Contact Hours: 7.0 hoursIntended Audience: Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants. The course is designed as lecture and lab. A portion of the day will be spent exercising. Please dress in comfortable exercise attire.
- June 20, 2009 @ Creative Therapy Resource, Ltd; 1683 Elk Blvd, Des Plaines, IL
- November 7, 2009 @ Radisson Hotel Chicago O'Hare; 1450 E. Touhy, Des Plaines, IL
This course has been approved by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation for 7 contact hours for PT's and PTA's. Certificates of attendance are provided upon successful completion of the course.
On the date of the course, registration is from 8:00-8:30 am. Course begins at 8:30 and concludes at 4:00pm. A one hour lunch will be scheduled (on your own).
Course Description:
This evidence based course will allow you to effectively evaluate and treat patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) at all levels of function. Current research regarding assessment and treatment of PD will be reviewed to allow you to use this evidence in your clinical decision-making. The use of evidence-based evaluation tools will be included.
The pathophysiology of Parkinson’s and other movement disorders will be discussed including the effects of medications. Treatment and assessment strategies to address all areas typically affected by Parkinson’s disease will be covered:
- Gait
- Functional mobility
- Strength
- Flexibility
- Cardiovascular function
A lab session will allow all therapists to learn and practice exercises designed for individuals with PD. Additionally, assessment of fall risk and reduction of fall risk factors will be taught. The role of physical therapy within the interdisciplinary team role will be discussed.
Course Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Describe the typical characteristics of Parkinson’s disease and how they impact Physical Therapy
- Describe evidence-based evaluation tools to assess gait, balance and fall risk in people with PD
- Identify evidence-based treatment strategies to address the following domains of exercise in people with PD: gait, functional mobility, strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular.
- Explain 2 uses of the treadmill for people with PD
- Identify intrinsic and extrinsic fall risk factors and assessment methods for people with PD
- Identify the cognitive deficits commonly seen with PD and how they impact treatment and education
- Describe the role of the interdisciplinary team in the care of people with PD
About the Instructor: Miriam Rafferty, PT, DPT
Miriam Rafferty received her Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy from Washington University. She currently holds a research position at Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago’s Neurolocomotion Lab. Dr. Rafferty is a RIC Brown Fellowship Award recipient for her research project “Assessment and Treatment of Episodic Gait Disturbance in Parkinson’s Disease.
Additionally, she is the lead physical therapist in the in-patient rehabilitation Parkinson’s Disease program and out-patient Parkinson’s clinic at RIC. Dr. Rafferty has been an instructor at several RIC courses and has lectured to the Eastern District of the IPTA about Parkinson´s disease and her research.
