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Foundation For Function - Understanding Dynamic Systems in Postural Control

Foundation For Function - Understanding Dynamic Systems in Postural Control

Foundation For Function - Understanding Dynamic Systems in Postural Control

CA$350.00
This course includes
90 Days access after purchase
Certificate of completion
The instructors
This course was recorded in March 2024

Overview

Postural control is widely accepted as the foundation for all functional motor skills; gross motor, fine motor and oral motor as well as phonation and articulation. However, few therapists feel mastery in understanding the interconnections, assessment, clinical reasoning skills of treatment and development of home program strategies to address the various components of this complex phenomenon.

This course is a deep dive into this subject; we utilize a contemporary model of postural control grounded in dynamic systems theory as the framework for developing the theoretical understanding and practical skills for 12 individual components as well as discussions of the interconnections between these systems.

Each of the 12 learning modules includes an article for pre-reading, lecture videos, and a practical application exercise as well as additional clinical resources. The total course time is 10 contact hours, including readings, lectures and suggested assignments. The purchase price includes 90-day access to the course and a curated library of articles and resources on postural control. 


Learning Objectives

In this online course with Shelley Mannell, you will:

  1. Learn to explain the 12 main components of a contemporary model of postural control.

  2. Identify a selection of special topics related to each component and their relevance to clinical practice.

  3. Choose appropriate treatment techniques to address deficits in each of these 12 components including 4 individual sensory systems.

  4. Choose appropriate formal assessments for each of these 12 components.

  5. Demonstrate clinical reasoning skills in developing an appropriate assessment and treatment planning to address postural control and functional motor skills for children with different diagnoses.

  6. Build a curated collection of articles on postural control.

 

Audience

This course is for Physical and Occupational Therapists and Speech-Language Pathologists who provide clinical management for neurodiverse children. The course is also appropriate for PTAs, OTAs and CDAs seeking to further understand the reasoning underpinning treatment of postural control in neurodiverse clients.

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The instructors
Shelley Mannell
PT, BSc , BHSc

Shelley Mannell is a Physical Therapist with over 30 years experience serving babies, children, and adolescents across a spectrum of neurological and developmental disabilities. She integrates a broad range of clinical skills and research to provide innovative neurobiology-informed treatment of children with movement disorders. Shelley founded HeartSpace Physical Therapy for Children in order to support clients and families as they matured through the lifespan.

Shelley began teaching as a clinical faculty member in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University and remains committed to improving the care for children through clinical research and education. Shelley is certified in both NDT and SI. She is also a children’s yoga and meditation facilitator and the co-creator of Dynamic Core for Kids, an evidence-based approach to central stability for children with motor and sensory challenges. Shelley also provides mentoring to therapists world-wide through her blog and her online program. As a respected international speaker, Shelley discusses the dynamic systems nature of the development of postural control and its application to assessment and intervention for children with sensory and motor challenges.

