ANPT – Academy for Neurologic Physical Therapy Podcast

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.

Physical therapist Tori Fallgren discusses advocacy for complex rehab technology in individuals with SCI, including the recent win in power wheelchair seat elevation. They delve into customized equipment, journey into advocacy, and the importance of user empowerment in accessing personalized technology.

In this episode, Chris Burke interviews Kayla Chomko who, along with Jen Canbeck, Lauren Tabor Gray, and Rania Massad, won the DDSIG Best Poster Award at APTA’s Combined Sections Meeting in February 2024.  Chris and Kayla discuss her team’s poster, “The Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment Discriminates between Fallers and Non-Fallers in pALS: A Retrospective Study”. They delve into the impetus for and findings from their research, how Kayla utilizes data from outcome measures to facilitate patient discussions in clinic, and what direction future research may take.   The Degenerative Diseases Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy – www.neuroPT.org  Are you a PT who works with this population? Participate in a national survey on outcome measures for Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants working with pALS (Link active as of April 2024): https://redcap.nova.edu/redcap/surveys/?s=JKYLEC3KC9RFK7WF  Show notes available here: https://www.neuropt.org/docs/default-source/degenerative-diseases-sig/4d-podcast-show-notes—2019/ddsig-podcast-show-notes-2023/csm-award-winners-bonus-episode-2—kayla-chomko.pdf

Join experts Ariana Jones and Gillian McLean as they discuss pelvic health therapy for neurologic patients post-stroke. Learn about pelvic floor anatomy, bladder function, and management of bowel/bladder issues. Discover the importance of collaboration between neurologic and pelvic health physical therapists and strategies for building trust and education with stroke patients.