Live In Person Courses

Maximizing Function in Neurology for Older Adults: Stroke, Parkinson’s, Fall reduction, Gait and Balance

Dr. Carole B. Lewis

PT, DPT, MSG, MPA, PhD, GCS, GTCCS, TRC/CTR, FSOAE, FAPTA

20 Contact Hours

This seminar will provide participants with the most up-to-date information on neurological rehabilitation of the older adult seen in any setting.  Join Dr. Carole Lewis as she demonstrates and explores examination tools and intervention protocols/ideas designed and most appropriate for older patients with diagnoses of Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and gait and balance disorders.  Cutting edge Information on the physiology of aging will also be presented as well as a special feature on burnout.  The 300-page handout includes 6,000 current medical references, detailed examination forms, outcome measures, intervention techniques, protocols and sample home exercises that can be used immediately with patients.

Orthopedic Examination and Intervention for the Older Adult

Dr. Carole B. Lewis

PT, DPT, MSG, MPA, PhD, GCS, GTCCS, TRC/CTR, FSOAE, FAPTA

20 contact hours

Learn new evidence-based examination and creative intervention techniques for a myriad of orthopedic problems of frail to robust older persons.  Dr. Carole Lewis’ all new handout contains all of the seminar slides, assessments, protocols, and thousands of references and tools. This is the most comprehensive geriatric orthopedic course in the country.

Participant Comment: “I came to this course with my wife, thinking it would be a review and it definitely was not. I have my OCS and I learned many new innovative and research-based techniques that I plan to use with my patients.”

Full Spectrum Falls Training for the Older Adult

Deborah Constantine

PT, DPT, GCS, GTCCS, CEEAA

20 Contact Hours

Falls in the older adult population continue as a medical, social, and economic crisis. In fact, fall rates over the past decade have been steadily increasing. This, despite our efforts to reduce fall rates using Clinical Practice Guidelines and directing funding toward fall prevention strategies. Patients report they remain fearful of falling. What can we as clinical practitioners do to mitigate this upward trend? Perhaps we can initiate full spectrum fall training efforts.

Effective Manual Therapy to Treat Older Adults

What Works?

Dr. Dennis Welling

PT, MTC, DPT, FSOAE

20 Contact Hours

Do you ever wonder why your older patients are not improving? Is there something you could do to make them better in a time efficient fashion? What about some great manual therapy interventions?  Dr. Dennis Welling, an experienced and dually certified manual therapist, will show you some of the most efficient and effective manual techniques you can use quickly and effectively with older adults. He will briefly present the relevant studies with demonstrations and tons of time to practice and learn these simple, but effective techniques. Additionally, he will present the common mistakes and suggestions for proper execution of this important modality. You will leave feeling competent in adding many different manual techniques to your current rehabilitation program to get great results.

Clinical Pharmacology:

Implications for Therapists Working with Older Adults

Kenneth Miller

PT, DPT, GCS, CEEAA

20 Contact Hours

Enhance Your Preparedness: Learn to Skillfully Assess and Address Medication Impact on Patient Function. Equip Yourself to Navigate the Influence of Medications on ADLs and IADLs.

This seminar provides participants with the necessary tools and information required to incorporate pharmacology and medication management into practice with older adults.  You will learn to identify and effectively manage polypharmacy and  learn techniques to help monitor patients for medication desired effects, side effects and help  physicians and nurses  safely manage medication use. Evidence-based tools and patient education resources will be provided to assist the participant with safe medication use. The course manual is a fabulous resource for daily practice.

Evidence-Based Management of Patients with Dementia

Nicole Dawson

PT, PhD, GCS

20 contact hours

Do you know which aspects of cognition are the strongest throughout the progression of dementia? Do you feel confident in your ability to use your patient’s cognitive abilities to promote a successful episode of care? That’s what this course is about. While patients with dementia pose unique challenges to rehabilitation professionals, the potential benefits from quality therapy is astounding.

This course will provide a better understanding of cognitive aging and build your skills and confidence in your ability to improve the quality of life of your patients with dementia. Barriers to treatment will be addressed along with best practice and evidence-based approaches to overcome the challenges to improving functional outcomes for these patients. The different types of dementia will be discussed, highlighting effective strategies to maximize patient outcomes. Understanding the use of a strength-based approach will be emphasized to help you and your staff better treat this growing and unique group of patients.

