Summit Certification Series

Stroke

Expand your stroke knowledge

- Assessment, treatment, and overcoming challenges in rehab

- Immediate take-homes to improve outcomes

- Earn your Summit Stroke Rehabilitation Certification

Summit Certification Series
Subscribe to Unlock

Stroke

Combining two popular stroke courses into a 12-hour series, therapists will look at assessment, treatment, and overcoming challenges in stroke rehab and recovery. Each course is geared to further equipping therapists with immediate take-homes to impact patients the very next day.

What this certification series addresses

By the year 2050, one in every 5 people living in the United States will be in the age category of 65 or older thus resulting in a surge of musculoskeletal and neurological disorders. These trends will necessitate effective, non-invasive treatment strategies. Stroke related physical disabilities include but are not limited to edema, hypertonicity, hypotonicity, lack of coordination, contractures, and skin breakdown.

Therapists are increasingly challenged to apply current best evidence into everyday practice and to provide objective measures of patient outcomes showing functional improvement. The huge volume of research and outcome measures has made keeping up with all the latest documentation practices increasingly difficult. Furthermore, many patients may have more significant or complex deficits than are included in many research studies, and therapists often have fewer resources available.

What courses are included

Subscribe to Unlock

"Overcoming Challenges in Stroke Rehab"

Taught by Erica Pitsch, MPT, DPT, NCS

This workshop offers evidence-based, practical solutions to challenging topics in stroke rehabilitation. Participants willlearn which outcome measures to choose and what the latest research shows about some of our more challenging problems with stroke rehabilitation including sensory impairment, neglect, and spasticity. In addition, you will be inspired to try a few new things with your patients who havesurvived a stroke, including motor imagery, TENS, mirror therapy, and promoting cardiovascular exercise.

Available as:

6-Hour Online Video

6-Hour Live Session

Highlights

  • Treatment strategies for some of the most challenging impairments after stroke, including neglect and sensory deficits.
  • Assess functional limitation and select appropriatemeasurement outcome tools to show medical necessity in your documentation
  • How to effectively use practice, feedback, and attention to promote learning and recovery.
  • Fitness strategies for stroke survivors to improve endurance and mobility
  • Effectively choose and perform functional outcome measures to capture meaningful change and identify for fall risk
  • Combining evidence-based interventions for themost effective results
  • Motor imagery - the most effective strategy you're probably not using
Check CE Approvals

Erica A. Pitsch, PT, DPT, NCS works exclusively with persons with neurologic problems in both outpatient and wellness settings - which means she works with clients on a long-term basis and has to learn to keep things fresh and interesting. She is a board-certified Clinical Specialist in Neurology (NCS) and collaborates closely with the neurologists the university medical center where she works and teaches. In addition to patient care, she is also dedicated to teaching both as a course director, clinical instructor, and mentor. Dr. Pitsch's primary interest in both roles as clinician and professor is translating the current evidence into practice. As such, she strives to develop multi-modal rehabilitation strategies for physical function, cognition, and physical fitness/wellness at any level and most of all, making it fun! She earned her Transitional Doctor of Physical therapy from the University of Southern California and has been a member of the American Physical Therapy Association since 1993.

DISCLOSURES

FINANCIAL: Erica Pitsch is compensated by Summit as an instructor. She is an Associate Professor at the University of California, San Francisco for which she receives a salary.

NONFINANCIAL: Erica Pitsch has no non-financial relationships to disclose.

  1. The Science of Stroke Recovery: Neuroplasticity and Motor Learning
    1. Guiding principles of neuroplasticity
    2. Motor learning review and update: Strategies for optimal motor learning
    3. External focus of attention
    4. Types of feedback and strategies for setting expectations
  2. Motor Imagery as an Adjunct to Therapy: The Lowest Risk, Most Beneficial Thing You're Probably Not Doing
    1. The case for motor imagery
    2. How to do it
    3. Practice
    4. Hands-On Lab
  3. Outcome Measure Decision Tree: Match the Outcome Measure to Your Patient and Needs
    1. Justification for levels of care
    2. Prognostic indicators
    3. Upper limb specific outcome measures
    4. Gait and balance-specific outcome measures for fall risk
    5. G-Code worthy measures to document progress
  4. Rehabilitation of the Upper Limb
    1. Decision tree - What to do and when to do it
    2. Strengthening strategies
    3. Task-oriented training
    4. Mirror therapy
    5. Electrical stimulation
    6. Priorities for limb protection
    7. Case Study
  5. Re-Training Gait and Balance: Best Practice Guidelines
    1. Body-weight-supported treadmill training, or not?
    2. Rhythmic cueing
    3. Electrical stimulation
    4. Balance training: Specificity matters
    5. Address the impairments - If they can move it, strengthen it!
    6. Lab/Case Study
  6. Treatment and Management Solutions for the Hard Stuff:Spasticity, Neglect, Sensory Impairment
    1. Spasticity: What is it and what do we do about it
    2. To botox or not to botox
    3. Neglect: Assessment and intervention strategies
    4. Optokinetic training, prism glasses, what works?
    5. Sensory training: Add sensory experience to task- oriented training
    6. Lab/Case Study
  1. Describe the science driving motor recovery after stroke.
  2. Apply motor learning strategies to the drive recovery ofupper limb, gait, and balance.
  3. Determine the best recommendations on spasticity management based on current research evidence.
  4. Employ strategies for neglect and sensory impairment.
  5. Distinguish the most optimal recommendations to promote physical fitness for stroke survivors.
  6. Efficiently and effectively choose outcome measures to capture change and identify fall risk.
  7. Implement a motor imagery session for appropriate participants.

