Reviews basic neuroanatomy and neurophysiology followed by instruction in the theory and rationale of the treatment approach for the patient with neurological involvement. Emphasizes the functional approach to patient treatment including use of Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) for adults with neurological conditions such as traumatic brain injury and cerebrovascular accidents.
Goals, Topics, and Objectives
- Neuroanatomy
- Neurologic Assessment
- Sensory System
- Coordination
- Balance
- Functional Assessment
- Facilitation/ Inhibition
- Motor Control / Motor Learning
- NDT
- PNF
- Architectural Barriers
- Wheelchair Management
- Home Management Plan
- Family Instruction / Education
- Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
- Pediatric Perspectives
- Other Neurological Disorders
- Identify the major components of the central and peripheral nervous systems.
- Describe the clinical significance of injury and/or dysfunction in the major components of the central and peripheral nervous systems.
- Explain the motor and sensory involvement in various neurological conditions.
- Identify changes in muscle tone and mass.
- Recognize a patient’s response to both auditory and visual stimuli as part of a thorough assessment of cranial nerve integrity.
- Recognize the speech, language, and cognitive problems, which may occur secondary to various neurological conditions including expressive and receptive abilities/deficits.
- Recognize changes in the direction and magnitude of a neurological patient’s state of arousal, attention, mentation, cognition, and level of recall.
- Compare and contrast the physical involvement of patients with paraplegia and quadriplegia.
- Demonstrate knowledge of specific neurological conditions with respect to etiology, physical problems, and treatment techniques appropriate to those conditions.
- Recognize architectural barriers and recommend appropriate adaptive or protective equipment for the neurological patient.
- Describe a neurological patient’s performance level with respect to adaptive skills, community/work/leisure activities, environmental and work tasks, and self-care and home management activities with or without use of devices or equipment.
- Recognize head, trunk, and limb movement during specific movement tasks and identify stereotypic movements and postural/righting/equilibrium reactions including recognition of gross and fine motor skills.
- Demonstrate knowledge of sensory changes, balance, and coordination.
- Recognize activities, positioning, postures, and assistive and adaptive devices that can produce associated skin trauma or aggravate wounds/scars for the neurological patient.
- Recognize physiological responses of neurological patients during community, work, and leisure activities, non-routine occurrences, and self-care and home management activities.
- Recognize components of safe community and work environments for the neurological patient.
- Demonstrate knowledge of basic NDT and PNF principles.
- Demonstrate knowledge about proper positioning, handling, and transferring of patients with neurological conditions.
- Demonstrate proper documentation of rehabilitation procedures for neurological patients.
- Recognize the effects of various terrains and differing environments on a neurological patient’s gait, locomotion, and balance.
- Write home programs and instruct “patients and families” in the execution of home programs for the neurologically impaired clients.
Assessment and Requirements
The assessment standards will consist of written exams, written final exam, written assignments, case studies, and presentations.
Students must pass this course with a “C” or better to remain in the PTA Program. They must also pass at least one of the written exams, with an 80% or higher, in order to pass this course. For each written exam the student does not pass, he/she will also be required to complete a written review of the exam to be submitted to the instructor prior to taking the final exam.
Instructors (or their designees) reserve the right to require students to provide picture identification for test taking, graded papers or projects or other appropriate purposes.
to be determined by the program faculty.