Treating the Individual with Ataxia - Virtual NDT Workshop with Karen Guha

Treating the Individual with Ataxia - A Virtual NDT Workshop

Workshop description:

This one-day virtual 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 the NDTA (TM) Contemporary Practice Model. 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.

The workshop will contain didactic information, group breakout sessions, detailed labinformation with handouts, and videos to watch. The session with have live, virtual interaction with the instructor throughout the workshop. There is also an optional lab component for those individuals who would like time to practice the labs and receive live virtual feedback from the instructor. Individuals who register for this component will need to have a colleague, family member or friend who are available for the lab practice.

Workshop Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of the workshop the participants will:

• Apply evidence-based practice from the current literature in order to make effective clinical decisions when treating the individual with ataxia.

• Identify major impairments interfering with normal movement and function in the individual with ataxia.

• Gain various treatment strategies to address impairments in the individual with ataxia, and work within functional activities including in sitting, standing and gait.

Workshop Schedule:

8-8:15 Introduction

8:15-8:45 Treating the Individual with Ataxia – Exploring the research and primary

impairments

8:45-9:30 Principles of Intervention – Trunk Facilitation

9:30-10:15 Principles of Intervention – Exploring the Task

10:15-10:30 Break

10:30-11:30 Strategies to Promote Recovery in Standing and During Gait

Lab –Sit to stand, activities in standing, gait11:30-12:00 Wrap Up12:00-1:00 Open Lab Practice

Instructor:

Karen Guha, PT, BScPT, C/NDT, CIDN, NDTA Coordinator InstructorKaren Guha is a registered physical therapist who graduated from the University of Toronto in1996 with a BSc PT. Karen worked in the United States for 3 ½ years treating individuals with neurological diagnoses in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. She returned to Canada in 2000 and began working at Grand River Hospital (GRH), Kitchener, Ontario. Karen worked on the acute stroke unit, inpatient and outpatient neuro rehabilitation settings at GRH. She presently works in the outpatient Neuro Rehabilitation Clinic at GRH treating individuals who suffer fromstroke, acquired brain injury, spinal cord injury and other neurological diagnoses. In addition, she works with individuals privately in their home or community and at Back Works Spinal and Sports Rehabilitation, Waterloo, Ontario. Karen has over 20 years experience working with individuals with neurological impairments.Karen began her NDT training in 1998 by completing her Certificate Course (for adults with hemiplegia), and has since taken several advance level courses. In 2002 Karen became an Instructor Candidate and began assisting on various NDT courses. Karen became a NDTA PT instructor in 2007 and a NDTA Coordinator Instructor in 2011. Karen is also qualified to teach NDT Advanced courses. She has taught NDT courses in Canada, the United States and internationally. Karen became certified in Integrated Dry Needling in 2017.

Requirements:

Participants must be a registered Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech- Language Pathologist, Therapy Assistant or Registered Kinesiologist who work with individuals who have suffered from stroke or brain injury. You will need to have access to Zoom. Participants MUST work with patients with stroke in the CENTRAL SOUTH REGION of Ontario.