Dates:  May 23 – 25 and June 7 – 8, 2025

This an advanced course is designed for physical and occupational therapists who work with adult individuals’ post-stroke and/or brain injury. This course is developed for therapists who are interested in further developing their assessment and treatment skills to enhance the client/patient’s function in the upright posture. The interrelationship of the lower extremity with other body segments and systems is emphasized. Analysis of functional tasks, specifically the movement components that contribute to a person's independent performance of tasks in the upright posture will be addressed. Therapists will have an opportunity to revisit the biomechanical components of typical gait, discuss and analyze common deviations of gait in the above-mentioned patient populations and learn potential treatment strategies to diminish the impact of gait deviations on the client/patient’s ability to function while ambulating. The content will be covered through lectures, labs, group problem-solving, patient demonstration by instructors and participants will treat patients 4 of the course days.

Course Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course the participants will be able to:

• Compare and contrast components of typical lower extremity biomechanics and gait to a client’s gait pattern
• Analyze gait deviations and hypothesize how they will impact a client’s participation in functional activities including functional use of the UE in the upright posture
• Analyze effective and ineffective posture and movement and problem solve the impact on a client’s functional abilities/limitations as it relates to gait and function in the upright posture
• Create an impairment list that prioritizes significant impairments which interfere with the client’s function in an upright posture
• Create a treatment plan that integrates appropriate treatment strategies, is goal-oriented and addresses the client’s primary impairments
• Apply and perform handling skills appropriately, during treatment practicum, to support a client’s goals and optimize their function in an upright posture

Requirements
Participants must be a registered Physical Therapist or Occupational Therapist who has successfully completed an NDT/Bobath Certificate Course. Therapist must be registered to practice in Ontario or hold a courtesy registration from the College of Physiotherapists or Occupational Therapists of Ontario.

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