Educational Experience

Enhance your continuing education adventure by participating in the Rehab Rally Conference & Expo 2012 experience! A powerhouse event for PT, OT and AT professionals, Rehab Rally was built with flexibility in mind.

Rehab Rally presenters, engaging in approach, are ready to create an electrifying educational environment. Attendees can expect an unmatched learning atmosphere where extraordinary video, in conjunction with top-quality audio, will make every seat the ‘best seat in the house’. Interactive presentations will make subject matter easily embraceable, while flexibility will allow for maximum customization to meet your individual needs!

As proponents of variety, we’re excited to offer a vast array of rehabilitation topics! The conference is built around three approved tracts covering an immense spectrum of exhilarating material, including:

Each tract consists of multi-disciplined and highly credentialed presenters that will provide a well rounded, theme oriented educational experience. However, should an attendee want to add some spice to the experience, they will be able to smoothly transition (“tract skip”) between tracts to create a tailored continuing education event by attending sessions from multiple tracts. Looking for more flexibility? An attendee that would like to fulfill Live CEU requirements and continue to take advantage of the convenience of Home Study Programs can choose to maximize the learning experience by selecting one of our flexible Live/Home Study Bundle options. 20 Live Contact Hours may be earned at Rehab Rally, with purchase options including the live conference only, or "bundling-up" to receive up to 75 hours of continuing education credit (created by bundling Live and Home Study courses).

Join us to complete your continuing education requirement, among peers, in dynamic Chicago!

Conference Learner Objectives

Identify the unique physiologic and psychosocial aspects for the senior populations, including safety, benefits, risks, concerns, and efficacy based on scientific evidence.
Engage in hands on instruction related to the rehabilitation of specific disorders within the clinician’s health care setting.
Identify influential, evidence-based practice literature, in regards to a variety of rehabilitation populations.
Prescribe and accurately individualize programs for strength, endurance, gait speed, balance, and dual tasking for the geriatric population.
Identify new technology and the models for incorporating it into everyday use by the patient/client and physical therapy practitioner.

Tract 1 — General Therapy

Friday, August 24th — 7:30 a.m.-Noon

Session 101: Current Principles of Wound Care
Bill Richlen, PT, WCC, CWS

The purpose of Current Principles of Wound Care is to familiarize the medical professional with the current principles, practices and approaches that are used to treat wounds in accordance with the established standards of care. This provides the clinician with the knowledge and confidence to recommend the most appropriate treatments for their patients. This session will cover the phases of healing, the different types of wound repair and the many factors that can adversely affect the healing process. We will discuss the different ways to manage or treat these factors including the vital steps involved in comprehensive wound bed preparation to improve the healing of our wounds and better patient outcomes.

Friday, August 24th — 1:30 p.m.–6 p.m.

Session 102: Resistive Exercise for Stroke Rehab
Stacey Davis, OTR/L, CKTP

Resistive Exercise for Stroke Rehab is a hands-on course designed to improve the clinical rehabilitation skills using a scientific and systematic approach. The emphasis of this course is to provide scientific information to improve problem-solving skills in order to support evidence-based practice and improve your clinical decision- making skills. This course provides treatment techniques and exercise protocols using resistive bands for therapists involved in neurological rehabilitation. Specific exercises are then introduced including exercises for the UE, LE, and core stabilization techniques to increase overall function as well as balance. Resistive bands will be used and attendees are given lab time to practice techniques. Allied health professionals will gain new ideas on providing treatment that can be applied immediately in the daily care of patients.

Saturday, August 25th — 7:30 a.m.-Noon

Session 103: Evaluating and Writing an Effective Home Modification Evaluation
Scott Anderle, PT, CAPS

During this presentation the participant will enter the exciting world of performing a home evaluation and writing an effective home modification report for their clients. This presentation will enhance the skill set level of the participant so they will be able to gather the relevant and unique information of the client and their home environment. The participant will be educated on how to assimilate and produce an effective home modification report, thus working towards reducing costs, stress and tension within a home modification project. Many key elements of a home modification report will be explored along with how to create the most effective and professional home modification report for your clients.

Saturday, August 25th — 1:30 p.m.-6 p.m.

