TUES 24 OCT // 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Primary Content Focus: Pediatric Rehabilitation

Secondary Content Focus: Technology (e.g. robotics, assistive technology, mHealth)

This course will review two modalities to help restore normal kinematics in children with motor dysfunction and help clinicians understand the risks, benefits, and indications for each. Clinicians will leave this course with a solid understanding of electrotherapeutic and mechano-stimulation interventions and be able to design treatment plans for a variety of diagnostic groups. Using lecture, demonstration, case studies, and experiential practice, we will review prescriptive diagnostics, physiology and pathophysiology, parameter selection, instrumentation, and treatment goals associated with electrotherapeutic and mechano-stimulation intervention. Special emphasis will be placed on the use of functional electrical stimulation (FES) and mechano-stimulation with meaningful, goal directed activities for optimization of motor learning and functional outcomes and review of the role of FES and mechano-stimulation devices in treatment planning. Additionally, current research trends will be examined with outcome-based measures useful within clinical practice. Case studies will provide therapists opportunities to practice and expand their skills.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Identify the risks, precautions, and benefits of FES
2. Understand the physiologic impact of FES
3. Design FES treatments for pediatric patients
4. Describe the physiological effects of mechano-stimulation
5. Design mechano-stimulation treatment in a pediatric clinical setting

PRESENTERS

Christina Stark, PT, MSc
University Hospital Cologne

Rebecca Martin, OTR/L, OTD, CPAM, CKTP
Kennedy Krieger Institute

Brooke Meyer, PT, DPT
Kennedy Krieger Institute

Harald Schubert
Novotec Medical GmbH

BIOS

Christina Stark, PT, MSc is leading research projects at the Children’s Rehabilitation Center of the UniReha GmbH of the University of Cologne, Germany, and is an research assistant at the Children’s Hospital of the University Hospital Cologne, Germany; where she has been since 2005. She has been a physiotherapist since 2001 in Germany and received a bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy from Hogeschool van Amsterdam, Netherlands in 2006. She completed her Master’s degree in Neurorehabilitation from Brunel University of West London, United Kingdom in 2008 and her doctorate at the University of Cologne, Germany in 2013. Her experience is inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation for children including a variety of neurological diagnoses with emphasis on early intervention. From 2009 to 2010 she worked in research projects including mechano-stimulation at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Her research interests are physiology of the neuro-musculo-skeletal system as a basis for physiotherapy intervention in pediatrics and mechano-stimulation. She has presented her research nationally and internationally.

Rebecca Martin, OTR/L, OTD, CPAM, CKTP is the manager of Clinical Education and Training with the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury at Kennedy Krieger Institute, where she has been since 2005, and an assistant professor in the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Rebecca received a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Boston University in 2001 and her Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree from Rocky Mountain University in 2009. She is certified in physical agent modalities. Her experience spans inpatient and outpatient therapy for both children and adults with a variety of neurological diagnoses. Prior to joining the center, Rebecca worked in pediatric neurorehabilitation with the May Institute in Boston, MA. Her research interests are in the restoration of UE function with FES. She has presented her research in ABRT and training materials nationally and internationally.

Brooke Meyer, PT, DPT is a senior physical therapist with the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury at Kennedy Krieger Institute. She has worked as a physical therapist in the center since October 2006. In addition, she works as a part-time contractor for Restorative Therapies, Inc., installing FES bikes and providing patient/family training. She received her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Shenandoah University in 2006. Brooke’s clinical interests include pediatrics, locomotor training and FES. She serves as a clinical specialist in locomotor training. She is experienced with treating children and adults with a variety of neuromuscular diagnoses, in both land and aquatic settings.

Harald Schubert is a medical engineer and CEO Novotec Medical, Germany. When he finished his university, he developed the first commercial battery driven 8 channel FES Stimulator in Europe. He has a long experience in the diagnostic field of the bone muscle unit and quantification of muscle function. In cooperation with universities he was involved in many research projects related to the bone muscle relationship. Since 1995 he develops a new technology based on mechano stimulation for the field of Rehabilitation, which can be used in orthopaedic and neurological diseases.

 

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