Utilizing Neuroplasticity to Improve Pediatric Motor Learning

Researchers estimate that 49 million, or 15% of Americans are formally diagnosed with some type of delay annually and are seeing therapists with increasingly complex issues. In the fast-paced systems we operate within, it is imperative that a clinician be able to prioritize treatments for optimal outcomes. In addition, a large body of research is emerging that promotes using a multi-sensory approach to modulate the nervous system. This course combines the latest concepts of motor learning with manual therapy and modalities to promotechange at the cellular level. The essential role of functional nutrition/hydration and its impact on reducing chronic health conditions in pediatric patients will be explored. Researchers also estimate that 30 million children are dehydrated in the US and is the leading cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality worldwide, resulting in over 300 deaths annually. Relevant parental instructional strategies to increase follow through of recommendations will be discussed to improve upon practice within the context of daily life. Promoting a holistic treatment approach that encourages healing from the inside out is a must for every relevant healthcare professional!

This hands-on, relevant course will start with a review of neuroanatomy and physiology, including focused attention to the integumentary system, or the "diffuse brain," as a key component of the nervous system. Participants will be guidedthrough a user-friendly framework to screen across bodystructures and systems. The screen directs clinicians through a multisystem assessment, recommended by the APTA,resulting in the ability to identify the primary physiology/system(s) impacting function. Therapists will usethat information to guide interventions/stimulus options to promote improved, meaningful participation in life activities. Participants will engage in labs to exercise the use ofassessment and somatic cues to rewire the body-brain connection. You will leave knowing how to prioritize and strategically employ interventions across body systems to improve patient outcomes!

Highlights

• Confidently implement evaluation skills using an effective framework you can put into practice immediately
• Practice powerful tests and measures to assess for underlying conditions and co-morbidities of the integumentary, postural, sensory, and respiratory systems
• Practical treatment strategies to incorporate current principles of motor learning through a multisensory, dynamicsystems approach to promote functional change
• Effective, evidence-based parent involvement strategies to increase caregiver engagement and follow through of therapist recommendations
• Hands-on labs to engage in postural and scar assessment, joint mobilizations, and sensory strategies
• Engage in functional nutritional education for clients for daily intake as well as pre/post op recommendations to promote healing from within

Target Audience: Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Assistants