Neuro OT Briana Elson discusses intensity training in occupational therapy, covering topics like constraint induced movement therapy, measuring heart rate, circuit training for wheelchair users, and co-treating with PT for brain injury recovery. Learn how to make iADL training intensive and the importance of measuring intensity in sessions. Find out the scales to use and hear treatment ideas for intense therapy.

Neuro OT Briana Elson shares insights on neuro rehab, including functional cognition and intensity treatment. Emphasizes collaboration in neuro for patient success. Discusses career journey, specialization, and importance of interprofessional collaboration in OT and PT. Highlights need for mentorship and practical learning in occupational therapy.

Learn why priming activities are crucial for enhancing intensive practice in neuro with Dr. JJ Mowder-Tinney. Discover the benefits of aerobic exercise priming and high-intensity interval training for rehabilitation. Explore optimizing cognitive performance through aerobic priming and the value of small adjustments to enhance practice.

If you have someone with PPPD or suspect it, this is the episode for you! Dr. Haylie Leighton, PT, DPT, NCS is clinical director at Advanced Neurologic Rehabilitation in Arizona and she is here to explain what Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness (or PPPD) is, how to evaluate it, and how to treat it.  In the show you’ll learn all about this chronic functional disorder, which falls under the umbrella of Functional Neurologic Disorders (or FND). Haylie will break down the 5 diagnostic criteria to rule it in: 1) Unsteadiness lasting most days for at least 3 months, 2) Persistent dizziness without provocation that can be made by worse by standing upright, active/passive movement, or a complex visual environment, 3) The person may have have past vestibular insult, 4) It is connected to high functional distress (ex - high scores on the Dizziness Handicap Index) 5) Other central signs or causes of dizziness have been ruled out. In PPPD maladaptive strategies are developed, where the nervous system uses different strategies for balance. It can provoke anxiety, so we discuss how it differs from anxiety-related dizziness.   Learn what key tests and measures to perform in your evaluation, which screens to perform, and the best treatment approach for optimal outcomes. There is a 3-pronged approach to treatment, which includes vestibular rehabilitation, medication, and psychology or cognitive-behavioral therapy. For therapists, best practice treatment may include: the OPTIMAL theory approach, habituation training, autonomic regulation, VOR, sensory reweighting, vision rehab, AHA walking program. Tune in to hear all the details and this complicated condition explained so you can help people recover from it once and for all!    Clinic social media @azneurorehab Personal social media @theoptimal_DPT  

Physical therapist Dr. Beth Fisher talks about movement analysis in neuro therapy, emphasizing understanding movement patterns and implicit choices. She discusses how correcting dysfunctional movement patterns can lead to better outcomes. The podcast covers the importance of movement analysis, treating hip pain by adjusting movement patterns, and enhancing movement patterns in stroke patients through external cues and enhanced expectancies.

On today’s show speech therapist, Sharan Sangha shares what her experience has been like navigating the early years of her career path. Just 2 years out of school, she started working in the hospital setting and quickly found it wasn’t for her. She wasn’t sure whether she was just feeling nervous and needed more experience or whether she really just needed to change to another setting. It can be difficult to listen to the signs that we’re not in the right place. As healthcare workers we understand that our jobs can be stressful and challenging, so what are the signs that you’re actually in the wrong place? I know I’ve had experiences of going to work feeling tired or dread going in, and it took too long to actually listen to the fact that it was time for a change. Maybe you’ve felt (or are feeling) the same way. If so, you’re not alone and we know you’ll find some good company in this episode! https://parkinsonvoiceproject.org/ https://www.dvtherapy.com/  

Vestibular expert Helena Esmonde discusses common vestibular disorders, importance of cervical spine in function, and use of infrared video goggles for assessment. She shares insights on addressing vestibular issues in elderly women, journey into vestibular therapy, and empowering clinicians to treat vestibular disorders. The podcast also explores auditory learning, challenges in vestibular therapy education, and enhancing patient care through vestibular training.

On today’s show we interview one of our amazing NeuroSpark instructors, Dr. Jamie Haines, PT, DScPT, NCS. Jamie is an Associate Professor in the Physical Therapy Department at Central Michigan University where she teaches neurologic physical therapy content. She is passionate about teaching students and clinicians and working with people with Parkinson’s. One of Jamie’s missions is to improve access to care in rural communities and she is working on this in Michigan through a program funded by a recent Parkinson’s Foundation grant. She discusses the basis of the program, what they are seeing so far and where they hope to see it go. Another of her passions is overground and dual task training for people with Parkinson’s. Jamie has taught and spoken on these topics many times, including inside the NeuroSpark program.  Coming up in August 2023 she’ll be teaching clinicians how to approach dual task training, stratify it, assess it, understand the cost of dual task activities, and she will provide loads of tangible examples with videos. On the show, she dives into what that will look like and gives you a taste of something you can use in the clinic immediately! Sign up for the Parkinson’s Conference on Aug 25th here! www.neurocollaborative.com/parkinsons  An on-demand option is also available! Get in touch with Jamie via email: haine1jj@cmich.edu

On today’s show Dr. Melissa Kimmerling, an occupational therapist in Nebraska, outlines the visual changes that can occur in a person with Parkinson’s, why these changes are happening, what red flags to look for if you need to refer to OT or another professional, and how you can cue or address the issue. As the Director of Occupational Therapy programs at Nebraska Methodist College and Vice President of Policy and Advocacy for the Nebraska Occupational Therapy Association (NBCOT) Melissa shares her views on the opportunities and challenges facing future occupational therapists, her views on student-led rehabilitation clinics, and critical practice areas for occupational therapists.   It is an enlightening and beneficial conversation for people in all disciplines to hear! She’ll be leading a presentation on visual dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease in an upcoming Parkinson’s Conference and will highlight the topics learners will benefit from when attending the conference.   Sign up for the Parkinson’s Conference on Aug 25th here! www.neurocollaborative.com/parkinsons  An on-demand option is also available! Get in touch with Melissa Kimmerling on LinkedIn here: linkedin.com/in/melissa-kimmerling-edd-mot-otr-l-1179389b

On today’s show we interviewed our first speech therapist! Stephanie Callander, MS, CCC-SLP has worked with people with Parkinson's since 2016 to help them improve and maintain their speech, voice, and swallow function. She is certified in SPEAK OUT! from Parkinson Voice Project.   In this episode you’ll learn: What SPEAK OUT! is and how it differs from LSVT LOUD What to look for when someone needs to be referred to speech therapy (hint: there are key indicators you may not realize!) How to properly cue your clients to improve their speaking What hypomimia is and how it is correlated to the severity of PD symptoms The importance of speech therapy for people with Parkinson’s because of the high rate of speech and swallowing dysfunction, including the sobering fact that most causes of mortality in Parkinson’s are related to choking How you can learn more from Stephanie, including facial exercises that drastically improve the quality of life of your clients!   Sign up for the Parkinson’s Conference on Aug 25th here! www.neurocollaborative.com/parkinsons  An on-demand option is also available! Get in touch with Stephanie here: stephanie@resolutespeech.com