AHPT 213 - Neurorehabilitation for the PTA

• Describe the basic structure and function of the nervous system and relate to the nervous system reaction to neurologic injury including cerebral circulation.
• Identify the innervation of all the muscles of the extremities, pectoral girdle, pelvic girdle, and some of the muscles of the trunk, face, head and neck.
• Recognize and describe the major clinical manifestations identified in patients commonly referred for physical therapy with various neuromuscular diagnoses.
• Identify the spinal pathways that mediate sensation and motor input.
• Describe and recognize the role of physical therapy and the PTA in the treatment of various pediatric and adult neurological disorders.
• Identify the purposes and general guidelines for completing a sensory assessment utilizing testing protocol of each sensory modality.
• Describe and recognize altered and/or absent sensation and integumentary changes.
• Describe and demonstrate sensory training/retraining, perceptual training and activities that relieve or aggravate skin trauma associated with decreased sensation.
• Describe and safely and accurately perform treatment interventions promoting normal motor development, positioning and handling techniques, motor control and motor learning, neuromuscular education and reeducation, stimulus and response for selected reflexes, righting and equilibrium reactions, facilitation and inhibition, and task specific performance training.
• Differentiate among the concepts of motor control, motor learning, and motor development.
• Define muscle tone in terms of flaccid, spastic, rigid, hypertonic and hypotonic and demonstrate inhibition or facilitation techniques to balance abnormal mm tone and restore function.
• Discuss the characteristics and milestones of gross and fine motor developmental progression.
• Recognize the differences between various neurological treatment approaches and theories such as NDT, PNF, Sensory Integration, Rood, Brunnstrom, and Constraint Induced Therapy.
• Demonstrate competence in implementing interventions identified in the plan of care established by the PT for patients across the lifespan with various neurologic disorders presented through case studies including: Motor Function Training (Positioning, Balance, Gait Training, etc.), Application of Devices, wheelchairs and Equipment, Therapeutic Exercise, Functional Training, Patient/ Client Education.
• Demonstrate competence in performing appropriate test and measures, data collection and observation for the patient with neuromuscular involvement essential for carrying out the plan of care developed by the PT within the scope of work of the PTA in the following areas: Mental functions, Assistive technology, Gait, locomotion and balance, Integumentary integrity, Muscle performance, Neuromotor development, Posture, Range of Motion, Home Environmental Assessment, Standardized questionnaires/functional assessment tools.
• Demonstrate consideration of ethics, safety, culture, social history and cognitive abilities in physical therapy management of the neurologic patient across the lifespan.
• Provide the rationale for the selected interventions within the plan of care developed by the PT to achieve short and long term goals and outcomes for patients with neuromuscular involvement.
• Complete thorough, accurate, logical, concise, timely, and legible documentation relative to neurological interventions that follows guidelines and specific documentation formats required by state practice acts, the practice setting (i.e. FIM), and other regulatory agencies.
• Provide effective education for those affected by neurologic conditions that is appropriate to meet the needs of patients, caregivers, and healthcare personnel to enhance the patient care experience in given case scenarios.
• Recognizes contribution of the PTA to discharge planning considerations for the patient with a neurologic condition including selection of appropriate assistive/adaptive devices, home assessment, instruction in home exercise program and education of patient and family members.
• Compare and contrast common neurological diagnoses and their underlying pathologies and PT management: Stroke, TBI, Spinal Cord, Injury, UMN/LMN Diseases.
• Demonstrate understanding of assessment of the patient’s mental functions using a variety of methods including the Glasgow Coma Scale and the Rancho Levels of Cognitive Functioning.
• Adjusts communication style to accommodate communication deficits including aphasia, visual, cognitive or auditory impairments due to neurological impairment.
• Recognizes when a physical therapy intervention should not be provided to patients with neurologic conditions due to changes in the patient’s status and reports changes to the supervising physical therapist.
• Develop and present a comprehensive oral presentation of a selected neurological disorder/disease utilizing appropriate evidence based resources to support clinical decision making and treatment progression.
• Develop a comprehensive, progressive, safe, evidence based treatment session within the physical therapy plan of care for the patient with a common neurological disorder/ disease.
• Identify basic pharmacological considerations in patients with various neurological conditions.