Session 104: Muscle Energy Technique (MET)/ Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Re-education (PNF)--Improving Mobility in Just 3-5 Reps
Theresa A. Schmidt DPT, MS, OCS, LMT, CEAS, CHy

Muscle Energy Technique (MET)/ Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Re-education (PNF) is an evidence-based intervention for correcting somatic dysfunctions which contribute to pain, limited mobility, muscle weakness and disability. Dr. Fred Mitchell Sr., DO developed MET in 1948 to restore proper biomechanics and functional movement. Precise active muscle contractions and positions are used to normalize tension and restore functional motion. Knott and Voss introduced their version of a related technique, PNF, at the same time. Both MET and PNF are used to re-educate abnormal neuromotor reflexes, facilitate normal muscle action and inhibit hypertonicity. This hands-on guided exercise is gentle enough to apply without the need for forceful manipulation procedures. MET/PNF may be incorporated clinically and in home exercise programs to improve mobility and promote functional outcomes. Lecture, discussion and hands-on video demonstration will be presented to show how this valuable intervention can make a difference in your practice.

Sunday, August 26th — 7:30 a.m.-Noon

Session 105: Positioning for Function
Michelle Lange, OTR, ABDA, ATP/SMS

Determining an optimal seating system begins with a positioning evaluation. This course will present positioning in a functional context, systematically addressing the pelvis, trunk, extremities and head. Common positional challenges for each area will be discussed, including causes, interventions and goals. Case studies will be included.

Tract 2: Geriatric Rehabilitation

Friday, August 24th — 7:30 a.m.-Noon

Session 201: Functional Testing for the Aging Adult
Jon DeBord, PT, MS, ATC, SCS

Functional Testing for the Aging Adult discusses the relevance, the dependability and the power of frequently-used functional tests for the geriatric population. Tests included in the discussion will comprise of the FIM, the Tinetti Balance and Gait Assessment, the Timed Up and Go, the Berg Balance Measure and several other specific functional tests. Contemporary and significant literature, exploring performance thresholds, sensitivity and preciseness of each test, will be examined.

Friday, August 24th — 1:30 p.m.-6 p.m.

Session 202: Pharmacology for the Rehabilitation Specialist - The Geriatric Patient
Suzanne L. Tinsley, PhD, PT, NCS

Rehabilitation professionals often encounter patients prescribed a multitude of medications used to treat the disease processes connected with aging and additional, unrelated co-morbidities. This seminar will use case examples to present a brief summary of some of the medications often seen in the geriatric patient and to demonstrate the relationship between a patient’s medications and therapy. Stress will be placed on medications used in the treatment of cognitive irregularities of the aging, balance/vestibular-related deficits and will also acknowledge other medications often seen in the geriatric patient.

Saturday, August 25th — 7:30 a.m.-Noon

Session 203: Joint Replacement Rehabilitation for the Shoulder, Hip and Knee Arthroplasty
John O’Halloran, PT, DPT, OCS, cert MDT, ATC, CSCS

Today the “Baby Boomer” joint replacement patient has a higher expectation out of their rehabilitation provider. Their desire to remain active has rehab implications for clinicians in all settings. Understanding modern technology and being able to confidently communicate that to the patient is extremely important in the total care of the patient. This session will provide the attendee the evidenced based knowledge to answer those, often on the spot, questions by our patients such as, “What should I not do?” or “When can I hike or play tennis again?”. Also examined will be, surgery from traditional to cutting edge, in addition to evidenced based rehab and return to activity guidelines. This one of a kind session is a MUST for all clinicians who work with total joint patients.

Saturday, August 25th — 1:30 p.m.-6 p.m.

Session 204: Treating Balance and Fall Prevention for the Geriatric Patient
Geoff Mosley, PT, NCS

Falls are a leading cause of disability and death among the elderly. It is often that the issues leading to a fall are commonly attributed to the effects of aging alone. However, the causes of falls are multifaceted and often include balance and mobility impairments that are a result of disease processes. Many of these impairments are amenable to therapy intervention. In this course we will outline many of the risk factors and impairments leading to fall risk, how to evaluate high risk patients, and ideas for intervention. This course will include discussion of the therapy management of musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiopulmonary, and specific sensory disorders that lead to imbalance and falls. In addition to addressing risk factors and physical therapy management, we will also go over prevention strategies for both home and institutional settings.