Material included in this course
  • Module 1: Introduction to Postural Control
  • Article: Changes in postural control across the life span - A systems approach
  • Quiz: Changes in postural control across the life span - A systems approach
  • Foundation For Function Module 1 Introduction handout
  • Introduction
  • Neurotypical development highlights
  • Neurodiverse development highlights
  • Independent assignment: Pondering Postural Control
  • Additional resource: Postural variability and sensorimotor development in infancy
  • Module 1 Feedback
  • Module 2: Muscle Tone
  • Article: Spasticity and its contribution to hypertonia in Cerebral Palsy
  • Quiz: Spasticity and its contribution to hypertonia in Cerebral Palsy
  • FFF Muscle Tone handout
  • Module 2 Introduction
  • The Neurological Component
  • The mechanical and dynamic holding components
  • Assessment
  • Treatment
  • Independent assignment: Muscle Tone
  • Module 2 Feedback
  • Module 3: Emotional Regulation
  • Article: Patterns of postural sway in highly anxious children
  • Quiz: Patterns of postural sway in highly anxious children
  • FFF Emotional Regulation handout
  • Module 3 Introduction
  • Typical development of emotional regulation
  • Development of dysregulation
  • Recognizing dysregulation
  • Supporting regulation
  • Independent assignment: Emotional Regulation
  • Module 3 Feedback
  • Module 4: Musculoskeletal Components
  • Article: Functional adaptation of tendon and skeletal muscle to resistance training in three patients with genetically verified classic Ehlers Danlos Syndrome
  • Quiz: Functional adaptation of tendon and skeletal muscle to resistance training in three patients with genetically verified classic Ehlers Danlos Syndrome
  • FFF Musculoskeletal Components handout
  • The importance of movement observation
  • Contribution of skin
  • Assessment
  • Diastasis Recti Abdominis
  • Assessing alignment
  • Treatment considerations
  • Independent assignment: Musculoskeletal Components
  • Additional resource: Modified Ashworth Scale
  • Additional resource: Tardieu Scale
  • Additional resource: Beighton Scale
  • Additional resource: 2D digital photography for child body postural evaluation
  • Module 4 Feedback
  • Module 5: Neuromuscular Synergies
  • Article: Muscle synergies and complexity of neuromuscular control during gait in cerebral palsy
  • Quiz: Muscle synergies and complexity of neuromuscular control during gait in cerebral palsy
  • FFF Neuromuscular Synergies handout
  • Introduction
  • Assessment: Moro
  • Assessment: TLR
  • Assessment: ATNR
  • Treatment Options
  • Independent assignment : Neuromuscular Synergies
  • Additional resource: The Correlation between Primitive Reflexes and Saccadic Eye Movements in 5th Grade Children with Teacher-Reported Reading Problems
  • Module 5 Feedback
  • Module 6 and 7: Anticipatory and Reactive Mechanisms
  • Article: Effects of inspiratory muscle training in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial
  • Quiz: Effects of inspiratory muscle training in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial
  • FFF Anticipatory and Reactive Mechanisms handout
  • Anticipatory Mechanism Introduction
  • Anticipatory Mechanism: Dynamic Core for Kids
  • Assessing Central Alignment
  • Treatment: Making A Beginning
  • Reactive Mechanism Introduction
  • Reactive Mechanism Assessment
  • Reactive Mechanism Treatment Part 1
  • Reactive Mechanism Treatment Part 2
  • Independent assignment: Anticipatory and Reactive Mechanisms
  • Additional resource: BESTest
  • Additional resource: Mini BESTest
  • Additional resource: Pediatric Balance Scale
  • Additional resource: Early clinical Assessment of Balance
  • Module 6 and 7 Feedback
  • Module 8: The Vestibular System
  • Article: Anatomy of the vestibular system
  • Quiz: The Anatomy of the Vestibular System
  • FFF Vestibular System handout
  • Introduction
  • Special Considerations: Head and Neck
  • Assessment
  • Independent assignment: The Vestibular System
  • Article: Modification of the Postrotary Nystagmus Test for Evaluating Young Children
  • Additional resource: Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (CTSIB)
  • Additional resource: Modified CTSIB
  • Additional resource: Community Balance and Mobility Scale
  • Module 8 Feedback
  • Module 9: The Visual System
  • Article: Vision in children and adolescents with Autistic Spectrum Disorder- Evidence for reduced convergence
  • Quiz: Vision in children and adolescents with Autistic Spectrum Disorder- Evidence for reduced convergence
  • FFF Visual System handout
  • Introduction
  • Functional Eye Movement Observation
  • Assessment
  • Treatment
  • Independent assignment : The Visual System
  • Additional resource: Opthalmic abnormalities in children with developmental coordination disorder
  • Additional resource: Opthalmic abnormalities in children with developmental coordination disorder
  • Module 9 Feedback
  • Module 10: The Somatosensory (Proprioceptive and Tactile) Systems
  • Article: Assessing proprioception in children- A review
  • Quiz: Assessing proprioception in children - A review
  • FFF The Proprioceptive/Tactile System handout
  • Introduction
  • Assessment
  • Treatment
  • Independent assignment :The Somatosensory System
  • Additional resource: Comprehensive observations of proprioception
  • Additional resource: The effects of whole body vibration on mobility and balance in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review with meta-analysis
  • Module 10 Feedback
  • Module 11: Internal Representations and Stability Limits
  • Article: Early brain damage affects body schema and person perception abilities in children and adolescents with Spastic Diplegia
  • Quiz: Early brain damage affects body schema and person perception abilities in children and adolescents with Spastic Diplegia
  • FFF Internal Representations handout
  • A Word About Sensory Strategies
  • What Is Internal Representation?
  • Assessment
  • Treatment
  • Independent assignment: Internal Representation
  • Module 11 Feedback
  • Module 12: Cognitive Resources
  • Article: Effect of dual-task training on postural stability in children with infantile hemiparesis
  • Quiz: Effect of dual-task training on postural stability in children with infantile hemiparesis
  • FFF Cognitive Resources handout
  • Introduction
  • Treatment
  • Integration
  • Independent assignment: Dual Task Training
  • Additional resource: A neurocognitive perspective on developmental disregard in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.
  • Module 12 Feedback
  • Conclusion
  • Wrapping Up
  • Foundation for Function Course References handout
FAQs

We used to believe that development was linear over time. However the past 20+ years of motor control research have illuminated that systems are interconnected and the process is dynamic and multi-faceted.

The first step is recognizing the systems that are involved. With time and experience, therapists develop and increased mastery of the observation and assessment skills and treatment strategy implementation to address the multiple systems at play for each individual client. 

Once you have completed the course, a certificate of completion (including learning hours and course information) will be generated. You can download this certificate at any time. To learn more about course certificates on Embodia please visit this guide.

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