"Evidence-Based Assessment and Treatment for Stroke Recovery"

Taught by Ron Sheppard, OTD, OTR/L, C/NDT, FABDA

This hands-on one day workshop is designed to guide participants through effective, non- invasive treatment techniques for tone inhibition, edema reduction, increasing mobility of the upper extremity, realignment of the capitate bone, improving fine motor coordination of the hemiplegic hand, personalized Neurological Fine Motor Coordination (FMC) Activities "bag of tricks", and movement strategies for imbalance of the antagonist and agonist muscles toward flexion/extension of the upper extremity. Participants will focus on the fundamentals and techniques of Neurological FMC as well as specific applications appropriate for persons with stroke toimprove independence with ADLs, IADLs, and LeisurePerformance. This workshop will provide participants with functional reimbursable techniques they can immediatelyintegrate into their treatments that can be used in virtually anyenvironment with few contraindications.

Available as:

6-Hour Online Video

6-Hour Live Session

Highlights

  • Extensive hands-on lab instruction in techniques youcan use immediately
  • Develop your own personal Neurological Activities "Bag of Tricks"
  • Build balance and core strength for functional improvement of the upper and lower extremities
  • Stroke Simulation Labs: Experience the physical effects of stroke, movement andtone inhibition on the upper and lower extremities
  • Manage the edematous upper extremity in 4 treatment sessions or less
  • Immediately improve your client's functional fine motor coordination using practical treatmenttechniques
Check CE Approvals

Ron Sheppard, OTD, OTR/L, C/NDT, FABDA is a clinician, university educator, speaker, and consultant with over 30 years of clinical experience focusing on rehabilitation through the life span of the neurologically impaired populations. Dr. Sheppard is an experienced occupational therapist who has specialized in stroke rehabilitation with an emphasis on Neurological Developmental Treatment (NDT). He was instrumental in the establishment of three outpatient OT clinics and continues to treat private patients at various stages of their stroke recovery between his Summit workshops. Dr. Sheppard was previously an adjunct professor at Milligan College's MSOT Program where he developed and taught the geriatrics class and performed live patient neuro labs. Dr. Sheppard also has experience in online education supervising OTD candidates for their final capstones at the University of St. Augustine. He recently excepted a full-time teaching position at Emory & Henry College's School of Health Sciences as a Clinical Assistant Professor. Dr. Sheppard will be responsible for teaching the Adults/Older Adults Class, Neuro and Advanced Neuro (all with labs) in the Doctoral OT Program. Dr. Sheppard received his education from Carson-Newman University (where he was a member of the football team) of Jefferson City, Tennessee, East Carolina University of Greeneville, North Carolina, and from University of St. Augustine in St. Augustine, Florida. Ron Sheppard OTD, OTR/L, C/NDT, FABDA

DISCLOSURES

FINANCIAL: Ron Sheppard is compensated by Summit as an instructor.

NONFINANCIAL: Ron Sheppard is a member of the Mid Atlantic Clinical Ladder Committee for Gentiva Health Services.

  1. Introduction to the Treatment of the Hemiplegic Upper Extremity
    1. When evaluation begins
  2. Fabrication of Neurological FMC Activities "Bag of Tricks"
    1. Supplies
    2. Stroke simulation of the upper and lower extremities
  3. Assessment of the Hemiplegic Upper/Lower Extremities
    1. Color
    2. Edema
    3. Skin integrity/breakdown
    4. Pain
    5. ROM/contractures
  4. Hand Assessment Lab
    1. Capitate bone
    2. Disuse atrophy
    3. "Flat hand"
    4. Return the arch
  5. Upper Extremity Edema Lab
    1. Management of the edematous hand
    2. Pillow technique and reasoning
    3. Edema pumping
    4. Wrist mobility
      1. Body on upper extremity
      2. Surface on upper extremity
      3. Body/surface on upper extremity
  6. Movement Strategies of the Hemiplegic Upper Extremity
    1. Movement Lab
    2. Hand over hand taping
    3. Functional grasp and pinch
  7. Tone Inhibition of the Hemiplegic Upper/Lower Extremities
    1. Inhibit the imbalance of the antagonist and agonist muscles toward flexion of the upper extremity
    2. Tone Inhibition Lab
    3. Opening/hygiene of hand
    4. Ball technique of vibration
    5. Weight bearingtechniques
  8. Fine Motor Coordination of the Hemiplegic Hand
    1. Fine Motor Lab
    2. Transposing/transcending
    3. Grading of grasp/pinch
    4. Bilateral UE re-education
    5. Paper towel wading
    6. "Around the Bases"
  1. Apply treatment techniques to manage the edematous upper extremity in 4 treatment sessions or less.
  2. Utilize simulated opportunities to illustrate the physical effects of stroke to enhance empathy and "walk in your client's shoes."
  3. Identify items to fabricate your own personal Neurological FMC Activities "Bag of Tricks."
  4. Perform a comprehensive assessment of thehemiplegic upper extremity.
  5. Incorporate treatment techniques to improve fine motor coordination of the hemiplegic upper extremity in any treatment setting.
  6. Describe treatment techniques to inhibit the imbalance of the antagonist and agonist muscles toward flexion of the upper extremity.
  7. Perform treatment techniques for movement strategies of the hemiplegic upper extremity.
Certification Series Overview