Neuroplasticity and Stroke Rehab: A Roadmap to Functional Recovery – Benjamin White

Course Description

Neuroplasticity and Stroke Rehab: A Roadmap to Functional Recovery – Benjamin White

Rewiring the Brain for Better Recovery

More and more, people are coming through our doors for treatment post-stroke. However, we find ourselves torn between promoting -recovery and the reality of ever-decreasing rehab length of stays, which force us to focus on function alone. This pressure can cause us to resort to quick fixes or shortcuts that may help in the short-term, but may not have proper evidence for long-term recovery. Stroke rehab is not a quick fix. The fact is that we are increasingly pressured to provide evidence that our interventions are working (can someone say G Codes!). The critical necessity for rehabilitation professionals to act decisively, responsibly, and effectively with this growing population cannot be overstated.

Get the roadmap to stroke rehab that actually leads to recovery in this impactful course. Discuss common impairments seen in stroke (e.g., apraxia, neglect, pusher syndrome) and the interventions based on current principles of neuroplasticity to treat these impairments. Evidence-based treatments of the hemiparetic/hemiplegic upper and lower extremities after stroke will be covered as well. By the end of the course, you will walk away with the tools and resources needed to effectively improve outcomes for your stroke patients.

1. Recall basic concepts of motor control as they apply to persons with stroke
2. Apply basic principles of motor learning to persons with stroke
3. List the causes and evidence-based treatments for some common impairments in stroke
4. Recognize some of the commonly used outcome measures in stroke rehabilitation
5. Determine the basic features of gait after stroke, as well as bracing options and a defined treatment protocol for gait recovery after stroke
6. List evidence-based approaches for treatment of all extremities after stroke, including determining prognosis for recovery
7. Analyze differences between various forms of weakness involving force production, timing, and sustainability

MOTOR LEARNING AND NEUROPLASTICITY

• Defined
• Various motor learning phases in the rehab process

COMMON STROKE RELATED IMPAIRMENTS WITH SPECIFIC TREATMENT METHODS

• Ataxia
• Hemiparesis
• Neglect
• Pusher Syndrome
• Subluxation
• Decreased Sensation

OUTCOME MEASURES

• Progress measures with the use of G-coding
  • Acute stroke
  • Chronic stroke
  • Continuum of care

STRENGTH RECOVERY AFTER STROKE

• Forms of strength
  • Force production
  • Timing
  • Sustainability
  • Eccentric vs Concentric
• Kinetic chains
  • Open
  • Closed
  • Modified closed
  • When to use each

TACKLING OF UPPER AND LOWER EXTREMITY PARESES (CASE STUDY ICON)

• Upper extremity
• Lower extremity
• Four limbs simultaneously
  • How
  • Why
  • Constraint-induced movement therapy
  • Bimanual vs unimanual training

CLINICAL REASONING

• Power of salience
• Thinking beyond sets of ten
• Constraint-induced movement therapy

FITT PRINCIPLE

CLINCIAL REASONING (CASE STUDY ICON)

SUMMARIZATION AND SYNCHRONIZATION