Sunday, August 26th — 7:30 a.m.-Noon

Session 205: Localized Edema in Long Term Care
Carmen Thompson, BS, LPTA, CMT, CLT

This seminar provides an overview and practical knowledge of manual lymphatic therapy—what it is, what it can do and how to properly apply the techniques in specific clinical cases. Manual lymphatic therapy can help alleviate swelling, relieve pain and improve patient outcomes in a variety of settings, with results that are significant, measurable and often quickly achieved. Participants will examine the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of lymphedema, the indications and contraindications for manual lymphatic therapy, and will learn the basic techniques. You will return to the clinic with new ideas for evaluating clients and new treatment strategies to implement immediately. This seminar on treating localized edema in long term care and skilled care populations will allow the learner to gain a broader skill set in which to achieve ROM, strength, pain, and wound healing goals through addressing the much neglected lymphatic system.

Tract 3: Orthopedic/Sports

Friday, August 24th — 7:30 a.m.-Noon

Session 301: The New Science of Therapeutic Taping- Theory, Practice and Treatment Progression
Andrea Wolkenberg, PT, MA, CKTI
Graceann Forrester, PT, DPT, CKTI

Therapeutic taping has progressed over the past several decades from being a modality that simple prevents injury by prohibiting or limiting motion to one that can influence muscle function, release fascial restrictions, improve circulation, support tendon and ligament, and prevent pathological movement patterns. This course will explore the major taping techniques currently in use. Attendees will learn the basic theory, function, and application principles for each, with special focus on the Kinesio Taping Method. Through lecture and demonstration, they will learn taping treatment protocols paired with other modalities for some common clinical conditions. In addition, a practice lab* using hands on taping technique will allow a greater understanding of the appropriate taping methods for practical use in the clinic.

* Where possible, attendees are encouraged to bring their own yoga mat for the lab portion.

Friday, August 24th — 1:30 p.m.-6 p.m.

Session 302: ACL Rehabilitation: Athletes and the Rest of Us
Betsy Myers, MHS, MPT, OCS, CWS, CLT

This course incorporates an algorithmic approach for efficient and effective rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Using current research, the session will include pre-operative and post-operative rehabilitation. Whether working with adolescents, elite athletes, weekend warriors, or worker-athletes, this session will help practitioners choose appropriate therapeutic interventions based on patient presentation and patient goals. Video clips are used to hone participant implementation of key skills and enable immediate integration into clinical practice. We will also provide insights into bracing, non-surgical interventions of ACL-deficient individuals, and ACL injury prevention.

Saturday, August 25th — 7:30 a.m.-Noon

Session 303: CranioSacral Therapy for Whiplash and Trauma - Importance of an Integrated Approach
Mariann Sisco, PT, CST-D

This is a specialized course focusing on the impact of whiplash and trauma as seen from new evaluation and treatment perspectives. An integrative approach to evaluation and treatment of any musculoskeletal dysfunction requires assessment of the CranioSacral System and structural relationships between the viscera, and their fascial or ligamentous attachments to the musculoskeltal system. Knowledge of these relationships, and the anatomy of the CranioSacral System along with the viscera are essential to seeing patients within an integrated framework.

Saturday, August 25th — 1:30 p.m.-6 p.m.

Session 304: The Kinetic Link Between the Core and the Extremities - Not Just for the Athlete
John O’Halloran, PT, DPT, OCS, cert MDT, ATC, CSCS

There is emerging evidence linking common orthopedic dysfunction and injury to the core. Common medical model diagnoses such as patella femoral pain, hip replacement, and rotator cuff injury all have impairments that can have core implications. This presentation will put the FUN back into FUNdamentals we all learned in our training. Clinicians in all settings who work with patients suffering from various ailments and dysfunctions are all taught the fundamentals of motor control. This presentation will describe how these fundamentals of rehabilitation (mobility, stability, controlled mobility and skill proximal stability for distal mobility) are the foundation of core training and how a refresher on these fundamentals can greatly impact your patient’s rehabilitation process.

Sunday, August 26th — 7:30 a.m.-Noon

Session 305: Functional Strength Training for the Aging Spine
Shari Kalkstein, PTA, NSCA/CSCS, ACSM-HFS, ACE/CPT, ACE/AHFS

This session will provide you with insight and understanding into some of the physical changes occurring in the spines of older adults. Several degenerative conditions will be discussed along with how to address them through strength training and postural exercises. You will learn how to empower your clients so they can regain their strength, posture and confidence. New approaches and exercises will be discussed, demonstrated and practiced, allowing attendees to immediately adopt and adapt them with their clients.