Training
Part 1: Foundation (Online portion)
Part one of this hybrid course will be presented online, providing the clinician with the foundational knowledge to improve understanding of vestibular function and the effects of vestibular dysfunction in patients presenting with dizziness, imbalance, and falls. Specific emphasis will be placed on understanding of peripheral and central causes of dizziness, including benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), vestibular hypofunction, stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, and multisensory dizziness. Principles of assessment and differential diagnosis will improve the clinician’s efficiency in examination and translation of exam findings into the development of an effective, evidence-based treatment plan.
Part 2: Clinical Application (Live portion)
The goal of continuing education is to enhance the clinician’s knowledge and understanding of a topic in a way that that they will be able to incorporate the evidence-based concepts and techniques that were presented to their clinical practice. This course is designed to do just that. It will help to solidify the learning that was done in Part 1: Foundations, through hands-on practice, instructor feedback, large and small group discussion, individual work, and applying concepts to case studies.
Some features of this course include instructor feedback on assessment and treatment techniques, large and small group activities to demonstrate application of the principles of differential diagnosis, and clinical application to real patient cases. Understanding of the vestibular rehab concepts will be brought to a higher level of understanding as they are applied to complex cases, such as multiple canal BPPV and mixed central and peripheral conditions. Clinicians will have an opportunity to develop a personalized assessment template specific to their clinical setting and patient population with guidance from instructors and group discussion. They will also create a ready-to-follow clinical plan to incorporate the evidence-based treatment strategies to patient care based on their exam findings. Clinicians will walk away from this course series with knowledge, confidence in their technical skills, experience in differential diagnosis and a plan in place to evaluate and treat patients with dizziness upon returning to the clinic on Monday.
INTENDED AUDIENCE: Physical therapists, occupational therapists
CEU APPROVAL: APTA WI 2.2 CEU’s (22 contact hours), approval accepted by APTA MN, AOTA 2.2 CEU’s (22 contact hours)
REGISTRATION: www.vestibularPT.com
COURSE FEE: $795
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Describe the function of the utricle, saccule and semicircular canals of the bony labyrinth.
- Name co-morbidities that prolong recovery from vestibular hypofunction.
- Recognize signs and symptoms of vestibular migraine as a common cause of dizziness.
- Compare the prognosis for peripheral and central dizziness.
- Describe signs and symptoms of orthostatic hypotension.
- Describe physiologic nystagmus.
- Describe Alexander’s Law and how it can be applied to BPPV assessment.
- Recognize direction-fixed and direction-changing nystagmus and use this to help differentiate central from peripheral dizziness.
- Identify key components of the subjective history that will help to formulate a hypothesis and assist in developing a more targeted objective exam.
- Name the components of the oculomotor exam and describe their importance in the overall examination.
- Discuss the appropriate positional tests for the anterior, posterior and horizontal semicircular canals.
- Discuss the direction of nystagmus in diagnosis of central versus peripheral dizziness.
- Explain how the HINTS exam is used in differentiating central versus peripheral dizziness.
- Recognize the implications of the head impulse test in diagnosis of vestibular disorders.
- List the components of a thorough neurological screen for vestibular patients.
- Identify the hallmark symptoms of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, vestibular hypofunction and Meniere’s disease.
- Name co-morbidities that prolong recovery from vestibular hypofunction.
- Recognize signs and symptoms of vestibular migraine as a common cause of dizziness.
- Identify the objective exam findings consistent with a diagnosis vestibular hypofunction.
- Discuss the four areas of treatment as discussed in the vestibular hypofunction clinical practice guidelines.
- Identify the parameters for gaze stabilization as recommended in the clinical practice guidelines for vestibular hypofunction.
