Whats on the horizon for stroke rehab?

Researchers at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center may have found a way to help prep a stroke victim’s brain prior to physical therapy to aid a more complete recovery. A non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS,  prepares a stroke patient’s brain for physical therapy by sending low-frequency magnetic pulses painlessly through a victim’s scalp to suppress activity in the healthy part of the motor cortex. This allows the injured side to make use of more energy during physical therapy, which immediately follows the TMS.

Please click here for the full article found in the Washington Post

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Richard Clendaniel – Vestibular Expert, Publishes Paper in the Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy

Richard Clendaniel, PT, PhD Richard Clendaniel, PT, PhD[/caption]

Richard Clendaniel, PhD, PT, vestibular expert and instructor for Education Resources publishes a paper in the Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy (34:2): 111-116, 2010 

Summary: 
The efficacy of both habituation and adaptation exercise interventions in the treatment of unilateral vestibular hypofunction has been demonstrated in several prior studies. The purpose of this paper, by Richard Clendaniel, was to describe the preliminary results of a study that compared the effects of these two different exercise approaches on outcomes related to vestibular function. 

Seven participants with unilateral vestibular hypofunction completed a 6-week exercise intervention after randomized assignment to either habituation (H) exercises, or gaze-stability (GS) adaptation exercises. The following measures were taken pre-treatment and post-treatment: Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) to measure the symptom impact, motion sensitivity quotient (MSQ) to assess sensitivity to head movements, and the dynamic visual acuity test (DVA) as a measure of gaze-stability during head movements.

Gaze-stability and habituation exercises have previously been shown to decrease symptoms of dizziness and increase function in individuals with vestibular disorders. The preliminary results of this study indicate that both exercise interventions lead to a reduction in the self-report measure of the impact of symptoms on the ability to function, a decrease in the sensitivity to movements, and an improvement in the ability to see clearly during head movements. The author states: “Continued investigation will be needed to determine if these results will hold, to determine if there are different effects of the two interventions, and to determine the mechanisms of improved visual acuity.”

The actual mechanisms underlying the improved dynamic visual acuity test (DVA) for either intervention are not known. Analysis of the eye movements during the DVA test both pre- and post-intervention may help elucidate these mechanisms but were considered beyond the scope of this paper.

Dr. Clendaniel, recently appointed to the Medical Advisory Board for VEDA; Vestibular Disorders Association, teaches a number of Vestibular Rehab courses for Education Resources including the new Cervicogenic Dizziness online course:

Vestibular Rehabilitation: Evaluation and Management of Individuals with Dizziness and Balance Disorders

Vestibular Rehabilitation: Advanced

Online Course:Vestibular Rehabilitation: Cervicogenic Dizziness

Clinicians: What has been your experience treating patients with unilateral vestibular hypofunction? Do you utilize habituation exercises, gaze-stability adaptation exercises or both? Will this research change what you do clinically?

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Vestibular Rehab Series Now Available Online from Education Resources Inc.

Vestibular RehabilitationEducation Resources, a leading provider of evidence-based continuing education, is thrilled to announce the launch of its new vestibular rehabilitation online course series.

The first offering in the series,

Vestibular Rehabilitation: Cervicogenic Dizziness 

 

 

is recorded live from international vestibular expert Dr. Richard Clendaniel’s highly acclaimed Evaluation and Management of Individuals with Dizziness and Balance Disorders course, and is now available. 

This 5 hour course will focus on the assessment and treatment of one cause of vertigo, cervicogenic dizziness, and how to distinguish it from central vestibular deficits.  Through lecture, case studies, demonstrations and extensive directed lab practice, participants will enhance their skills in vestibular rehabilitation. It is recommended for individuals who have experience with or who have previously taken a two day course in vestibular rehabilitation. 

$159 for 5 CEU hours 

Education Resources online courses are the next best thing to attending live:

  • Engaging CEU’s on demand
  • Learn at your convenience – access the courses for a full year
  • Advance your skills
  • Expand your knowledge
  • Learn from leading experts

Please Visit our FAQ Page to Learn More

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Therapies in the School Speaker Highlight – Cathy Stern

 

As the annual Therapies in the School Conference draws near we would like to highlight one of the dynamic speakers and the session she is presenting:

Dr. Cathy D. Stern OD, FCDO, FCOVD, FNORA  is known for “treating the visual side of learning”. She provides developmental, behavioral and neuro-optometric rehabilitation in private practice and as a consultant at the Massachusetts Hospital School. Dr,. Stern is She received her Doctor of Optometry degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 1980. She is a developmental and behavioral optometrist with specialized training in learning-related vision problems, vision rehabilitation, computer vision syndrome and sports vision strength training.

She has extensive experience working with children and adults with learning problems, add/adhd, non-verbal learning disability, cerebral palsy, autism and the multiply challenged. She also is involved with vision rehabilitation following head trauma and stroke. Dr. Stern has presented workshops and seminars for physicians, teachers, psychologists, occupational, physical, speech therapists and other professionals who work with special populations.

She is a Fellow in the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (FCOVD) and the College of Syntonic Optometry (FCSO). She is also trained in Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation. Dr. Stern is State Director of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development, Vice President of the College of Syntonic Optometry and Massachusetts Keyperson for the American Optometric Association Sports Vision Section. The Massachusetts Society of Optometrists recently recognized her as a leader in vision therapy.

Presenting:

Visual Thinking: A New Paradigm to Maximize Success with School-Based Therapies
Visual Thinking involves seeing clearly and processing visual information in the brain for accurate motor action. We will demonstrate techniques to help a student better use visual thinking for reading, writing, math, attention, memory and sports.

Cathy is presenting this session with Donna McCrorey OTR/L an Occupational Therapist at the Massachusetts Hospital School for over twelve years where she specializes in the care of children with multiple disabilities including: cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, head injuries and other rare genetic conditions. 

Please click here for more information, to download a brochure or to register

 

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New Appointment for Distinguished Faculty Member Richard Clendaniel

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Richard Clendaniel, PT, PhD

Richard Clendaniel, PT, PhD

Education Resources is pleased to announce that our acclaimed faculty member Richard Clendaniel, PT, Ph.D., has just been appointed to the Medical Advisory Board for VEDA; Vestibular Disorders Association

Richard is an assistant professor in the Department of Community & Family Medicine, Doctor of Physical Therapy Division, Duke University Medical Center. He received his MS in Physical Therapy from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He was a clinician and faculty member at UAB for several years before receiving his Ph.D., in Behavioral Neuroscience (Department of Psychology) from UAB. He completed a two year post-doctoral fellowship in neuro-otology with Susan Herdman, Ph.D., PT. Prior to joining the faculty at Duke, he was on faculty at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology -Head and Neck Surgery, where he was director of the Vestibular Rehabilitation program. He maintains an active practice evaluating and treating patients with vestibular disorders and dizziness. His primary research is in the normal function of the vestibular system and the plasticity of the vestibular system following injury.





We are thrilled to offer Richard’s Courses