as well as information on interventions from both practice-based evidence and evidence-b.ased practice will be discussed. This course is directly related to the practice of physical therapy and is therefore appropriate for the PT/PTA.

This course provides therapists with the evidence supporting the use of mobility technology into treatment interventions of the neurologically involved patient in the acute care setting to improve patient outcomes with a safe patient handling interdisciplinary team approach. It will also highlight “low tech” interventions that help maximize trunk balance/control, as well as endurance to improve patient outcomes for discharge planning. This course is directly related to the practice of physical therapy and is therefore appropriate for the PT/PTA.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a complex diagnosis and this course discusses the implications ALS for physical therapy, especially in the hospital setting. The intent is to give physical therapists a better understanding of what they can do to decrease the fear and anxiety for both the patient and therapist. This course is directly related to the practice of physical therapy and is therefore appropriate for the PT/PTA.

This course will provide participants with essential tools for determining appropriate orthotic management with an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) based on detailed gait analysis. Evidence-based orthotic interventions will be presented and participants will have opportunities to see orthotic examples and practice application of information through video/paper cases. This course is directly related to the practice of physical therapy and is therefore appropriate for the PT and PTA.

Physical activity is established as an important therapy in the prevention and management of diabetes and diabetes-related health comorbidities. This course reviews new guidelines related to physical activity for improving glucose control and cardiovascular health in people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and highlights ways to apply these guidelines in different physical therapy cases. This course is directly related to the practice of physical therapy and is therefore appropriate for the PT and PTA.

This course provides a review of the principles of functional electrical stimulation (FES) and will identify and discuss the various uses of FES in the rehabilitation of persons with neurological injury or pathology. The course will focus on FES in the upper extremity, in gait, and as a means of facilitating exercises. This course is directly related to the practice of physical therapy and is therefore appropriate for the PT/PTA.

It is important to assess a patient's endurance and then provide interventions to improve it. It is not enough to just say someone has decreased endurance. We need to quantify it and progress it. This course is directly related to the practice of physical therapy and is therefore appropriate for the PT/PTA.

This course will review current knowledge and issues regarding concussion diagnosis and management. I will highlight a multidisciplinary approach to rehabilitation of concussed patients with a focus on balance issues and early rehabilitation and exercise as a treatment modality. This course is directly related to the practice of physical therapy and athletic training and and is therefore appropriate for the PT/PTA and AT.

This series will describe and demonstrate common examinations and treatment for vestibular dysfunction in adults. Examination and treatment of dysfunctional oculomotor control, hypofunctioning VOR, and BPPV will be included.

Editor's Note: Regarding Pennsylvania credits, this course is approved by the PA State Board of Physical Therapy for 2.5 hours of general and 1.5 hours of Direct Access CE credit.