Vestibular Rehab & Balance Training unpublished

Karen Hogan-Curran, PT, DPT

Online Course

Includes all course content in digital format

Prerequisites Required
6 hours - Provided by Summit Professional Education

Item: physi-ONDEMANDGVESKC1

Description

According to the Vestibular Disorders Association, over 90 million Americans age 17 and older, have experienced a dizziness or balance problem at some point in their lives. Almost 8 million people in the US have a problem with balance that has lasted over 3 months and 2.5 million report a chronic dizziness problem. With the large amount of baby boomers entering "retirement age", there is increased concern about falling. Most people over the age of 70 report some problem with dizziness and balance and balance-related falls account for more than one-half of the accidental deaths in the elderly. In addition, individuals with a diagnosed vestibular problem who also exhibit symptoms have an incidence of falling that is 12 times that of the general population. Overall, the cost of medical care for patients with balance disorders exceeds $1 billion per year in the US. Getting effective treatment is frequently complicated by the challenge of diagnosing the specific source of the problem and finding clinicians with the knowledge and experience to treat these problems.

This interactive workshop will cover the anatomy, physiology and function of the vestibular system and the vestibular system's important role in balance and mobility. It is designed to give therapists and clinicians basic essential information needed to assess and treat uncomplicated vestibular dysfunction as well as incidence, diagnosis and treatment of balance related disorders. Attendees will learn the various types of vestibular disorders, how they affect different populations and basic clinical tools for appropriate evaluation and treatment strategies. The instructor will frequently use case studies and hands on labs to bring real world relevance.

Highlights

  • Inner-ear Anatomy and Physiology and what every therapist needs to know
  • Various diagnoses and their impact on vestibular/balance control such as BPPV, Meniere's, Vestibular Labyrinthitis & Neuronitis, etc.
  • Evaluation & Assessment Tools needed for evaluation and treatment of vestibular and balance disorders
  • Hands-on Labs of Evaluation and Treatment Techniques for better patient outcomes
  • Case Studies and Pharmacological implications
  • The Balance Control System and its direct impact on a patient's ability to maintain balance and function in daily living

Learning Objectives

  1. Examine the incidence and etiology of vestibular dysfunction.
  2. Demonstrate an appropriate understanding of the vestibular system, the various disorders and the subsequent implications on a patient's ability to perform ADLs.
  3. Analyze intensity and duration of symptoms and the significance of past medical history.
  4. Examine various fundamental assessment tools for testing vestibular dysfunction.
  5. Analyze the balance control system and the interdependence of gaze and postural stabilization on maintaining balance.
  6. Implement appropriate assessment and treatment ofBPPV.
  7. Distinguish common clinical signs and symptoms of the dizzy and imbalanced patient and how to incorporate andprogress appropriate treatment.

Course Content

Vestibular Rehab & Balance Training
SCORM Package
Next Steps
Module
  1. Why Therapists Need to Know How to Treat Vestibular and Balance Disorders
    1. Age and population
    2. Undiagnosed / misdiagnosed
    3. Identifying vestibular dysfunction
    4. Practical vestibular assessment and application
  2. How the Inner Ear Affects the Function of Your Patients
    1. Inner ear anatomy and function
    2. Neurophysiology of balance
    3. Common dysfunctions within the inner ear
    4. Differentiating dizziness symptoms from balance disorders
  3. Asking the Right Questions to Determine the Type of Vestibular Dysfunction
    1. Significance of past medical history
    2. Mechanism of injury
    3. Symptom description, intensity, and duration
    4. Pharmacology
  4. Comprehensive Vestibular and Balance Evaluation Strategies
    1. Balance assessment
    2. Gait assessment
    3. Vestibular assessment
    4. ADL assessment
  5. Evaluation Practice Lab: What to Assess and How to Assess it
    1. Dix Hallpike
    2. Oculomotor testing
    3. Balance testing
  6. Identifying Vestibular Disorders Based on Your Evaluation
    1. Differential diagnosis and symptomology of vestibular disorders
    2. Labyrinthitis
    3. Vestibular neuritis
    4. Meniere's
    5. BPPV
  7. Treatment Practice Lab: Efficient Progressions toImprove Balance
    1. Central pathology
    2. Psychological implications
    3. Exercises to improve balance and ADL
    4. Progression of balance exercises
    5. Vestibular exercises
    6. Progression of vestibular exercises
    7. Epley maneuver

Karen Hogan-Curran, PT, DPT graduated with her degree in physical therapy from SUNY StonyBrook in 1996 and received her DPT degree from Touro College in 2010. She was awarded the Susan Herdman Certificate of Competency in Vestibular Rehab in 2002 from Emory University and attained her Advanced Competency in Vestibular Rehab from Duke University in 2014. She spent six years at the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation in NYC where she was a senior physical therapist gaining experience with pediatrics, neurological rehab, cardiac rehab, and orthopedics. Dr. Hogan-Curran also spent one year at Rusk treating patients with vestibular and balance disorders. After leaving Rusk, she was the Program Director of a local vestibular and balance clinic for 14 years before beginning work at Peak Performance/Ivy Rehab in 2016. She is currently the Neuro Team lead at Ivy Rehab. She is also faculty at Summit Professional Education where she has been teaching Vestibular and Balance rehab at facilities across the country since 2012. She also teaches at both Touro College and SUNY StonyBrook.


DISCLOSURES

FINANCIAL: Karen Hogan-Curran is compensated by Summit and as an instructor.

NONFINANCIAL: Karen Hogan-Curran has no nonfinancial relationships to disclose.

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