Evidence-Based Upper Limb Retraining (F2F), Hobart, TAS

Presenters: Annie McCluskey occupational therapist & Karl Schurr, physiotherapist, The StrokeEd Collaboration, Australia

A 3-day practical workshop for occupational therapists, physiotherapists and allied health assistants.

Website information: http://strokeed.com/about-work...

Learning objectives: By the end of the 3 days, participants will be able to:

• Name the essential components of normal reach and manipulation
• Recognise common compensations when observing stroke survivors attempting to grasp objects, and explain how to minimise compensatory strategies
• Name and discuss factors thought to contribute to the development of muscle overactivity, spasticity and stiffness, and intervention strategies to help minimise these secondary problems
• Explain the relationship and differences between overactivity, spasticity, muscle length changes and stiffness, missing essential components and compensations
• Plan and conduct an assessment and training session with a stroke survivor using motor learning principles and task-specific practice
• Discuss factors which affect motor learning, and can be modified to enhance learning and increase client practice
• Use an electrical stimulation machine to stimulate upper limb muscles.
• Discuss current evidence for constraint-induced movement therapy, mental practice, mirror box therapy and electrical stimulation for improving upper limb motor recovery

Pre-requisites: None. Suitable for students and recent graduates through to experienced clinicians. 

Entry requirements: To participate in clinical sessions and work with stroke survivors during the workshop, therapists must be an AHPRA registered occupational therapist or physiotherapist (or AHPRA registered student therapist), and wear a face mask (unless exempt, in which a face shield must be worn). Allied health assistants do not have to be registered with AHPRA.

Number of registrants: Limited to 24 therapists because there are clinical sessions involving 8 stroke survivors and small groups of 3 therapists. The workshop presenters assist teams of therapists to assess and establish a training program for the 8 stroke survivors.

Pre-reading & homework: will be available from the StrokeEd website. Therapists are asked to start preparing 4-6 weeks before the event. Allow several hours for the homework. Pre-reading includes a book chapter and some analysis tasks. .

Workshop manual including the PowerPoint slides and worksheets will be provided in both electronic and hard (printed) copy. 

Enquiries: Annie McCluskey - Email: dranniemccluskey@gmail.com - 0419 447 738

Local enquiries: August Wilson, Acting Deputy Manager, Rehabilitation Team Occupational Therapy Service, Royal Hobart Hospital Mobile: 0400 631 400 Email: august.wilson@ths.tas.gov.au