| Description |
This course is intended primarily for physical therapists, orthotists and medical practitioners working with children, and is also relevant to those working with adults. The course explores a fresh approach to the observation and analysis of normal and abnormal patterns of standing, stepping and walking with full gait cycles. The kinematics and kinetics of normal standing and walking and the abnormal gait patterns of disabling conditions will be reviewed, with particular reference to orthotic management and rehabilitation programs. The emphasis of patient cases will focus on cerebral palsy, myelomenigocoele and other neurological conditions. Participants will review the short and long term goals of orthotic management, in all areas of the ICF, and how to achieve them through: the biomechanics of ankle foot orthoses, the influence of footwear, varieties of “AFO footwear combinations”, use of clinical algorithms to design, align and tuning “AFO footwear combinations” in order to optimize standing and walking for the variety of gait patterns, and also the rehabilitation programs that may accompany orthotic provision. Video vector gait laboratory examples and patient discussions in small and large groups will help participants refine their clinical decision-making skills in gait analysis and orthosis design and alignment. Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to apply the principles directly into their working practice. A comprehensive manual accompanies the course.
Successful completion:
Participants will complete 5 hours of self study activities in advance of this three day course (earning 20.5 contact hours + 5.0 contact hours= 25.5) These self study activities for the course will consist of readings and an exercise to better understand terminology and definitions necessary to the fundamentals of the course. Participants will fill out an assessment of this material prior to the live course. During the on-site portion of the course, participants must sign in and complete an online evaluation.
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