Treatment Strategies for the Low Functioning Patient: An Introduction to the Contemporary Practice of NDT

Course overview

During this two-day seminar, the participant will learn about the principles and strategies of the Contemporary Practice of NDT as currently applied to adults with profound impairments resulting from stroke or traumatic brain injury. The emphasis will be on improving early mobility from the bed, seated postural balance, and early transitional movement skills during meaningful, functional tasks and the application of tactile feedback to enhance effective movement strategies for successful completion of meaningful, functional tasks. The seminar emphasizes a problem-solving approach to integrated patient assessment based on an understanding of functional limitations, system impairments, and motor dysfunction. The information presented includes a discussion of the following topics: contraversive pushing behavior, along with research supporting neurorecovery and neuroplasticity, and the identification of treatment variables that promote neuroplastic changes. Integration of the upper and lower paretic extremities will be emphasized. The seminar includes lecture and interactive problem-solving laboratory sessions to practice therapeutic handling techniques to optimize treatment activities to address motor dysfunction.