NDT – Challenges in Gait – June 8, 2023

Workshop Description:

In order for individuals’ post-stroke or brain injury to be truly independent when walking, they need to be challenged beyond forward walking. Functional gait includes being able to walk at different speeds, on different surfaces, changing directions, combining gait with other activities and negotiating stairs. Often this is difficult for many individuals who have suffered a neurological injury. 

This one-day workshop will present NDT principles related to preparation for and treating in function during standing and walking. This workshop will focus on strategies to facilitate the trunk, UE and LE with the goal of challenging individuals’ post-stroke or brain injury in standing, during gait, and while performing various functional activities. These functional activities include forward and backward walking, turning, and stair climbing. The workshop will provide an opportunity for analysis of biomechanics and the assessment of movement dysfunction in an individual post-stroke or brain injury during these functional activities.

Workshop Objectives:

Upon completion of this workshop the participants will be able to:
1. Identify components of typical gait
2. Demonstrate basic skill in analyzing atypical components of trunk, upper and lower extremity
function, frequently associated with conditions of neurological dysfunction, during activities in
standing, during gait and on the stairs.
3. Demonstrate basic handling skills to enhance patient’s movement as related to his/her
functional goals during standing, gait and on the stairs.

Instructor: Karen Guha, PT, CIDN, C/NDT, NDTA™ Coordinator Instructor

Karen is a physiotherapist at Grand River Hospital and Back Works Spinal & Sports Rehabilitation. She received her Physical Therapy degree from the University of Toronto in 1996 and became NDT trained in 1999. Karen became a NDTA™ PT Instructor in 2007, a NDTA™ Coordinator Instructor in 2011, and a NDTA™ Advanced Course Instructor in 2014. She has over 25 years’ experience working with adults with neurological impairments in acute, rehabilitation and outpatient settings. Karen has taught NDT courses throughout North America and internationally. 

Format:

Workshop format will include a short lecture and then practical hands-on lab sessions for the remainder of the day. During lab sessions, participants will have the opportunity to analyze
typical movement and practice handling skills on their fellow participants. Participants will have the opportunity to problem solve how these handling skills will be modified and progressed to promote functional improvements in standing and during gait activities.

Workshop Agenda: 

8:00 – 8:15 Introduction
8:15 – 9:15 Lecture: Typical gait
9:15 -10:00 Lab: Facilitating gait
10:00 -10:15 Break
10:15 -11:00 Lab: Bombarding mid stance
11:00 – 11:45 Lab: Analysis and facilitation of stair climbing, descend backwards
11:45 -12:30 Lab: Analysis and facilitation of backward stepping
12:30 -1:00 Lunch
1:00 -1:45 Lab: Facilitation of stair climbing, descending forward
1:45 -2:30 Lab: Analysis and facilitation of turning
2:30-3:00 Lab: Strategies for swing

Requirements:

Participants must be a registered Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Therapy Assistant or Registered Kinesiologist who work with individuals who have suffered from stroke, brain injury or other neuromotor disorders. Participants must provide stroke care within the Central South Region of Ontario.

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