Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT) and Neurological Disorders: The Latest Research and Resources for OTs and PTs

Course overview

Neuro-developmental treatment (NDT) also referred to as the Bobath Concept or approach, has been around since the 1940s when it was first developed by Berta and Dr. Karel Bobath. Initially, the Bobaths introduced innovative therapeutic approaches for children with cerebral palsy and adults with hemiplegia. Today, NDT is widely used in the therapy realm for numerous neurological conditions and has revolutionized hands-on clinical work. Physical and occupational therapists working in various settings and capacities worldwide have incorporated NDT principles and practices into their patients’ treatment sessions. Like other theoretical and practical roots of physical therapy and occupational therapy, NDT’s foundations have aged; this, however, does not mean that NDT is less applicable or is out-of-date. As with other treatment theories, NDT was designed to evolve as clinicians learned more about the human function. In fact, the Bobaths insisted that NDT must be applied so that it could evolve over time in order to fully understand the recovery of function in neurological conditions (Runyan, 2006). As new treatments take the limelight, however, older treatment approaches are at risk of fading. This fading occurs because therapists forget their foundations, neglect educational opportunities, and avoid active participation in empirical research. Without rejuvenating and continuously supporting NDT, therapists may dismiss its effectiveness with patients who strongly benefit from its approach; further, funding for coverage is questioned. The following course includes the latest resources and research available for physical and occupational therapists regarding NDT. Additionally, this course is a call to action for therapists to offer up their support in order to maintain the reliability and validity of NDT in both its foundational principles and its progression. *Note: This course is an overview of NDT foundations, principles, and practices. The following information is not a replacement course for the NDT/Bobath Certification course, or for advanced certification courses. If you are interested in obtaining certification through the intense training seminars, please visit the following site: http://www.ndta.org/ndt-certification.php.