Moderate Brain Injury Post-Acute Phase: Assessment and Intervention

Presented by Mary Beth Osborne

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This course covers physical therapy management of people following brain injury in the rehabilitation phase after medical stability is achieved. Participants will be challenged to identify strategies to address cognitive and behavioral issues and to apply them clinical practice. Students will also identify common impairments underlying functional deficits, and will design effective treatment plans to address areas of need. Cognitive deficits, behavior issues and common complications will be illustrated by case studies detailing common manifestations during this phase of recovery.

Meet your instructor

Mary Beth Osborne

Mary Beth Osborne earned both her BS and DPT in physical therapy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a board-certified specialist in neurologic physical therapy. She is currently an assistant professor in residence at the University of Connecticut in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program and involved…

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Chapters & learning objectives

Cognitive Assessments

1. Cognitive Assessments

This chapter covers patients as they move out of the DOCs phase and are gaining awareness, but continue to struggle with cognitive deficits. The Ranchos Los Amigos Levels of Cognitive Recovery (RLA) will help illustrate how patients often progress following a brain injury. The issues of confusion and agitation will be explored and learners will become familiar with clinical tools to utilize when measuring progress in this area.

Common Complications

2. Common Complications

This chapter goes into more depth regarding the impact behavioral and cognitive deficits can have on physical therapy sessions and strategies to best structure sessions and concepts to apply when interacting with individuals exhibiting these issues in the clinic. Learners will gain knowledge surrounding common complications often seen following brain injury including communication deficits, changes in tone and heterotopic ossification.

Assessment of Impairments and Functional Limitations

3. Assessment of Impairments and Functional Limitations

This chapter looks at in depth evaluation of people in the rehab phase of treatment including management of contractures and tonal abnormalities, wheelchair seating and orthotics, balance and gait. Participants will have a strong working knowledge of the many components of a thorough physical therapy evaluation following brain injury and the need for referral to other professionals to fill needs not covered in physical therapy practice.

Intervention

4. Intervention

This chapter addresses evidence-based physical therapy intervention choices for people following brain injury and how to structure treatment sessions for optimal outcomes.