Exercise Can Change the Parkinson Brain!

Valerie A. Carter

PT, DPT, NCS, GCS

20 contact hours

Valerie Carter is one of the most entertaining yet top experts in the field of Parkinson’s Disease. She owns her own successful clinic, does her own outstanding research and is one of the country’s most animated speakers on this topic. This course has tons of research based clinically useful information for the clinician seeking to provide better care to their patients with Parkinsons Disease. This course will cover pathophysiology, etiology and differential diagnosis, as well as medications. The remainder of the course will be a deep dive into appropriate tests and measures and the most effective interventions for patients aging with Parkinson Disease.

Functional Standards for Optimal Aging Expert

J. Kele Murdin

PT, MPT, GCS, GTCCS, CEEAA, FSOAE

20 Contact Hours

The FSOAE course is based on the Adult Functional Independence Test (AFIT), which comprises 15 functional assessments used to measure the key components of optimal aging for middle age and older adults: posture, flexibility, balance, endurance, and strength.
All AFIT measures are research-based and provide national norms or predictive analytics – the scores that indicate risk. Participants learn the evidence supporting each measure, how to correctly perform each assessment and how to explain the implications to their patients/ clients. Evidence based exercises will be provided as suggested resources for the problems identified.
Course participants will participate in case studies, which include incorporating these principles into a plan of care, and counseling patients with regard to the appropriate course of action. Information on marketing this tool to physicians, health agencies, and the community is provided and practical, how-to handouts are included that the course participants can download and use immediately.
An article published in October 2016 in the American Heart Association journal Circulation set off a media frenzy because it proposed making cardiovascular fitness (CFR) the 6th vital sign. The evidence presented was compelling and recognizing physical fitness as a vital sign would be a huge step in the right direction. However, the definition of physical fitness needs to be expanded beyond cardiovascular health to include all aspects of fitness that affect optimal aging: posture, flexibility, gait and balance, endurance, and strength. This is where Functional Standards for Optimal Aging Experts (FSOAE) will be able to demonstrate a valuable role in wellness as well as rehabilitation.
Physical and occupational therapists who embrace the concept that functional assessment and treatment is their domain and who wish to become experts in AFIT are encouraged to take this course.
This course provides thorough training in executing the AFIT with a variety of clients. In addition, there is little point to assessing and prescribing perfect exercises plans if patient/client compliance is low. Therefore, course participants will learn techniques to motivate patients/clients to engage in exercise programs tailored to their individual needs. Course participants will also receive printable exercise prescription forms.
All AFIT measures are research-based and most provide predictive analytics – the scores that indicate risk. Participants learn the evidence supporting each measure, how to correctly perform each assessment and how to explain the implications to their patients/ clients. Evidence based exercises will be provided as suggested resources for the problems identified. Course participants will observe case studies, which include counseling patients with regard to the appropriate course of action. Information on marketing this tool to physicians, health agencies, and the community is provided and practical, how-to handouts are included that the course participants can download and use immediately.
The AFIT (Adult Functional Independence Test) for Optimal Aging, a 5-hour video course by Dr. Carole Lewis available at Great Seminars Online, is recommended but not required prior to taking the FSOAE course.

Interventions for Older Adults Across the Continuum

Linda McAllister

PT, DPT, GCS, GTCCS, CEEAA, CEAGN, FSOAE

20 contact hours

In this course, Linda McAllister pares down research into the most clinically applicable nuggets that can produce the best patient results. But the true brilliance of this course is in its commitment not just to teaching new content, but to skill development.

Over 50% of the course is devoted to practicing the techniques presented.

This course puts new tools and protocols at your fingertips, so you’re comfortable implementing them right away. You’ll take home over 50 new evidence based treatment protocols for older adults that you can use immediately to get great results.

The surge of aging baby boomers gives us a rich opportunity as they enter our clinics in unprecedented numbers. Join Linda McAllister to update your knowledge, skills and confidence in treating this population. Walk away with a toolbox full of research supported evaluation tools and intervention protocols and the ability to implement these innovations with confidence.