Online Coursework: Self-paced
- Module 1: Anatomy & Physiology 60 minutes
- Module 2: Pathophysiology 116.5 minutes
- Module 3: Recognizing and Identifying Nystagmus 30 minutes
- Module 4: Vestibular Assessment 76.5 minutes
- Module 5: Differential Diagnosis 57.5 minutes
- Module 6: BPPV Treatment 80 minutes
- Module 7: Vestibular Rehab Treatment 54 minutes
- Module 8: Case Studies 35 minutes
WEEKEND COURSE SCHEDULE
Saturday: BPPV Assessment and Differential Diagnosis (8 hours)
8:00-9:15 Review: anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, nystagmus and nystagmus videos
9:15-12:00 BPPV Assessment, treatment and skills check for posterior, horizontal and anterior canals, lecture and lab
12:00-1:00 Lunch on own
1:00-4:30 Differential diagnosis, large and small group discussion, functional outcome measures, and case studies
4:30-5:30 Group discussion and individual work, creating evaluation plan, case studies
Sunday: Vestibular Hypofunction, Central, and Advanced Practice Topics (6 hours)
8:00-8:30 Review: BPPV and differential diagnosis
8:30-9:00 Vestibular Hypofunction Clinical Practice Guidelines
9:00-12:00 Vestibular rehab treatment: peripheral hypofunction, central and cervicogenic dizziness, developing individual plan of care, treatment lab and case studies
12:00-1:00 Lunch on own
1:00-3:00 Advanced Practice Topics
INSTRUCTORS
Colleen Sleik, PT, DPT, NCS, is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, specializing in the treatment of patients with vestibular disorders. Dr. Sleik is currently working at Bellin Health in Iron Mountain, MI where her caseload consists of patients with vertigo, dizziness, or balance problems. She assisted in creating and leads Bellin’s Vestibular Specialty track. She developed a vestibular competency training and offers mentoring to support therapists throughout the health system. Dr. Sleik has worked in a variety of settings over the years, including hospital-based outpatient, inpatient, home health, skilled nursing facilities and private practice.
Dr. Sleik graduated from The College of St. Catherine with a Master of Physical Therapy in 2003. She earned a transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy degree through The University of St. Augustine, Florida in 2010. In 2010, she completed the Competency-Based Vestibular Rehabilitation course through Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia and has continued her education by attending “Vestibular Rehab: An Advanced Course and Update” through the University of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh in 2018 and virtually in 2021. She has also attended the International Conference on Vestibular Rehab in 2018 and 2022.
Dr. Sleik has been teaching continuing education courses nationally since 2015. She maintains her knowledge through reading current research on various topics to provide evidence-based treatment in her clinical practice, guided by the most current research available. Dr. Sleik is a board-certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist 2017-2027 and was previously a board-certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist 2012-2022. She is a member of the Vestibular Disorders Association (VEDA) and the American Physical Therapy Association, including the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapists and the Vestibular Special Interest Group.
Dr. Sleik lives and works in a small, rural community in Michigan where it is not uncommon for patients to drive several hours to access her specialty vestibular rehabilitation services. This need inspired her to begin teaching vestibular rehabilitation continuing education courses, and she has been teaching national-level seminars in vestibular rehabilitation since 2015. Her goal is to improve clinicians’ knowledge and understanding of vestibular rehabilitation, ultimately improving access to knowledgeable clinicians providing quality care for patients with dizziness. Dr. Sleik is pleased to have this opportunity to share her passion for treating this special population and guiding your journey in providing specialty care in vestibular rehabilitation.
Jack Cervantes, PT, DPT, is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, working in the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics Health System (UWHC). Dr. Cervantes graduated from the Carroll University Doctor of Physical Therapy Program in 2022 and completed the UW Hospital & Clinics and UnityPoint Health – Meriter Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Clinical Residency Program in 2023. He has experience in his current job role at UWHC in an outpatient role seeing advanced spine and general orthopedic patients with a growing vestibular population. Dr. Cervantes is working to increase his vestibular case load to promote more convenient access to vestibular care. He also has taken on a role in the system wide Concussion Work Group with physical therapists with orthopedic and neurological specialties. As a clinician, Dr. Cervantes utilizes evidence-based treatment approaches to provide his patients with the best care available, while also providing them with strategies for long-term management.
Dr. Cervantes’ interest in vestibular rehabilitation began following an intensive 8-week clinical experience with Dr. Sleik, treating patients with various diagnoses of dizziness. He has assisted in the development and presentation of Vestibular Rehab Certificate for Clinicians: Foundation and Clinical Application since 2023, educating both students and clinicians. This course has allowed Dr. Cervantes to pursue his passion and career goal of educating current and future clinicians as a way to give back and advance the profession of physical therapy.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Colleen Sleik PT, DPT, NCS
When
Jun 15 - 16, 2024
Location
Minneapolis
Minnesota
United States
Info
Instructor: Colleen Sleik PT, DPT, NCS
Email: [email protected]