Registration is Closed

This course will be offered again in the fall!

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  • Online Asynchronous Education

    10.5 hours of online learning about Functional Neurological Disorders.

  • Online Question & Answer Sessions with Course Faculty

    2, 1-hour Q & A Sessions at 7:00 PM ET on April 29th and May 13th, 2025.

  • Online Mentoring Sessions with Course Faculty

    2, 1-hour Mentoring Sessions at 7:00 PM ET on May 27th and June 10th, 2025.

  • Online Community of Practice for One Year

    Online networking and meetings quarterly for one year (optional)

  • Library of Tools and Resources

    Online tools and resources to support translation to clinical practice, including a reading resource library, education, assessment, and treatment resources!

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

  • 1

    Functional Neurologic Disorders - Course Overview

    • Course Overview
    • Course Agenda
    • Course Handouts
    • Synchronous Meeting Room (Zoom)
    • Pre-course Survey
    • Functional Neurologic Disorders - Course Overview
  • 2

    Part 1: Overview of Functional Neurologic Disorders - History, Diagnosis, Physiology, and Evidence

  • 3

    Part 2: Physical Therapy Evaluation - Subjective and Objective Assessment

  • 4

    Part 3: Treatment of Functional Neurologic Disorders

  • 5

    Part 4: Future Directions

  • 6

    Question and Answer sessions

  • 7

    Mentoring sessions

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 jmoore@knowledgetranslation.org for details.

This course is approved 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). Approval number 006987887C3091.

Participants are responsible for transferring CEUs for approval in other states

Questions

Please email info@knowledgetranslation.org for more information.