Maximizing Mobility, Balance, Gait, and Fall Reduction Strategies to Improve Functional Outcomes in Older Adults

Trent Brown

MOT, OTR/L, ATP, CFPS, CGCP, BCG

20 contact hours

How can I improve quality of life and participation in meaningful activity while meeting the demands of the industry? How can I effectively evaluate and provide treatment strategies addressing stability, mobility, falls, confidence, gait, and mobility with my clients in their specific context?

If these questions are occupying your thoughts these days, then this innovative, evidence-based course is for you. You’ll learn new perspectives, at least a dozen assessment tools that provide objective data, and 2-3 dozen treatment strategies. And…you’ll be engaged and energized.

Trent Brown is known for making learning fun. His course is based on solid evidence, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t engaging. He is crazy creative! To make sure that you leave with practices that can be put to use safely tomorrow, he devotes 6-7 hours of this course to lab work. You will learn, practice, get feedback, and then practice again until you have mastered the skills.

Trent’s course manual is referred to as a picture book because it includes pictures of deficits, pictures of research results that address the problem (actual pictures, not just words), and then pictures of a therapist using assessments and interventions while working with a patient. Participants LOVE the picture book and many have told Trent that they attend his course because they’ve seen their colleagues’ picture book.

Rehabilitation Strategies for the Older Adult with Multi-Morbidity

Dr. Debra Gray

PT, DHSc, DPT, GCS, CEEAA, GTCCS, FSOAE, CAPS

20 contact hours

As the population ages, rehabilitation specialists must be prepared to recognize and consider the multiple chronic conditions commonly seen in older adults. The purpose of this seminar is to provide participants with the most current information and evidence on multi-morbidity with aging, components of comprehensive geriatric examination, and the implications of common chronic conditions in the development and implementation of highly skilled rehabilitation programs for medically complex older persons. The interactive seminar format combines lecture, discussion, videos, case studies, and hands-on activities to present the most recent research, examination tools, and interventions for older adults with multi-morbidity. An extensive course manual includes current primary references, detailed evaluation forms, outcome measures, suggested protocols, sample home exercises, and progressions.

Therapeutic Exercise for the Older Adult

Mark Traffas

PT, GTCCS, FSOAE

20 Contact Hours

Exercise is our most effective modality, so why not learn about the latest most innovative and evidence-based interventions that are currently available. Mark Traffas, who is a working clinician and educator, is gifted in his ability to take research and convert it into clinically usable information. You will leave with tons of new, creative and effective exercises for every joint in the body as well as for patients with stroke, Parkinson’s disease, balance impairments and so much more.

Exercising older patients can present a unique challenge to therapists. Take on that challenge and give your patients the best care you can. Take this course for tools you can use immediately!

Taking Balance to the Limits

Janene Barber

PT, GTCCS, FSOAE

20 Contact Hours

Do you feel at times that you have designed and delivered the best gait and balance program and yet your patients still have some problems with their balance?

This course goes beyond all you have learned about the effects of speed, strength, and range of motion limitations as causes for balance dysfunction. You will leave with an in-depth knowledge and skill in the postural dyscontrol, somatosensation and vestibular arenas. The instructor has taught and treated extensively in this area with astounding results with her patients and clinicians. Her skills in this area are unparalleled.

Total Joint Arthroplasty

Alisa Curry

PT, DPT, GTCCS, GCS, FSOAE, CSRS

20 Contact Hours

Total joint arthroplasty, as a treatment strategy for arthritis, has improved the lives of millions of patients. The role of Physical Therapy, however, has adapted to the speed at which patients improve function. The field has evolved due to the advancement of surgical techniques, components, and pain management.

This course helps to educate clinicians on the multidisciplinary role over the entire care continuum. We evaluate, discuss, and develop care strategies for patients living with older joint implants, patients preparing for surgery and postoperative joint arthroplasty in the world of rapid recovery. We will integrate a combination of lectures, case studies, interactive participation, and videos into a comprehensive educational experience.

By examining the procedures of the hip, knee and shoulder, clinicians will explore patient pathologies, understanding the role of pharmacology, the role of education and the rehabilitation role in the interdisciplinary treatment team. Participants will learn a variety of treatment ideas and outcome tools to improve existing protocols.