Treating the Individual with Ataxia – NDT Workshop in the Management of Adults with Stroke and Brain Injury – December 5, 2024

Workshop Description:

This one-day workshop provides an opportunity for health care professionals to gain insight into treating the individual with ataxia. Treating the individual with ataxia can often be a very challenging experience for the clinician. Perhaps this is because we have focused on addressing the clinical symptoms rather than the underlying impairments. This workshop will explore primary impairments present in the individual with ataxia, current theoretical evidence and treatment strategies using a NDT approach. The overall objective of this workshop is to provide clinicians with knowledge and skills they can use in treating the individual with ataxia to promote positive functional outcomes.

Course Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of the course the participants will:

• • Gain knowledge of the current literature and how we use this information within the NDT Practice Model in treating the individual with ataxia
  • Identify major impairments interfering with typical movement and function in the individual with ataxia.
  • Demonstrate handling skills to address impairments in the individual with ataxia and work within functional activities including activities in sitting, standing and gait.
  • Demonstrate an increased repertoire of evaluation and treatment strategies for the individual with ataxia.

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

Karen is a physiotherapist at Grand River Hospital and Back Works Spinal and 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 and a NDTA™ Coordinator Instructor in 2011.  In 2017 Karen completed her certification in Integrated Dry Needling.  Karen has over 28 years’ experience working with adults with neurological impairments in acute, rehabilitation and outpatient settings.  Karen has taught NDT courses throughout North America and internationally.

Course Format:

This workshop will include a short lecture and then laboratory practical sessions for the remainder of the day. During lab sessions, participants will have the opportunity to analyze normal movement and practice handling skills to facilitate functional movement patterns in normal adults.

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 neurological disorders

Workshop Agenda: 

• 9:00 – 9:15       Introduction
• 9:15 – 10:30     Lecture: Treating the Individual with Ataxia
• 10:30 – 10-45  Lab: Exploring the Task
• 10:45 – 11:00    Break
• 11:00 – 1:00   Lab: Strategies in sitting – coactivated trunk, creating boundaries, progression in siting – using consequences, reducing the BOS – push/pull objects, squat
• 1:00 – 1:45      Lunch
• 1:45 – 3:00        Lab: Strategies in standing – sit to stand options, facilitating standing – incorporating the UE in the task, stepping to target, stepping up, tipping objects, etc.
• 3:00 – 4:00       Lab: Gait

Please note that this workshop has reached capacity. You may indicate your interest to be added to the waitlist by emailing Tina Vallentin, Regional Stroke Education and Data Coordinator, at vallent@hhsc.ca.

**Please note that this workshop will take place at St. Peter’s Hospital, in Hamilton, Ontario and is only open to stroke care providers in the Central South Region. 

In your response, include the following information:

• Work Email
• Profession
• Place of work  
• Role in the stroke continuum (i.e., acute, inpatient rehab, community, etc.)

Participants will be notified by October 31st. Seats will be distributed with consideration for representation of stroke care providers across the Central South region and across the continuum of care. If the workshop has not reached maximum capacity, registration requests will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis as of October 31st.