Dates: March 11 – 16, 2024
Location: Emory Conference Center, Atlanta GA
Course Registration: Registration is now open. Early registration ends on December 31, 2023.
Course Description
This intense, evidence-based, six-day course is designed for physical therapists, occupational therapists and MDs with experience treating patients/clients with vestibular deficits. The course consists of lecture and laboratory sessions with additional self-study sessions. All participants will be expected to demonstrate a variety of skills to the faculty including 1) the oculomotor examination with emphasis on the identification of nystagmus and canal involvement, 2) balance, gait, fall risk and functional assessments, 3) appropriate treatment procedures for BPPV affecting posterior, anterior and horizontal canals for both cupulolithiasis and canalithiasis, 4) treatment procedures for unilateral and bilateral peripheral vestibular disorders, and 5) treatment procedures for central vestibular disorders including traumatic brain injury and stroke. Emphasis will be on utilizing assessment results to develop an effective treatment plan. The course will include written, video and practical examinations. Before enrolling in this course, it is required that participants have experience treating people with vestibular deficits and have completed a previous vestibular course. Two certificates may be given in this course – one for attendance (CEUs) and one for achievement. It is our intent that the certificate of achievement signifies that, at the time the course was given, the student demonstrated proper performance of certain skills (based on practical exams) and understood basic information (based on the written and video exams) related to vestibular rehabilitation. The granting of the certificate of achievement in no way certifies that the student retains those skills and knowledge or applies them appropriately in the future. Audience: This course was designed specifically for physical therapy and occupational therapy professionals. Other medical professionals may participate; however, we do give preference to physical and occupational therapists and MDs. We reserve the right to cancel a non-PT, non-OT or non-MD healthcare professionals’ registration if we have a lengthy waitlist or over-booked course.
Audience: This course was designed specifically for physical therapy and occupational therapy professionals. Other medical professionals may participate; however, we do give preference to physical and occupational therapists and MDs. We reserve the right to cancel a non-PT, non-OT or non-MD healthcare professionals’ registration if we have a lengthy waitlist or over-booked course. This course is not appropriate for physical therapy assistants, occupational therapy assistants, speech therapists, or athletic trainers. For all registrants, especially if you are a not a PT, OT, or MD and you gain placement in the current year’s course, you are advised to delay arranging air travel until you have received separate, written confirmation from our staff that your placement has been confirmed and approved by our course director.
Course Prerequisites: Although there are no required pre-course reading materials, it is strongly
recommended that participants have a working knowledge of the anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology
of the vestibular system. If participants would like to review vestibular rehabilitation prior to attendance,
the textbook Vestibular Rehabilitation, 4th Edition by Dr. Susan Herdman and Dr. Richard Clendaniel is
available through multiple online bookstores and sites
Course Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to identify the following:
1. Explain in lay terms the anatomy and physiology of the vestibular system.
2. Recognize and state the clinical significance of diagnostic studies and lab data.
3. Recognize and state the clinical significance of physical assessment and interview data obtained from
medical records.
4. Identify from the medical records the signs, symptoms and co-existing problems of the client.
5. Recognize the significance of therapeutic regimes including medications, diet, and surgical procedures for
the patient and for vestibular rehabilitation.
6. Recognize disorders that may affect the vestibular system but are not appropriate for treatment by
physical therapists
7. Perform and give rationale for appropriate evaluation procedures.
8. Interpret evaluation findings appropriately.
9. Based on evaluation findings and medical records, formulate and give rationale for plan of care.
10. Perform appropriate therapeutic procedures.
11. Demonstrate appropriate post-therapy evaluation and discharge planning.
Instructor: Duke University DPT and the APTA, Various Instructors
Course details: https://medschool.duke.edu/education/health-professions-education-programs/doctor-physical-therapy-program/dpt-academics/dpt