ANPT – Academy for Neurologic Physical Therapy Podcast

We talk to neurologic physical therapist, Nick Wendel, from the Center for Neurorehabilitation at Boston University about balance capcity and balance performance. We discuss measurement of performance and how he thinks about performance in designing treatments. Useful articles on this topic: Readiness to Change is Related to Real-world Walking and Depressive Symptoms in Chronic Stroke by Allison Miller, et al Improvement in the Capacity for Activity Versus Improvement in Performance of Activity in Daily Life During Outpatient Rehabilitation by Catherine Lang, et al Evidence for Early and Regular Physical Therapy and Exercise in Parkinson’s Disease by Terry Ellis, et al Please send comments or questions on this podcast to balancefallsig@gmail.com The Balance & Falls Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy – www.neuropt.org

In this special episode, our podcast team interviewed listeners and former guests at CSM 2024 to find out what they were excited about doing when treating people with neurodegenerative conditions. We are excited to share their answers with you, along with some commentary from our current team, as a celebration of our 50th episode.   The Degenerative Diseases Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of  Neurologic Physical Therapy – www.neuroPT.org Please send comments or questions on this podcast to neuroddsig@gmail.com. 

Dr. Carey Holleran, a rehabilitation expert and prolific physical therapy author, joins to illuminate the vital difference between 'capacity' and 'performance' in outpatient stroke rehabilitation. She reveals how these concepts affect patient assessments and rehabilitation plans. Intriguingly, Dr. Holleran shares findings showing patients might improve in capacity without corresponding gains in daily performance. She also stresses the essential role of caregivers and advocates for a patient-centered approach to enhance rehabilitation outcomes.

Dr. Chad Swank, a researcher in robotic gait training devices, and Dr. Jaime Gillespie, known for innovative spinal cord injury therapies, engage in a compelling discussion about their paper on exoskeleton gait training. They delve into the clinical benefits of these devices, the significance of real-time data for tailoring therapies, and the complexities therapists face in integrating technology with patient care. The conversation also touches on on-label versus off-label uses of robotic exoskeletons and the importance of collaboration in advancing neurological rehabilitation.

Join us in this episode, where we speak with Pete Anziano as he shares his experiences of life as a dad after his spinal cord injury. Pete provides valuable insights for physical therapists and others living with SCI about the parenting journey as a dad who rolls. The Spinal Cord Injury Special Interest Group is a part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy. For more information, visit www.neuropt.org. Please send any comments or questions on this podcast to anptscisig@gmail.com

In this installment of our series on rare neurologic diseases, host Ken Vinacco talks with Claudia Senesac about physical therapy for people with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD). DMD and BMD are both disorders that cause progressive muscle weakness, with BMD often presenting with less severe weakness and later in life. Claudia covers the medical management and prognosis, PT assessment, and PT treatment for people with these unique diagnoses.  The Degenerative Diseases Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of  Neurologic Physical Therapy – www.neuroPT.org  A link to the show notes will be posted here when available

In this installment of our series on rare neurologic diseases, Ken Vinnaco talks with Megan Iammarino about physical therapy for people with Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD), an umbrella term that encompasses a varied group of disorders affecting the proximal muscles around the shoulders and hips that impacts approximately 2 in every 100,000 people. Megan covers the assessment, PT treatment and prognosis for people with this unique diagnosis that causes significant balance and gait challenges.   Show notes available here : https://www.neuropt.org/docs/default-source/degenerative-diseases-sig/4d-podcast-show-notes—2019/ddsig-podcast-show-notes-2023/show-notes—episode-48-megan-iammarino-lgmd.pdf The Degenerative Diseases Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of  Neurologic Physical Therapy – www.neuroPT.org

In this episode, Chris interviews Michelle Walaszek, a winner of the DDSIG platform award at CSM Boston in 2024. Michelle, a PhD candidate and research associate in the Knowledge Translation of Exercise and Activity for Symptom Management (KTEAM) lab at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, explains important qualitative research that her team completed in their local Chicagoland area. She discusses themes that arose from survey data and analysis that assessed attitudes and experience with PD rehabilitation care for the Black or African American (BAA) community. Chris and Michelle also talk about some early applications of this information for clinicians, as well as next steps in the research.   The Degenerative Diseases Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of  Neurologic Physical Therapy – www.neuroPT.org  

Host Jennifer Burus PT, NCS is joined by Anne W. Hunt, PhD, OT Reg (Ontario) and Nick Reed, PhD, MScOT, OT Reg (Ontario) for a discussion on multidisciplinary care for pediatric patients with concussion. Dr. Hunt is an Assistant Professor Teaching Stream in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto where she teaches courses on pediatric rehabilitation and fieldwork. Her research focuses on developing interventions that enable individuals with brain injury to participate optimally in meaningful activities in everyday life. Dr. Reed is an Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto where he directs the OAK (Outcomes, Advocacy and Knowledge) Concussion Lab and holds a Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Pediatric Concussion.  His work focuses on developing, delivering and evaluating research, educational and clinical programming specific to youth and concussion. The Vestibular Special Interest Group is a part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy. neuropt.org.

Host Maureen Clancy PT, DPT, OCS is joined by Joanna Wolfson PhD, ABPP and Emily Kostelnik PhD in a discussion on the integration of psychological care for patients with vestibular disorders. Dr. Kostelnik is a Clinical Health Psychologist who focuses on behavioral health education for the vestibular community through her company Rooted Behavioral Education and provides licensed consultation and therapy through her private practice, The Vestibular Psychologist. Dr. Wolfson is a senior psychologist at Rusk Rehabilitation, NYU Langone Health and Clinical Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She is board certified in Clinical Health Psychology and provides individual and group psychotherapy to patients with vestibular and medical conditions.