*Course Description:

The treatment of individuals with spinal cord injury is both challenging and rewarding. As therapists we have a unique opportunity to teach skills that have a lifelong impact for these individuals. The challenging part is to know what each individuals potential may be, and having the tools to assist each individual to their highest potential. Our role is a blend of teacher, coach, taskmaster and friend, and determining the correct portions of each is a finesse game at best. As Martha Somers states,"It is not enough merely to know the eventual outcome, which may take months to accomplish. The therapist must know how to breakdown a functional task into it's component parts and to work on these components while developing the strength and flexibility required for the task."

Rehabilitation is defined as returning an individual to a lifestyle that is healthy, fulfilling and independent as possible. This course is designed to provide a comprehensive treatment approach of the person with spinal cord injury from onset of injury through advanced rehab and outpatient needs. It is designed to help clinicians to know the "eventual" functional levels for different injury levels and to have a better understanding of how to progress their clients to reach their highest functional level. The rehabilitation of a person from moment of injury to "highest potential" is a lengthy and extraordinary process requiring support from all disciplines, as well as family and friends. Participants will leave this course with more knowledge and better tools to assist their very deserving clients with spinal cord injuries.

Course Objectives:

1.  All participants will be able to determine neurological level and classification using ASIA guidelines, develop treatment strategies, and project functional outcomes for all diagnoses.

2.  All participants will be able to describe medical complications associated with spinal cord injury.

3.  All participants will acquire knowledge about basic and advanced functional mobility progression with individuals with paraplegia and quadriplegia.

4. All participants will acquire knowledge about adaptive equipment including DME, wheelchair-seating systems, and wheelchair cushions.

5.   All participants will receive information related to adaptive driving and recreation related to SCI.

6.  Physical Therapy participants will be able to determine orthotic and gait requirements for complete and incomplete clients and be knowledgeable regarding current concepts in FES/NMES use with SCI.

7. Physical Therapy participants will be able to progress clients through beginning to advance wheelchair skills.

8. Occupational Therapy participants will be knowledgeable regarding splinting techniques/hand function and mobile arm supports.

9. Occupational Therapy participants will be knowledgeable about environmental aides of daily living.

       * Course material and Presenters are subject to change without notice