Course Description
Functional Neurological Disorders (FND) are one of the top five reasons people seek evaluation in neurology clinics. Despite this high prevalence, FND remains poorly understood, presenting significant challenges for physical therapists in various practice settings.
FND is recognized as a brain network disorder, characterized by disruptions within and across brain networks. Diagnosis relies on "rule-in" signs with high sensitivity and specificity, distinguishing it from other conditions. Emerging neuroscience has revealed that individuals with FND often experience impairments in several areas, including prediction, attention, interoception, and agency.
Physical therapy is a first-line treatment for motor FND, supported by consensus guidelines and emerging evidence from randomized controlled trials. However, inconsistencies in entry-level physical therapy curricula have left many clinicians grappling with clinical questions and a need for effective strategies to manage this complex patient population. This course will equip participants with foundational knowledge and clinical reasoning frameworks to enhance the assessment and management of FND, grounded in current and emerging evidence.
Objectives
This course offers a comprehensive approach to understanding and managing FND, equipping participants with the tools to deliver evidence-based, patient-centered care. Participants will:
Explain the pathophysiology of FND effectively to patients and colleagues.
Perform accurate assessments, integrating biopsychosocial principles into both subjective and objective evaluations.
Utilize clinical reasoning frameworks to create personalized, effective plans of care for individuals with FND.
Screen for common comorbidities such as Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), and understand how to adjust care plans accordingly.
Identify when and how to refer patients to other allied health professionals for optimal outcomes.
Course curriculum
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1
Functional Neurologic Disorders - Course Overview
- Course Overview
- Course Agenda
- Course Handouts
- Synchronous Meeting Room (Zoom)
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2
Part 1: Overview of Functional Neurologic Disorders - History, Diagnosis, Physiology, and Evidence
- History of Functional Neurologic Disorders - Part 1
- Knowledge Check: History of Functional Neurological Disorders Part 1
- Knowledge Check: History of Functional Neurological Disorders Part 2
- Knowledge Check: History of Functional Neurological Disorders Part 3: Contemporary Issues
- Diagnosis of Functional Neurological Disorders
- Knowledge Check: Diagnosis of Functional Neurological Disorders Part 1
- Diagnosis of Functional Neurologic Disorder - Part 2
- Knowledge Check: Diagnosis of Functional Neurological Disorders Part 2
- Knowledge Check: Pathophysiology and mechanisms of Functional Neurological Disorders Part 1: Predictive Processing
- Knowledge Check: Pathophysiology and mechanisms of Functional Neurological Disorders Part 1: Brain Networks
- Knowledge Check: Pathophysiology and mechanisms of Functional Neurological Disorders Part 1: Core Mechanisms in Functional Neurological Disorders
- Knowledge Check: Pathophysiology and mechanisms of Functional Neurological Disorders Part 4: Why do Functional Neurological Disorders happen?
- Evidence for treatment models of Functional Neurological Disorders
- Knowledge Check: Evidence for treatment models of Functional Neurological Disorders Part 1: What has been done specific to PT?
- Knowledge Check: Evidence for treatment models of Functional Neurological Disorders Part 2: What have we learned from other conditions? 2a: OPTIMAL motor learning theory
- Knowledge Check: Evidence for treatment models of Functional Neurological Disorders Part 2: What have we learned from other conditions? 2b. Pain and Dystonia evidence
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3
Part 2: Physical Therapy Evaluation - Subjective and Objective Assessment
- Physical Therapy Evaluation "template": "buckets"
- Subjective Assessment
- Objective Assessment
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4
Part 3: Treatment of Functional Neurologic Disorders
- Education models to explain the disorder to patients
- Motor control
- Autonomic
- Sensory
- Case examples with “layering” of various components
- Management of episodic symptoms
- Discharge planning / “staying well” plan
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5
Part 4: Future Directions
- Future Directions
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6
Question and Answer sessions
- Questions for Question and Answer Session #1
- Questions for Question and Answer Session #2
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7
Mentoring sessions
- Mentor session #1
- Mentor session #2
Registration, Pricing, and CEUs
Registration is $449 per person. The fees cover the online course, 4-hours of online meetings with faculty, 1-year membership to the community of practice, and several tools and resources to help clinicians implement high-intensity gait training in clinical practice.
Discounts are available for > 5 registrations from the same organization. Please contact [email protected] for details.
This course is pending approval by the Indiana Physical Therapy Association for 14.5 hours of continuing education credit for each of the following: online course (10.5 CEUs), online discussions (2.0 CEUs), online mentoring (2.0 CEUs).
Participants are responsible for transferring CEUs for approval in other states